AWARD RECEIVED
National 4 Geography is an SVQF Level 4 course.
National 5 Geography is an SVQF Level 5 course.

ENTRY LEVEL – What do I need to do it?

• Anyone can choose Geography at the end of S3 and most pupils will be able to do National 4 or 5.
• Your S3 teacher will tell you what your recommended level of study would be at the end of S3.
• The topics are the same for National 4 and 5, so everyone will do the same course and a decision about your final level will be made towards the end of S4.

COURSE CONTENT –What will I learn?
There are three units (topics) for National 4 and 5:

Unit I – Physical Geography:
Rivers – river landforms, processes, problems and management.
Limestones – limestone landforms, processes, problems and management.
Weather – why Britain experiences such varied weather, depressions, anticyclones.

Unit 2 – Human Geography:
Population – global population distribution, how to measure development, causes of high/low birth and death rates, consequences of rapid/slow population growth.
Urban – characteristics, problems and management of ELDC and EMDC cities.  Focus on Edinburgh and Mumbai.  Involves a day fieldtrip to Edinburgh.
Rural – characteristics, problems and management of farming in EMDCs and ELDCs

Unit 3 – Global Geography:
Natural Hazards – volcanoes, earthquakes, tropical storms: how they happen, what problems they cause, how we can manage them.
Climate Change – learn about causes and impacts of climate change: what the different human and physical factors are, the impact this has on people and the landscape, and how these can be managed to prevent further damage.

In all units, we cover key skills that are useful for Geography but also important for later life, like reading different kinds of maps, interpreting diagrams, interpreting graphs, writing reports etc.

TEACHING METHODS – What will I do?
In the Geography department we use a variety of teaching methods. You will be working as an individual most of the time, but often in pairs, groups or as a whole class. You will certainly be doing a lot of reading and writing, but you will also do presentations, posters, debates and investigations. Your teachers will make your learning as active and fun as possible, including a fieldtrip to Edinburgh.

ASSESSMENT

	National 4	National 5
Added Value (a piece of  course-work.)	The Added value for National 4 is a project on Urban Geography: a fieldtrip to Edinburgh.  This will be marked by your teacher.	The Added Value for National 5 is a project on Urban Geography: a fieldtrip to Edinburgh.  You will have to write an essay under exam conditions, but with a two sides of paper with your graphs, maps etc. on them to help you.  This is marked by the SQA.  It is worth 20% of your final mark.
Exam	There is no end of course exam for National 4 Geography. To achieve a National 4 qualification, you will need to pass all three unit assessments and your Added Value Project.	For National 5, there is an end of course exam.  This is marked by the SQA and it is worth 80% of your final mark. Your final mark will be the sum of your Added Value Assignment score and the final exam mark.

 

HOMEWORK
You will be given regular homework for National 4 and 5 Geography – about ½ to 1-hour a week. Extra study will also be required at assessment times. We use Show My Homework to set homework pieces and will upload resources to Glow too.

 

PROGRESSION IN THE SENIOR PHASE
A National 4 pass would lead to National 5 in S5.
A National 5 pass would lead to Higher in S5.