1.3 Overview of the syllabus, papers and assessment objectives

90 minutes

In this lesson you are going to get an overview of the syllabus, the assessment, the paper combinations that are available and what the papers contain.

It will be helpful to download the syllabus now, as we will be referring to it throughout the course.


  Look through the syllabus document and focus on:

  • the main topics to be covered
  • the assessment objectives
  • the assessment of the syllabus 
    • how the qualification is assessed
    • any options / choices available
    • the paper combinations for the qualification
    • the content of the papers (proportion of each paper assessing each topic or assessment objective, type of questions on each paper)
    • the weighting of each paper.
  • the grade descriptors


In order to understand the assessment of the syllabus it is important to understand the assessment objectives (AOs), and how these relate to the papers. We will start by considering the papers and the assessment objectives.


  The assessment objectives

To design lessons that develop the skills and knowledge that your learners will be required to demonstrate, you will need to be aware of the assessment objectives and how they are assessed.

Here are the assessment objectives that your learners need to address:

AO1 Knowledge with understanding

Candidates should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

  • the wide range of processes, including human actions, contributing to the development of:
    • physical, economic and social environments and their effects on the landscape
    • spatial patterns and interactions which are important within these environments
  • the relationships between human activity and the environment
  • the importance of scale (whether local, regional or global)
  • the changes which occur through time in places, landscapes and spatial distribution.


AO2 Skills and analysis

Candidates should be able to:

  • interpret and analyse geographical data
  • use and apply geographical knowledge and understanding to maps and in numerical, diagrammatic, pictorial, photographic and graphical form
  • use geographical data to recognise patterns in such data and to deduce relationships
  • select and show understanding of techniques for observing and collecting data
  • select and use techniques for organising and presenting data.


AO3 Judgement and decision making

Through their geographical training, candidates should be able to:

  • reason and make judgements and decisions, including evaluation and conclusions, which demonstrate, where appropriate:
    • an appreciation of the attitudes, values and beliefs of others in issues which have a geographical dimension
    • an awareness of the contrasting opportunities and constraints of people living in different places and under different physical and human conditions
    • a willingness to review their own attitudes in the light of the views of others and new knowledge acquired.
  • make judgements and decisions and recognise how these are made within a geographical context as affected and constrained by:
    • the physical and human contexts in which decisions are made
    • the values and perceptions of differing groups or individuals
    • the choices available to decision makers
    • the increasing level of global interdependence and the need for sustainable development.

 

  Now, think about the following questions:

  • What are the different demands that each of these assessment objectives makes on students?
  • How will you share the assessment objectives with your learners?
  • Is there anything that you were not already aware of?
  • How will you prepare your students for each of the different assessment objectives?

We will be exploring the underpinning knowledge and skills that your learners will need to successfully meet these assessment objectives during Week 3. We will also share ideas on planning to meet the AOs across the next three weeks.

 

If you have any questions or observations about any of the information in this lesson, please come and share them in the Week 1 class discussion.