Geography - Higher
A big and diverse course, if you are comfortable writing essays this is a subject for you.
With seven or more essays to be written, timing is crucial in the written exam. It's really important that you keep an eye on the clock and avoid the temptation to run over time perfecting one essay at the cost of not finishing your last question. The examiner will be looking for SRPs (single relevant points) in your essay. A SRP can be described as a "single meaty statement", a sentence or paragraph with one clear and true point. At higher level, an SRP is worth 2 marks so a typical 30-mark essay will need at least 15 SRPs. The Geographical Investigation is usually submitted in April of 6th year and is worth 20% of the final grade.
Higher Level Course Content:
- Aerial photos
- Earthquakes & Volcanoes
- Economic - Developing Economies
- Economic - Energy
- Economic - Environmental impact
- Economic - European Union
- Economic - Multinationals & Globalisation
- Elective - Economic
- Elective - Human
- Glaciation
- Human - Population
- Human - Urban Geography
- Karst Regions
- Mapwork
- Option - Atmosphere & Ocean
- Option - Culture & Identity
- Option - Geoecology
- Option - Global Interdependence
- Plate Tectonics
- PROJECT - Investigation
- Regions - Continental
- Regions - European
- Regions - Ireland
- Rivers
- Rocks, Weathering & Mass Movement
- Tables/Graphs Questions
- The Sea
- Urban Land uses
- Weather & Climate
Ordinary Level Course Content:
- Aerial photos
- Earthquakes & Volcanoes
- Economic - Developing Economies
- Economic - Environmental impact
- Economic - Ireland & the EU
- Economic - Multinationals & Globalisation
- Elective - Economic
- Elective - Human
- Glaciation
- Graph style questions
- Human - Population
- Human - Urban Geography
- Karst Regions
- Mapwork
- Plate Tectonics
- PROJECT - Investigation
- Regions - Continental
- Regions - European
- Regions - Ireland
- Rivers
- Rocks, Weathering & Mass Movement
- The Sea
- Weather & Climate
Assessment
- Geographical Investigation Report (20%)
- Written Examination (80%)
The Exam
There is one written paper for both Higher and Ordinary levels, which lasts for 2 hours and 50 minutes. There are three parts to the written paper.
Part One
Twelve short questions where you will be marked out of your best ten. (25 mins, 80 marks)
Part Two
Essay style questions where you have a choice of ONE question from three in each section. Spend no more than 30 mins on each question (80 marks).
- Section 1: Physical Geography (Q1, Q2, Q3 - Pick one)
- Section 2: Regional Geography (Q4, Q5, Q6 - Pick one)
- Section 3: Human Elective (Q7, Q8, Q9 - Pick one) OR Economic Elective (Q10, Q11, Q12 - Pick one)
- Section 4: Options (Questions 13-24) - Higher level only. You will be given 4 questions on your chosen option and you pick one. Each question will require you to write a single longer essay where you discuss three or four aspects of the theme in detail in 30 minutes (80 marks)
Geographical Investigation Report
The SEC will publish a list of topics and students will report on a geographical investigation based on one of these topics.
Future Careers with Leaving Certificate Geography
Some Universities accept Geography as a Science subject. Future careers include; Earth Scientist, Planner, Environmental Science, and Fishing Industry.
Download the Leaving Cert Geography Syllabus
Download the Leaving Cert Geography Chief Examiner's Report (2012)
Download the Leaving Cert Geography Guidlines for Teachers
