Tíreolas SS / Geography JC

Exploring the Physical World

Exploring how we interact with the physical world

Exploring people, place & change

This strand focuses on facilitating students’ exploration of how the physical world is formed and changed. Students engage and interact with topics relating to physical geography and explore their interrelationships and any implications those topics might have on students’ lives.

This strand focuses on facilitating students’ understanding of how people interact with the physical world and the implications this might have for their lives. Students explore how we depend on, adapt, and change the physical world.

Students engage with topics related to globalisation, development, population and interdependence. They apply their knowledge and skills to explain settlement patterns, urbanisation, demographics, and human development.

2nd Year: Students are exposed to various topics under each strand and will familiarise themselves with the learning outcomes of each strand. Students will sit regular class tests throughout the year and an exam at the end of

Classroom-Based Assessment 1: Geography in the News

At the end of a three-week period during the second term of Year 2, students will report on an inquiry, based on a recent media source, relating to a geographical event.This structured inquiry through a response to the event may be presented in a wide range of formats and be individual or group. Topics might include weather events, tectonic activity or economic activities.

In place of a grade, students will receive a comment/descriptor on their CBA1 on their Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement -JCPA (previously Junior Certificate)

It will be reported as follows:Exceptional; Above Expectations; In Line with Expectations; Yet to Meet Expectations

3rd Year: Students are exposed to various topics under each strand and familiarise themselves with the learning outcomes of each strand. Students will sit regular class tests throughout the year as well as a Pre- Junior Cycle paper in February and the Junior Cycle exam in June.

Classroom-Based Assessment 2: Presentation

At the end of the 1st term in 3rd year, students complete a task in class (CBA 2). Students will investigate geographical aspects in a local area over a three-week period. This gives the students a fantastic opportunity to apply their knowledge, skills and understanding to real life settings while also developing their communication skills. Topics might include local industry, population studies, primary economic activities, physical geography etc.

Students will receive a descriptor on their CBA2 on their Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement -JCPA

It will be reported as follows:Exceptional; Above Expectations; In Line with Expectations; Yet to Meet Expectations

Assessment Task

After the students complete this task, they then complete an Assessment Task which is a reflective task on CBA 2 which is worth 10% of the student's final JC exam grade. This Assessment Task is assessed by the State Examinations Commission (SEC).

Final Examination

The students will sit a written exam (2hr max.) which is set and assessed by the SEC as normal. The students will sit only 1 exam paper at common level, worth 90% of their final grade.

The state examination that students sit in their subject at the end of their junior cycle will also be graded differently. Instead of A, B, C, D, E, F and NG the following descriptors will now be used:

Distinction 90 to 100 %

Higher Merit 75 to 89 %

Merit 55 to 74 %

Achieved 40 to 54 %

Partially Achieved 20 to 39 %

(not graded) 0 to 19 %