Fast Track A Level Environmental Studies Syllabus ... - E - Learn

Fast Track A Level Environmental Studies Syllabus
The Course is laid out as follows:
Unit 1
The Living Environment Topic 1 Conditions for Life on Earth
Unit 2
Topic 2 Wildlife Conservation
Topic 3 Life Processes in the Biosphere
Topic 4 Land Resources
The Physical Environment Topic 5 The Atmosphere
Unit 3
Energy Resources and
Environmental Pollution
Unit 4
Topic 6 The Hydrosphere
Topic 7 The Lithosphere
Topic 8 Energy
Topic 9 Pollution
The Physical Environment Topic 10 Human Populations
Topic 11 Food Production Systems
Topic 12 Aquatic Food Production Systems
Topic 13 Forestry
Topic 14 Sustainability
At the end of each topic is a tutor marked assignment. This course covers all the content of
the AQA AS Environmental Studies units AS-ENVS1 and AS-ENVS2, and the AQA
Environmental Studies A2 units ENVS3 and ENVS4.
You can find the full syllabus for this course at www.aqa.org.uk
Textbooks
Throughout the course you will require the following textbook which is specifically written
for the syllabus that you are following. While the material covered in the book matches that
in the course, you will need access to both in order to fully understand the concepts and
terminology of biology. This book will be essential for your course.

AQA A Level Environmental Studies Student book by Richard Genn (2008) Published by
Nelson Thornes ISBN-10: 1408513900 ISBN-13: 978-1408513903
The A2 material follows on directly from the AS material. The course assumes that you have
some knowledge of science of a level that you might have gained from a GCSE course in
science subjects or of Geography.
Prior Knowledge
This course builds from the knowledge gained in a range of GCSE science subjects, including
GCSE Environmental Studies, although its study is not essential to undertake the A Level
course. Some knowledge of biology or other GCSE Science subjects or Geography would be
useful, so you may find the following books useful for revision.
AQA Science GCSE Science Students Book by Ann Fullick, Patrick Fullick, J Breithaupt,
Lawrie Ryan (2006) Published by Nelson Thornes ISBN-10: 0748796347 ISBN-13: 978-
0748796342
Understanding GCSE Geography: For AQA Specification A (Understanding GCSE
Geography) by Ann Bowen and John Pallister (2006) Published by Heinemann Educational
Publishers; 3Rev Ed edition ISBN-10: 0435351710 ISBN-13: 978-0435351717
Practical Work
Students are not required to submit an internally assessed environmental studies
investigation. However, it is expected that candidates should carry out investigative activities,
appropriate to the study of a range of environmental systems and the way in which they
influence and affect each other. They should carry out extensive, appropriate practical work
wherever possible, out in the environment. Integral to each unit is the development and use of
practical skills relevant to the study of the environment; such as the planning and carrying out
of investigations, the interpretation of data and the comprehension of relevant environmental
texts.
The Examination
The AS examination consists of two components:
Unit 1 – ENVS1 The Living Environment
Written unit 1 hour 60 marks
40% of the total AS marks and 20% of the total A Level marks
This unit comprises five short answer questions (45 marks) and one structured question (15
marks).
All questions are compulsory.
Unit 2 – ENVS2 The Physical Environment
Written unit 1½ hours 90 marks
60% of the total AS marks and 30% of the total A Level marks

This unit comprises eight short answer questions (75 marks) and one structured question
including extended prose (15 marks).
All questions are compulsory.
Unit 3 – ENVS3 Energy Resources and Environmental Pollution
Written unit 1½ hours 80 marks
25% of the total A Level mark
This unit comprises seven compulsory short answer/structured/comprehension questions (60
marks) and one essay from a choice of three titles (20 marks). Includes synoptic assessment.
Unit 4 – ENVS4 Biological Resources and Sustainability
Written unit 2 hours 80 marks
25% of the total A Level mark
This unit comprises five compulsory short answer/structured/comprehension questions (45
marks), one compulsory data analysis question (15 marks) and one essay from a choice of
three titles (20 marks). Includes synoptic assessment.
Please note that synoptic questions will assess AS as well as A2 material.
To achieve a good overall grade it is necessary to do well in all of the components of the
course.