New GCEs for 2008
GCE Environmental Studies (2440)
AS and A Level
Introducing AQA's new course specification for Environmental Studies for AS and A Level. This new redrafted specification has been designed to:
- provide an ideal base for employment, a range of vocational qualifications and a very wide variety of higher education courses
- enable students to gain a deep and well-informed insight into the environment, and the scientific processes that control and affect it
- introduce key areas of study, such as Wildlife Conservation, Pollution, Global Climate Change and Sustainability.
The following information and specification outline will enable both practising Teachers and Subject Heads to be better informed and supported in the teaching of this subject, particularly if attending one of AQA's Teacher Support meetings.
Classification Codes
Every specification is assigned a national classification code indicating the subject area to which it belongs. The classification code for this specification is 1750.
Centres should be aware that candidates who enter for more than one GCE AS/A level qualification with the same classification code will have only one grade (the highest) counted for the purpose of the School and College Performance Tables.
Centres may wish to advise candidates that, if they take two specifications with the same classification code, universities and employers are very likely to take the view that they have achieved only one of the two GCE AS/A levels. The same view may be taken if candidates take two GCE AS/A level specifications that have different classification codes but have significant overlap of content. Candidates who have any doubts about their subject combinations should check with the university to which they wish to progress or company they wish to join, before embarking on their programmes.
Assessment Objectives
AO1 - recognise, recall and show understanding of scientific knowledge select, organise and communicate relevant information in a variety of forms
AO2 - analyse and evaluate scientific knowledge and process, apply scientific knowledge and processes to unfamiliar situations including those related to issues, assesses the validity, reliability and credibility of scientific information
AO3 - describe ethical and safe techniques and processes, selecting appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods, know how to make, record and communicate reliable observations and measurements, using primary and secondary sources, explain how experimental methods may be brought together and used to explore how various environmental systems interrelate, analyse, interpret, explain and evaluate the methodology, results and impact of their own and others' experimental and investigative activities in a variety of ways.