Leaving Certificate Geography will help students develop an understanding of the changing relationships between the physical and human worlds. Through their study of geography, students will develop geographical skills that will help them to make informed judgements about issues at local, national and international levels.
Leaving Certificate Geography may be studied at Ordinary or Higher level. The course is divided into core, elective and optional units of study. Geography is assessed at Ordinary and Higher level. Students are expected to complete a report on a geographical investigation and to sit a written examination.
Geography Course Content
Physical Geography
- Rivers
- The Sea
- Glaciation
- Plate Tectonics
- Weather & Climate
- Karst Regions
Regional geography
- Irish Regions
- European Region
- Continental/ Subcontinental Regions
Geographical investigation
Two Elective Units (pick one):
Patterns and processes in economic activities (elective)
- Energy
- Developing Economies
- Multinationals and Globalisation
- European Union
Patterns and processes in the human environment (elective)
- Population
- Urban Geography
Four Optional Units (pick one; higher level only):
- Global interdependence
- Geoecology
- Culture and identity
- The Atmosphere-Ocean environment
The Exam
- 1. Geographical Investigation Report (20%)
- 2. Written Examination (80%)
There is one written paper which lasts for 2 hours and 50 minutes. There are three parts to the written paper.
Part One
Twelve short questions where you will be marked out of your best ten. (25 mins, 80 marks)
Part Two
Essay style questions where you have a choice of ONE question from three in each section. (80 marks).
Section 1: Physical Geography (Q1, Q2, Q3 - Pick one)
Section 2: Regional Geography (Q4, Q5, Q6 - Pick one)
Section 3: Human Elective (Q7, Q8, Q9 - Pick one) OR Economic Elective (Q10, Q11, Q12 - Pick one)
Part Three (Higher level only)
You will be given 4 questions on your chosen option and you pick one. Each question will require you to write a single longer essay where you discuss three or four aspects of the theme in detail in 30 minutes (80 marks)