INTRODUCTION.
The new Edexcel GCSE in Geography B has 4 units. This allows for a flexible modular teaching approach, where students can study a unit, complete the assessment and then move onto the next part of the course.
Each of the 4 units are worth 25% of the final grade.
Unit 1 (Dynamic Planet) & unit 2 (People and the Planet) are based on compulsary areas of physical and human geography. Each of these units are assessed through a 1-hour, tiered written examination, which contains a mixture of question styles.
Unit 3 (Making Geographical Decisions) is assessed through a decision-making exercise, which is based on pre-release materials. These are released with plenty of time for students to study them in detail and prepare for their exam. This type of assessmnet encourages students to develop problem-solving techniques and the ability to make and explain their decisions.
Unit 4 (Researching Geography) is the fieldwork element of this course and is now a controlled assessment unit. This is new to GCSEs and provides a more structured approach to internal assessment. The fieldwork tasks must be chosen from those provided by Edexcel, but centres can place them in context of their local area.