IGCSE Geography Success Masterclass | Course Outline

Course Details

When: Saturday 13 April, at the following times for international students in different regions:

• 05:00 to 09:00 UTC (Daytime from East Africa to East Asia)
• 11:00 to 15:00 UTC (Daytime from Western Europe to Central Asia)

Where: Live streamed to your home or private study space

Student ticket price: 500 AED | £100 per attendee 200 AED | £42.90 per attendee, thanks to event partners (local currency equivalent).

This is an interactive online event, designed and engineered for students to attend from home on their individual devices. Each student must hold their own, individual ticket in order to attend.

For enquiries, please contact [email protected].

Introduction

In collaboration with leading UK universities, this bespoke Success Masterclass is designed to provide international students with an inspiring and powerful addition to their IGCSE Geography revision, in the lead up to the 2024 Edexcel and Cambridge IGCSE Geography exams. Presented by a team of multi-award-winning geographers, including acclaimed subject experts and British curriculum specialists, this 4-hour cinematic course will focus on core aspects of Physical Geography knowledge and exam technique that international students often find most challenging. Throughout the workshop, our purpose is to raise the confidence, drive and aspirations of students, to excel in their IGCSE exams and position themselves to make successful applications to higher education institutions in 2025.

Meet your presenters

Watch this short video to meet your presenters and experience the look and feel of this course!

Masterclass Outline

Welcome

The Masterclass will open with housekeeping and a short aspirational message delivered by Dr Rob Parker on behalf of the UK geography higher education community and leading employers of geographers and geoscientists.

5 minutes

Session 1 – Global landforms and their formation: Excelling with “sequence of formation” exam questions

Understanding and explaining the formation of landforms enables geographers to interpret landscapes, manage hazards and natural resources, and predict future environmental changes. 

In this first session, we ensure that students have a clear understanding of the processes and sequences of events that produce key landforms in coastal, river and tectonically active environments, with bespoke video clips from the Time for Geography team filmed in landscapes across Europe and Iceland.

We then apply this understanding to answering “sequence of formation” questions. Students analyze examples of high- and low-scoring answers, gaining a clear understanding of what examiners are looking for and the ability to critically assess their own work. We tackle navigating common pitfalls that can detract from high-scoring answers and the use of diagrams to convey complex processes clearly and succinctly.

45 minutes

10 minute break

Session 2 – Fieldwork and the route to enquiry

Fieldwork in physical geography bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world experience, equipping geographers with critical observational and analytical skills.

In this session, fieldwork expert Sam Hawkins takes students will journey through the critical stages of geographical fieldwork—planning, data collection, presentation, conclusions, and evaluation, With a focus on river and coastal environments, we show students how to apply this knowledge to produce high quality answers to fieldwork questions in the exam.

40 minutes

5 minute break

Session 3 – Physical processes and succeeding with short answer exam questions

Studying landforms teaches us about the fascinating processes through which they are formed, providing geographers with tools to understand the past and predict the future.

In this session, we focus on the details of physical processes at work shaping coastal, river and tectonically-active landscapes, again joining the Time for Geography team out in the field for hands-on demonstrations that bring these processes to life.

We then apply this knowledge to ensure students are equipped to gain marks on related short-answer process questions, matching processes with definitions, and using analytical skills to answer questions that build on source material.

50 minutes

10 minute break

Session 4 – Frontiers of knowledge in volcanic hazards research 

Studying the impacts of volcanic eruptions today enables geographers to better predict, prepare for and manage the impacts of these events in the future.

In this session, we bring tectonic hazards and their impact to life! Volcanologist Dr Rhian Meara takes us on a journey to Grindavik, Iceland, where today, a major volcanic eruption threatens the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people. With new insights and previously unseen footage of the eruption, students will gain a unique understanding of this event, its causes and impacts, through this fascinating contemporary case study presented by one of the world’s foremost experts. This session aims to inspire students to think beyond level 9 and envisage where geography could take them at A-level, university and beyond.

30 minutes

10 minute break

Session 5 – Mastering hazards management case studies and analysis questions

Geographers study the processes that shape the Earth’s surface, from the smallest grains of sand to the scale of entire mountain ranges, to address the causes, impacts and management of geophysical hazards.

In the final session, we build on the learning outcomes of earlier sessions to develop students’ ability to think and write analytically about hazard management case studies, through the framework of the causes, impacts and management applied to coastal, river and tectonic hazards. This session is designed to give students confidence with exam questions requiring longer written answers that are well-balanced and integrate case study specific references.

30 minutes

Closing message: The Journey Ahead

The Masterclass will close with a final message from our experts, leaving students feeling inspired, confident and motivated to go forth and achieve their maximum potential in their exams and upcoming university applications.

5 minutes

Masterclass Team

Tim Parker is an IGCSE Geography examiner, multi-award-winning educational screen-writer and Time for Geography presenter, and Head of Geography at a leading international school in the United Arab Emirates.

Dr Rhian Meara is one of the world’s foremost experts on the impacts of volcanic eruptions, whose career has seen her hold positions at the University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, University of Leicester, and Swansea University.

Sam Hawkins is a geography teacher and outdoor education specialist, whose Physical Geography Fieldwork series with Time for Geography won the 2022 Publishers Award from the Geographical Association. Sam’s expertise is in helping students excel in applying geographical fieldwork skills to the British curriculum.

Dr Rob Parker is one of the UK’s most acclaimed geography subject leaders and head of the Time for Geography collaboration of 40 prestigious UK universities – including Cambridge University, Durham University, the University of Exeter, LSE, Imperial College London, King’s College London and others – supporting the transition of students from school to higher education and careers shaping the future of our world.

Disclaimer

This outline may be subject to minor changes, as we finalise session plans in the run up to the Success Masterclass. Time for Geography is dedicated to providing high-quality educational resources and workshops to support students in their Geography studies. Our workshops are designed to enrich understanding, inspire engagement with geographical concepts, and enhance overall academic performance. Please note, however, that participation in our workshops does not guarantee specific outcomes in IGCSE examinations or university applications. Performance in these areas is influenced by a wide range of factors, including individual study habits, the application of workshop materials, and the overall preparation strategy of each student. Time for Geography accepts no liability for the academic outcomes of students following their attendance at our workshop. All participants are encouraged to use the knowledge and skills gained from our sessions as part of a broader, comprehensive study plan. By enrolling in our workshop, you acknowledge and agree that Time for Geography is not responsible for any direct or indirect outcomes related to your examinations or future educational opportunities. We are committed to supporting your learning journey and wish you the best in your studies and beyond. This Masterclass blends aspects of live and pre-recorded content, to give you the best possible learning experience. Time for Geography is not affiliated with any qualification provider. This is a live broadcast only course and will not be available for viewing after the masterclass has ended. Please note that bookings are non-refundable, due to the advanced arrangements and preparations required to secure your place, including platform licensing fees that are incurred ahead of the event.