We're making some improvements to our GCSE Geography B qualification to ensure it’s even better for you and your students.

We’ve now submitted our draft specification (J386) and sample assessment materials to Ofqual for accreditation, ready for an expected first teach in September 2025*.

The changes we’re planning have been shaped by the views of teachers and students from a range of schools, as well as consultations with experts from key organisations, including the Royal Meteorological Society and Field Studies Council.

We’ll now be working closely with Ofqual to ensure our qualification is accredited for teaching in 2025*. In the meantime, you can:

*Please note, as this qualification has not yet been accredited by Ofqual, changes may be required and the proposed first teach date may change. We can give no assurances the proposed qualification will be accredited for September 2025 or that the content of our draft specification or sample assessment materials will remain as they currently are.
 

Why choose OCR Geography B? 

Our planned refreshed GCSE B offers: 

✅ Time and space to enjoy the qualification 

We’ve clarified and slimmed down the amount of content. This will ensure you have more time for teaching and consolidation, completing fieldwork, and preparing your students for exams.  

  
✅ Accessibility and inclusivity for all 

We want all students to have a positive exam experience. We’ll be using student-friendly language in our assessments, embedding resources into papers where possible and introducing more manageable extended response questions to help ensure this.  

We’ve also published a refined list of command words in our specification, which will be used consistently, and we’ve kept maths and stats to the minimum required by the DfE. Equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging principles are embedded throughout every aspect of this qualification. 


 ✅ Relevance to students’ lives  

Our qualification will be the most up-to-date Geography GCSE available. It's been designed to empower students to tackle future challenges. For example, we’ve collaborated with the Royal Meteorological Society to update our climate change topic and shine a light on positive action through mitigation and adaptation.  


✅ An enhanced fieldwork experience  

We've ensured a better balance between ‘familiar’ and ‘unfamiliar’ fieldwork so that students’ own fieldwork feels valued.  


✅ Comprehensive support from the start 

Whether you're new to OCR or have been teaching with us for a while, our package offers everything you need – from professional development courses to switching and mapping guides, schemes of work to curriculum planners. We also have support for non-specialist teachers of geography.   

 

Want to know more? 

Request a call or email us and we’d be happy to answer any questions you might have – whether you’re new to OCR, thinking of switching or have been teaching with us for a while.    

You can also read a more detailed explanation of the changes we're making in our blog or FAQs.

Next steps

  1. We have submitted our draft specification, sample assessment materials (SAMs) and mark schemes for our new GCSE Geography B to Ofqual.  

  2.  Ofqual will now review our submission against their General Conditions, as well as qualification and subject level conditions. This includes the DfE’s Geography GCSE requirements, which all exam boards must meet.  

  3. The accreditation process, including the review and feedback, can take a few months. However, it’s necessary to ensure we develop the best possible qualification for you and your students. We'll collaborate closely with Ofqual throughout. 

  4. We’ll keep you informed as we progress – make sure you’re signed up for our emails so you never miss an update. In the meantime, we'll be busy developing resources to support you with your teaching of the qualification, and your students’ learning.

  5. Once our qualification is accredited, we’ll let you know and share our approved specification, SAMs and support materials, so you can prepare for a first teach in September 2025*.  

Learn more about Ofqual’s accreditation process here.

 

**Please note, as this qualification has not yet been accredited by Ofqual. We can give no assurances the proposed qualification will be accredited for September 2025.

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Geography students on a trip