At a glance
- Cambridge code
- 9696 (new syllabus from 2027)
- Edexcel IAL units
- WGE01 to WGE04
- AQA code
- 7037
- AQA fieldwork
- 3,000 to 4,000 words, 20%
- Grades
- A* to E
Cambridge International 9696 assessment (exams 2027 to 2029)
AS candidates take Papers 1 and 2. A Level candidates take all four.
| Paper | Content | Length and marks | Share of A Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 Physical Geography | Hydrology and rivers, atmosphere and climate change, earth processes. Structured questions (45) and one essay (15) | 1 hour 30 minutes, 60 marks | 25% (50% of AS) |
| Paper 2 Human Geography | Population and migration, water resources, urban areas. Structured questions (45) and one essay (15) | 1 hour 30 minutes, 60 marks | 25% (50% of AS) |
| Paper 3 Global Environments | Two of: tropical, coastal, hazardous or arid environments | 1 hour 30 minutes, 60 marks | 25% |
| Paper 4 Global Themes | Two of: climate change impacts and governance, environmental issues, trade aid and tourism, disease and geography | 1 hour 30 minutes, 60 marks | 25% |
In Papers 3 and 4, each chosen topic has a 10-mark structured question and a 20-mark essay from a choice of two. Past papers from before 2027 were set on the previous syllabus, so check older questions against the new content.
Pearson Edexcel International A Level Geography
From the IAL Geography specification, Issue 3 (September 2025).
| Unit | Content | Length and marks | Share of IAL |
|---|---|---|---|
| WGE01 Unit 1: Global Challenges | World at Risk and Going Global | 1 hour 45 minutes, 90 marks | 30% (60% of IAS) |
| WGE02 Unit 2: Geographical Investigations | Crowded Coasts and Urban Problems, Planning and Regeneration, including fieldwork questions | 1 hour 30 minutes, 60 marks | 20% (40% of IAS) |
| WGE03 Unit 3: Contested Planet | Atmosphere and weather, biodiversity, plus optional energy or water, and superpowers or development | 2 hours, 90 marks | 30% |
| WGE04 Unit 4: Researching Geography | One of four research options with pre-released material | 1 hour 30 minutes, 60 marks | 20% |
Units are available in January and June.
AQA A-level Geography 7037
| Component | Content | Length and marks | Share of A-level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Component 1: Physical geography | Water and carbon cycles; one of hot deserts, coasts or glaciers; one of hazards or ecosystems under stress | 2 hours 30 minutes, 120 marks | 40% |
| Component 2: Human geography | Global systems and governance; changing places; one of urban environments, population and the environment, or resource security | 2 hours 30 minutes, 120 marks | 40% |
| Component 3: Fieldwork investigation | Individual investigation with data collected in the field | 3,000 to 4,000 words, 60 marks | 20% |
The investigation is marked by teachers and moderated by AQA.
Where geography marks are lost
Case studies are the first gap. Essays at every board reward specific, located examples with names, dates and figures, used to support an argument. Students who write "in some countries" or rely on one overused example rarely reach the top band. Gulf students can use their own region well here, for example on water resources, urban growth or arid environments, as long as the facts are precise.
Data skills are the second: describing a graph with figures, calculating means or percentages, and interpreting maps and photographs. These questions are short but frequent. The third is essay structure. Long questions ask students to assess or evaluate, so they need a line of argument, balanced evidence and a conclusion that answers the question.
How one-to-one Geography lessons run
Lessons are 60 minutes, one to one, in LiveTutor's online classroom with video and a shared whiteboard, which suits annotating diagrams, maps and data. The tutor works from your child's board and the topics their school has chosen, such as the Cambridge Paper 3 and 4 options or the Edexcel Unit 3 choices.
Lessons usually combine a short case-study build (a one-page summary with facts and figures), practice on a data question, and planning or reviewing an essay against the mark scheme levels. For Edexcel Unit 4 the tutor helps your child research the pre-released focus, and for AQA the tutor can teach methods for data presentation and analysis while the investigation remains your child's own work.
When to start
- Early Year 12, to build a case-study bank from the first topic.
- Before the AS papers or Edexcel units 1 and 2, for data and essay practice.
- When the AQA fieldwork question is set, to plan methods and analysis.
- The final term, for timed essays on the chosen A Level topics.
Common questions
Is the Cambridge 9696 syllabus changing?
Yes. A new syllabus applies to exams in 2027, 2028 and 2029. Students sitting in 2027 should use it, and practise with specimen papers as well as older past papers.
Can my child use Gulf examples in essays?
Yes, where they fit the question. Examiners reward accurate, specific examples from any location. The tutor helps your child check facts and figures.
Is Geography a science or a humanity?
Both. Physical geography uses scientific processes and data; human geography uses social science and essay skills. Universities accept it for a wide range of courses; check specific requirements.
How much do Geography lessons cost?
$15 a lesson, the same for every subject and level, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.
How do we book a tutor for our board?
Tell us the board, code and topics when you book. Matching normally takes up to 24 hours, and you can switch tutor and keep your paid lessons.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.