Non-exam assessment (NEA) for summer 2025

NEA work samples for this subject are now submitted online using Centre Marks Submission on Centre Services. Read the guidance on submitting NEA.

2.0 Specification at a glance

This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams and submit all their non-exam assessment at the end of the course.

2.1 Subject content

Physical geography

Human geography

Geography fieldwork investigation

Geographical skills

2.2 Assessments

Component 1: Physical geography

What's assessed

Section A: Water and carbon cycles

Section B: either Hot desert systems and landscapes or Coastal systems and landscapes or Glacial systems and landscapes

Section C: either Hazards or Ecosystems under stress

How it's assessed

  • Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • 120 marks
  • 40% of A-level

Questions

  • Section A: answer all questions (36 marks)
  • Section B: answer either question 2 or question 3 or question 4 (36 marks)
  • Section C: answer either question 5 or question 6 (48 marks)
  • Question types: short answer, levels of response and extended prose

Component 2: Human geography

What's assessed

Section A: Global systems and global governance

Section B: Changing places

Section C: either Contemporary urban environments or Population and the environment or Resource security

How it's assessed

  • Written exam: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • 120 marks
  • 40% of A-level

Questions

  • Section A: answer all questions (36 marks)
  • Section B: answer all questions (36 marks)
  • Section C: answer either question 3 or question 4 or question 5 (48 marks)
  • Question types: short answer, levels of response, extended prose

Component 3: Geography fieldwork investigation

What's assessed

Students complete an individual investigation which must include data collected in the field. The individual investigation must be based on a question or issue defined and developed by the student relating to any part of the specification content.

How it's assessed

  • 3,000–4,000 words

  • 60 marks
  • 20% of A-level
  • marked by teachers
  • moderated by AQA