HIGHER+INTRODUCTION

** COURSE INFORMATION ** Three units will be studied:  ** Physical Environments ** (Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Lithosphere)  ** Human Environments ** (Population, Urban, Rural)  ** Global Issues ** (Development and Health, Global Climate Change)
 * NEW HIGHER GEOGRAPHY **

Assessment will be both internal (marked by your teacher) and external (marked by SQA) Each of the three units will be assessed internally (this could take the form of an end of unit test or perhaps a presentation). Each unit has a particular skills focus for assessment  Physical Environments – use of mapping skills and techniques including the use of O.S. maps  Human Environments – use of research skills and techniques which could include the use of fieldwork  Global Issues – use of numerical and graphical information

There are also two components that are externally assessed:  SQA exam (60 marks)  Assignment (30 marks)

The SQA exam will be worth 60 marks and will be split in to four sections:  Physical environments – 15 marks  Human environments – 15 marks  Global issues – 2 x 10 marks  Application of geographical skills – 10 marks The exam will be 2 hours and 15 minutes

The assignment is worth 30 marks and is done in two stages:  A research stage  Production of evidence stage (this is carried out under exam conditions and must be completed within one hour and 30 minutes). The research stage involves the following steps:  Choose an appropriate geographical issue  Research the issue using appropriate fieldwork and/or map work  Process the gathered information using geographical skills / techniques  Reach a conclusion supported by evidence The production of evidence stage is done under exam conditions and must be completed in one hour and 30 minutes. You will be allowed to access to your processed information which will consist of material collected during the research stage of the assignment on up to two single-sided sheets of A4.