For AS Geography, you will be tested by three assessment units. For the full A Level in Geography, you will take a further three units. AS Geography forms 50% of the assessment weighting for the full A Level.

Each unit can normally be taken in either January or June. Alternatively, you can study the whole course before taking any of the unit tests. There is a lot of flexibility about when exams can be taken and the diagram below shows just some of the ways that the assessment units may be taken for AS and A Level Geography.

If you are disappointed with a module result, you can resit each module once. You will need to be very careful about when you take up a resit opportunity because you will have only one chance to improve your mark. The higher mark counts.

A2 and Synoptic assessment
After having studied AS Geography you may wish to continue studying Geography to A Level. For this you will need to take three further units of Geography at A2. Similar assessment arrangements apply except some units, those that draw together different parts of the course in a synoptic assessment, have to be assessed at the end of the course.

Coursework
Fieldwork/coursework, in whatever guise, will form part of either AS or A2. There is no minimum weighting for coursework in Geography. Specifications vary between 20% and 40% over the two years of study.

Key skills
AS and A2 Geography specifications identify opportunities for developing and assessing key skills, where these are appropriate to the subject. The range of key skills is broad, incorporating Communication, ICT, Application of number, Improving own learning and performance, Working with others and Problem solving. However, the only key skill component that has to be assessed through Geography is Communication.

Should you choose to pursue the AS key skills qualification it would be possible, by following your AS Geography course, to reach and demonstrate Level 3 (the necessary level of achievement), in Communication, Application of number and ICT, and conceivably this could come from your normal class activities and by formal testing.

The Key Skill AS is a worthwhile qualification and demonstrates your ability to put your ideas across to other people, collect data and use up-to-date technology. The Key Skills AS, like all other ASs, is worth half the UCAS score of the more advanced A2 qualification.