OCR GCSE Geography B refresh - FAQs
We answer some of the most frequently asked questions about our plans to refresh our GCSE Geography B qualification.
Geography is a dynamic and ever-changing subject. To reflect this and equip students for the challenges facing the world today, and in the future, we've reviewed our GCSE B qualification and are planning some exciting changes.
During this process, we consulted with and listened to feedback from a diverse range of teachers and students. We also collaborated with stakeholders such as The Royal Meteorological Society, Field Studies Council and Cambridge Zero. Several key themes emerged from this feedback, shaping the development of our refreshed GCSE B. These themes included manageability of teaching content, accessibility of content and assessments for all students, and for content to be relevant to the students.
Our aim was to ensure our refreshed qualification feels familiar for existing teachers and continues to meet DfE subject criteria, while offering an improved experience for students and teachers alike.
You can read more about why we are making these changes and the review in our blog.
Current GCSE Geography qualifications were developed 10 years ago and there have been no changes to content since this time. We have been working on the updates to our qualification for over 18 months, starting the process before the change in government and subsequent curriculum and assessment review. This is because we believe there’s a need to refresh the content as soon as possible, ensuring it's contemporary and future focused for students.
Ofqual will review our submitted specification and sample assessment material against their General Conditions, as well as qualification and subject level conditions. This includes DfE’s Geography GCSE requirements, which all boards must meet.
The accreditation process can take a few months, but it’s necessary to ensure we develop the best possible qualification for you and your students. We'll collaborate closely with Ofqual and keep you updated throughout the process – be sure to sign up for our email updates.
You can learn more about Ofqual’s accreditation process here.
As you will be aware, the government is currently reviewing the curriculum and assessment in England to ensure they’re fit for purpose and meeting the needs of young people. This review will be a lengthy process. Firstly, the responses to the 'call for evidence’ will be analysed, and an interim report of key themes and recommendations will be published in early 2025. After this, working groups will be established to look at the recommendations, before a final report is released – this is due in autumn 2025.
It’s important to note this final report will need to be reviewed by the government before exam boards can start any work on any new/reformed qualifications.
In summer 2024, we submitted our draft specification (J386) and sample assessment materials to Ofqual for their review. It is our aim to have this qualification accredited and ready for first teach in September 2025 (subject to Ofqual approval).
We will keep you informed throughout the process – please be sure to sign up for our email updates.
Our new qualification has been designed for all students and teachers of geography, including non-specialists.
The overall structure remains the same as the current GCSE B, with three components:
- Our Natural World (physical geography and fieldwork)
- People and Society (human geography and fieldwork)
- Geographical Exploration (synoptic and decision making questions)
There are no pre-release materials.
Subject to accreditation, the key changes include:
- a streamlined specification: we have moved from eight topics to six topics. These are split into three physical and three human topics.
- updated content: we’ve ensured content is relevant to students’ lives and reflects the latest research. This includes reframing our climate change content to focus more on more positive action such as mitigation and adaption.
- slimmed down case studies: we have slimmed down case study content that is not required by the DfE and removed one of the case studies.
- improved fieldwork assessment experience: we have addressed the balance between familiar and unfamiliar fieldwork. There will be a minimum of 6 marks out of 15 marks that assesses familiar fieldwork, so student effort feels valued and rewarded. The unfamiliar fieldwork will take students on a journey through part of a fieldwork enquiry.
- enhanced accessibility: In our new sample assessment materials, you will see we have:
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- embedded resources within exam papers where appropriate
- published a list of command words, with their definitions, in the specification and applied them consistently during assessments
- reduced our extended responses from a maximum of 12 to 9 marks
- used student-friendly language in questions
- applied our EDIB principles throughout
- removed some cartographic and graphical material to learn, such as desire line maps, thematic maps, radial graphs and rose charts.
We started with a detailed external review, which mapped our current specification (J384) to the Department for Education subject content for GCSE Geography. Internally, we investigated where it would be possible to reduce the number of topics and content without impacting the integrity of the qualification. We also surveyed and spoke with teachers throughout the process so they could feed into the topics in our specification, fieldwork and assessment design.
The number of topics has been reduced from 8 to 6. From teacher feedback, it was clear we needed to keep our plate tectonics content, as both students and teachers enjoy this. However, we’ve aimed to create dynamic topics with an engaging feel. For example, our new Dynamic Landscapes brings together tectonic activity with coastal and river landscapes, helping students to understand internal and external process shaping the earth.
Some of the content from UK in the 21st Century has been updated and, where relevant, embedded in one of the three human topics – Urban Populations, Global Development or Resource Reliance.
Content has also been refreshed to reflect changes in research and terminology. For example, convection currents have been replaced with slab pull and ridge push, while Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) replace Millenium Development Goals (MDGs).
