Mapping out the new GCSE Geography
Oliver Stacey, Senior Qualifications Manager, highlights some of the key changes to GCSE Geography to help teachers and learners prepare for the introduction of this new qualification in September 2025.
Geography is a subject that has resonance and relevance to learners across Wales. The diverse physical and human landscape of our nation provides rich contexts for learners to consider and apply geographical concepts and processes, at both a local and national level.
Geography enables learners to explore and investigate some of the biggest issues facing the world today, such as climate change, globalisation and sustainable development, and to consider them at a range of scales from the local through to the global.
As a subject it also allows learners to develop and apply both transferable skills such as analysis and enquiry alongside more discipline specific skills such as the use of maps and geographical information systems.
What is changing in the new GCSE Geography qualification?
The new GCSE builds on the existing qualification and what works well within it. However, in response to the introduction of the Curriculum for Wales and stakeholder feedback a number of changes have been incorporated into the new qualification.
Greater proportion of non-examination assessment
The new GCSE includes two non-examination assessments (NEA) that contribute 40% of the overall grade. Although the addition of a second NEA task increases the overall assessment time in comparison to the existing qualification, there are clear benefits to increasing the proportion of NEA.
For example, alongside an externally assessed NEA on developing fieldwork skills, there will be a unit with a decision-making exercise NEA on sustainable solutions. This unit will enable learners to focus on the exploration of geographic issues and sustainable solutions and be assessed in greater depth than would be possible than through a timed written exam.
More information around NEA in the new suite of GCSEs can be found here.
Updated content to reflect themes in the Curriculum for Wales
The new GCSE will continue to provide a strong foundation in core geographical concepts and skills. However, to better reflect the Curriculum for Wales and its cross-cutting themes, the new GCSE requires greater consideration of topics such as the impacts of migration, integration and segregation and also sustainable futures. WJEC has reflected this within the qualification content, for example through consideration of the causes, impacts and management of migration at a range of scales.
Phased introduction of on-screen assessment
Digital technology plays an important role in geography, for example through the use of digital maps, satellite imagery and geographical information systems. With this in mind, we are requiring WJEC to make one of the assessments available on-screen within five years of the introduction of the qualification.
This enables the benefits of on-screen assessment to be realised, while at the same time giving centres time to prepare for its introduction.
Unitised assessment
Following feedback from stakeholders the new qualification will be unitised. This will enable centres to spread the assessment load across the two years, with opportunities for examinations in the summer of Year 10, rather than having the examinations end loaded in the summer of Year 11.
Supporting centres through change
We are aware that this is a busy time for teachers as they prepare to deliver the new GCSEs. To help them with this, WJEC has commenced publication of a range of digital bilingual GCSE Geography resources to support the teaching and learning of many of the topics within the new GCSE. More resources will be added over the course of the spring and summer terms.
Additionally. WJEC is providing a range of online and face-to-face professional learning to support teachers and centres prepare for the delivery of this innovative new qualification.