What does the course entail?

Who should study Geography ATAR?

For students thinking of going to university, the study of a humanities course will help to provide you with a broader understanding of society.
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The geography course focuses heavily on the environmental and planning issues facing both Australia and communities across the globe. Students interested in the problems associated with increased population and climate change should consider studying this subject.

What doors can Geography ATAR Open?

An understanding of geography is becoming increasingly relevant in both tertiary studies and in the future workforce. The global response to the effects of climate change drives the necessity of these studies.
A study of geography can lead to a whole range of occupations, including, but not limited to:
  • urban planning
  • environmental science
  • environmental law
  • civil engineering
  • surveying
  • construction
  • land management
  • sustainable design
  • piloting
  • the armed forces

What will be covered in this course?

YEAR 11
UNITS 1 & 2

Unit 1 – Natural and ecological hazards
In this unit, students explore the management of hazards and the risk they pose to people and environments. Risk management is defined in terms of preparedness, mitigation and/or prevention.
Topics include:
  • An overview of natural and ecological hazards
  • Hazard management
  • Two depth cases studies that look into the hazards and the management of the hazard

Unit 2 – Global networks and interconnections
In this unit, students explore the economic and cultural transformations taking place in the world – the spatial outcomes of these processes and their social and geopolitical consequences – that will enable them to better understand the dynamic nature of the world in which they live.
Topics include:
  • The re-emergence of Asia as cultural and economic superpowers
  • Increased globalisation and sustainable management of globalisation
  • Students complete two depth studies which are taught to reinforce the requisite geographical skills.

YEAR 12
UNITS 3 & 4

Unit 3 – Global environmental change
In this unit, students assess the impacts of land cover transformations with particular reference to climate change or biodiversity loss.
Topics include:
  • Overview of natural and human land cover
  • Global climate change
  • Loss of biodiversity

Unit 4 – Planning sustainable place
In this unit, students investigate how the outcomes of processes vary depending on local responses and adaptations, for example, population growth and decline, and economic re-structuring. Students also examine the causes and consequences of urbanisation as well as challenges that exist in metropolitan and regional centres and megacities.
Topics include:
  • Urbanisation and impact of global population growth
  • Changes facing rural communities
  • Challenges of mega cities and Australian metropolitan and regional centres
What is the assessment structure?
There are four types of assessment in the Geography ATAR course. They are:
  • Geographical inquiry
Students plan and conduct investigations and communicate their findings. Formats can include: investigations, reports, oral/multimedia presentations.
  • Fieldwork/practical skill
Fieldwork involves students actively engaged in collecting primary data. Practical skills involve the collection and interpretation of data from a number of sources. Formats can include: excursions, map interpretation and/or data analysis.
  • Short and extended response
Questions can require students to respond to stimulus material. Formats can include: multiple-choice questions, short responses, sectionalised extended responses, extended responses and/or a combination of these.
Typically these tasks are administered under test conditions.
  • Examination
The examination is formatted to be a reflection of the WACE exam.
Head of Learning Area: Mr Jamie Paganoni
Contact Number: 9591 4219
​Contact Email: [email protected]