Working in conjunction with climate change specialists and The Royal Meteorological Society, we have reviewed, updated and added content in the Weather Hazards and Changing Climate topic. Content has been expanded in these areas:
- a focus on air masses, enabling students to gain an understanding of how they influence the weather of the UK and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events
- as climate change is one of the most dominating issues of the 21st century, additional content investigates the consequences at both local and global scales and the varying risk to people and places. Plus, mitigation and adaptation approaches will allow students to consider how we can build a climate-resilient society.
We’ve also updated and improved content relating to sustainability and EDIB in line with OCR’s People and the Planet principles. Throughout the course, students will explore and consider sustainability at a range of scales including indigenous and community-based approaches.
Additionally, case study content has been slimmed down where possible. Content for some case studies is stipulated by the DfE so cannot be removed. However, we have removed one case study, and centres now have a choice in the Sustaining Ecosystems topic, choosing to study either Antarctica or the Arctic.
For a clear breakdown of all the changes, take a look at our handy mapping guide, which outlines:
- how the refreshed topics map to the current specification
- brief comments about the changes we’ve made
- new content introduced to the specification
- old content that has been removed.
We have streamlined command words and reviewed definitions in line with our accessibility principles. You can find more information about accessibility in geography exams here.
Command words and their definitions have been included in the specification.
- Where will Spelling Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG) be assessed?
SPaG will be assessed on extended response questions and will be indicated by an *. Below the answer lines and marks for the question, it will say:
We've provided clear guidance on how SPaG marks are awarded in Geography on our website.
We are aiming to produce more sample assessment materials as we are aware how important these are for teachers.
All current assessment materials can be used to support revision as our Assessment Objectives remain the same. The style of questions, resources and command words also largely remain the same.
Assessment materials can be found on secure platform, Teach Cambridge. If you already have a Teach Cambridge account, you’ll be able to log straight in to access these. If you do not currently have access to the platform, please visit our website for guidance on how to gain it. You can also register for a free 2-week trial.
Currently, there are no planned changes for GCSE A. However, we always keep our qualifications under review and have asked for feedback on this qualification. If any changes take place in the future, we’ll let you know and we’ll consult you along the way, as has been the process for GCSE B.
At present, there are no planned changes for A Level. We’re currently reviewing the course to see whether improvements need to be made and, if so, where they could be made.
If you have any comments or feedback on GCSE A and/or A Level, please feel free to contact our subject advisors on 01223 553998 or by email. Alternatively, you’re welcome to join us at a Geography network event.
Behind the scenes, we are working on a wide range of resources to support you. This includes developing:
- schemes of learning for each of the 6 topics, which will include teaching resources
- sample assessment materials and guides to help you navigate our exams
- curriculum planners and schemes of work, supporting planning and delivery
- candidate exemplars and practice papers.
To help our current teachers transition to the new specification, we’ve published a mapping guide, which shows:
- how the refreshed topics map to the current specification
- brief comments about the changes we’ve made
- new content introduced to the specification
- old content that has been removed.
Or, if you’re currently teaching with AQA, we’ve developed a handy switching guide comparing our refreshed specification with theirs, making it as easy as possible for you to make the move to us. We’ll be publishing similar guides for the other exam boards soon.
You’ll be able to access all of our resources on our secure platform, Teach Cambridge. If you already have a Teach Cambridge account, you’ll be able to log straight in. If you do not currently have access to the platform, please visit our website for guidance on how to gain it. You can also register for a free 2-week trial.
You will also have access to a new textbook and teaching and learning resources from third parties. This includes our work with the Educational Recording Agency (ERA) to curate a collection of short TV and radio clips and programmes mapped to the refreshed specification.
Whether you're new to OCR or have been teaching with us for a while, we offer a range of free support to help you deliver our courses with confidence, including:
- expert subject advisors to advise you, share updates and resources
- professional development courses
- access to Active Results: our free results analysis service
- Access to Scripts – our free, on-demand service that allows you to download copies of students’ completed question papers
- access to ExamBuilder: our free question-building platform that helps you to build your own tests as our bank of past live-series questions grows.
If your school or college is an approved OCR centre, teaching other qualifications with us, you can simply download our draft specification (J386) and sample assessment materials, and start planning for first teach! Once it is accredited, we will let you know, and you can start teaching from September 2025*.
To help us support you, let us know if you're planning to teach the qualification by filling in this form.
If your school or college doesn’t offer any OCR qualifications currently, you may need to register with us. Please get in touch with our Customer Development Team, who can guide you through the process, step-by-step.
*subject to accreditation
For now, all you need to do is explore our draft specification, sample assessment materials and resources. This includes our mapping guide outlining:
- how the refreshed topics map to the current specification
- brief comments about the changes we’ve made
- new content introduced to the specification
- old content that has been removed.
Once we are accredited, we will let you know by email, so please ensure you are signed up for updates. You can then start teaching our new specification (J386) from September 2025*.
To help us support you, let us know if you're planning to teach the qualification by filling in this form.
You can contact us on 01223 553998 or by email if you have any questions.
*subject to accreditation
