Geography

Level 3 Assessment Standards 

You have the ability to gain 18 Credits or more depending on your pathway requirements assessments offered. 

What should I have already achieved?

It would be advisable to have at least 14 credits including at least one external exam pass from Level 2 English.   Alternatively 14 credits from Level 2 Geography or Level 2 History before continuing with Level 3 Geography.  Please note that the Achievement Standard criteria for Geography requires a high level of English writing and reading skills.  

What will I learn? 

You should be interested in the natural and cultural environment and have the willingness to discover and explore the environment at a local, regional and national scale.   You may have a developing knowledge of geography at Level 1 or Level 2.  Geography requires a high level of English so you should have 12 credits in English to ensure success and have past 1 external exam in English Level 2. 

At Level 3 we will continue to explore our natural and cultural environments by examining a variety of geographic environments both locally, nationally and globally.  You will apply geographic concepts and terminology to both your internal and external assessments, showing insight and understanding of the topics you will study throughout the year.

Inquiry topics you will research and study in 2025 may include:  the analysis of a contemporary geographic topic taking into account differing perspectives; understanding the significance of a contemporary event such as the  Lantern Festival to Auckland's society and economy; understanding of the global water supply; carrying out field research into a geographic topic, e.g. eco-tourism planning, coastal management, cultural processes of tourism either in Samoa and/or Rotorua through consultation with domestic and international tourists/local agencies.  Your TWO external exams require you to firstly demonstrate an understanding of a given environment(s) through a selection and application of geographic concepts and skills you have developed throughout the year via your internals and secondly demonstrate an understanding of how a cultural process (tourism development) shapes geographic environment(s) .

Learning will take place both within the classroom and beyond, with two field trips taking our learning and discovery beyond the classroom to support your understanding of both internal and external assessments this year. 

How will this course be assessed?

This course will be assessed using a combination of 4  internal assessments completed during the year and 2 external assessments. Assessments will require you to demonstrate your understanding of geographic concepts in relation to case studies using graphs, maps, diagrams and written paragraph answers using relevant terminology and concepts to show understanding of the topic.  The internal assessments and learnings support your externals exams.

This course offers you the potential of 14 to 22 credits depending on your learning programme. 

Students are expected to complete ALL coursework on time and to their highest abilities. 

Will there be any FAOs (Further Assessment Opportunities)?

Resubmission 

Resubmission will only be allowed where a student has gained a "Non-Achieved" grade.  This opportunity would enable a student to gain an Achieved grade only.  

EOTC Field Trips 

Field Trip in Term 1: South Muriwai Beach  

The purpose of learning beyond the classroom is to discover and experience how natural processes operate in a coastal environment through field investigations and guest speakers.  

This field trip is a fantastic additional opportunity to support learning geographic concepts and skills in an authentic environment.

Cost: (estimate only) $75 per student.  This cost includes ALL transportation.  Please note that the cost is subject to class numbers and not compulsory but recommended.

Field Trip in Term 3: Rotorua 2 days / 1 Night.   

The purpose of learning beyond the classroom is to discover and experience how tourism development has shaped Rotorua's natural and cultural environment through field investigations and guest speakers.  

This field trip is a fantastic additional opportunity to support learning geographic concepts and skills in an authentic environment.

Cost: (estimate only) $450 per student.  This cost includes ALL accommodation, transportation, guides/guest speakers and meals.   Please note that the cost is subject to class numbers and not compulsory.

Recommended Workbooks

The following are recommended workbooks for Level 3 Geography students.