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A-Level guide · checked October 2026

A-Level Geography, explained simply

Physical and human geography in depth, from glaciers and carbon cycles to globalisation and changing places, plus an independent fieldwork investigation. This page shows how each board sets the papers and investigation, the marks your child needs for an A*, A or B, and how to prepare.

  • 2 or 3 exams
  • Fieldwork investigation (20%)
  • 3,000 to 4,000 words
  • Grades A* to E

Exam board

Not sure which board? Ask your child's school, or check the front of a mockA practice exam, usually set by school a few months before the real thing. paper.

The exams at a glance

AQA A-Level Geography (7037). 2 exams and coursework, 5 hours of exams and 300 marks in total.

PaperNotesTimeMarks
Paper 1Physical geography2 hours 30 minutes120 (40%)
Paper 2Human geography2 hours 30 minutes120 (40%)
Non-exam assessmentFieldwork investigation, 3,000 to 4,000 wordsCoursework60 (20%)

Specification: AQA A-Level Geography (7037)

What's in the exams

The shares are each part's weight in the final grade, as the specification states.

  • Physical geography40%
  • Human geography40%
  • Fieldwork investigation20%

How the grading works

How the grading works

Everyone sits the same papers. The marks are added up and the total decides the grade, from A* down to E. Every board includes an independent investigation worth 20%: a 3,000 to 4,000-word report based on fieldwork data your child collects, marked by teachers and checked by the board.

The marks you really need for each grade

You do not need 90% for a top grade. Grade boundaries are set after the exams are marked, so a grade stays the same standard even when the papers are harder. These are the real AQA boundaries from June 2026:

GradeMarks neededAs a percentageChart
A*246 out of 30082%
A219 out of 30073%
B189 out of 30063%
C160 out of 30053.3%
D131 out of 30043.7%
E102 out of 30034%

Source: AQA, A-level grade boundaries June 2026. Boundaries change slightly every year.

Your target score in practice papers

Sit a full set of past papers under timed conditions every few weeks. Work out the percentage for each set, ignore your single worst result (everyone has an off day) and average the rest. Aim for:

87%

to secure a grade A*

78%

to secure a grade A

68%

to secure a grade B

We add 5 percentage points to last year's boundary, because boundaries move a little each year and exam nerves cost marks.

Past paper mock builder

Pick an exam series and we'll set out the full AQA mock: which papers to sit, how long to allow and where to download them. Then type in your marks to see the grade they would have earned.

  1. Paper 1, June 2026 · Physical geography · 2 hours 30 minutes

  2. Paper 2, June 2026 · Human geography · 2 hours 30 minutes

  3. Non-exam assessment, June 2026 · Fieldwork investigation, 3,000 to 4,000 words

Download the papers and mark schemes: AQA official past papers or Save My Exams past papers. Exam boards keep the most recent series for schools only for a while, so if the newest one isn't there, take the one before.

Enter your marks for each paper to see the grade they would have earned.

What Geography is really about

Where the word comes from

"Geography" means "describing the Earth", from the Greek gē, "earth", and graphia, "writing".

Where it comes from

The Royal Geographical Society, founded in London in 1830, sponsored exploration and mapping across the world. In 1854 Dr John Snow mapped cholera cases in Soho and traced them to a single water pump on Broad Street, an early example of geographers using data to solve real problems.

Why it's still taught

Geography combines science and humanities to tackle climate change, migration, development and resources. It leads to degrees in geography, environmental science, planning and international development, and careers in surveying, sustainability, GIS mapping and policy.

How to do well in A-Level Geography

Learn named case studies

Specific places, data and dates turn general answers into top-band ones.

Start the investigation early

Choose a question your child cares about and collect data in good time.

Practise the skills

Statistics, graphs and map interpretation are tested. Practise them regularly.

Link physical and human

Synoptic questions reward links between topics, such as how climate affects migration.

Evaluate in long essays

The highest marks need a clear judgement supported by evidence.

Keep up with the news

Recent events, from floods to trade deals, make answers current.

The three best places to revise

Our teachers' picks. We have no connection with these sites.

Cool Geography

Free A-Level notes and case studies, written by a geography teacher.

Royal Geographical Society: A-Level resources

Free resources and fieldwork guidance from the Royal Geographical Society.

Geography Review

A-Level geography articles and case studies; some free, full access often through schools.

Questions parents ask

Not sure where your child stands?

Our free 45-minute assessment often uses a real past paperA real exam from a previous year, used for practice., so you'll know their likely grade and exactly what to work on. Lessons online across the UK, or at our seven London hubs.

Sources