October 2025 Geography Subject Update

International A level Geography Unit 4 (WGE04) January 2006 pre-release - on the website from 19 November 2025

Access to scripts deadline: 12 December 2025 - After this date you will no longer be able to view your students’ scripts using our free service.

Events for UK and International GCSE and A level Geography are now available to book via our training page.

• GCSE Geography A: Exam Insights - 14 October at 16:00 - 17:30 BST
• GCSE Geography B: Exam Insights  - 21 October at 16:00 - 17:30 BST
• Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Geography Exam Insights  - 22 October 2025 at 09:00 - 10:00 BST
• Pearson Edexcel International A Level Exam Insights  - 5 November 2025 at 09:00 - 10:00 GMT
• A level Geography: Coursework Insights - 17 November 16:00-17:00 GMT
• A level Geography: Mocks Marking Training (Papers 1 and 2) - 02 December 2025 at 16:00 - 18:00 GMT
• A Level Geography: Preparing Students for Synoptic Investigation (Paper 3) 26 January 2026 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT

We will be making recordings of these events available for teachers who can’t attend.

Geography in the News aims to stimulate discussion about the relevance of geography and its importance in helping us to make sense of the world around us. In this edition we have selected an article about falling fertility and birth rates in England and Wales, changing demographics of mothers and the consequences of low fertility. 

Population Up, Birth Rates Down – The UK’s Demographic Dilemma

This links to: Edexcel A Level Geography Topic 4B Diverse Places; Edexcel GCSE Geography A Topic 4 Changing Cities and Topic 8 UK Challenges; Edexcel GCSE Geography B Topic 5 The UK's Evolving Human Geography

The government Curriculum and Assessment Review interim report recognises what we all know: that the GCSE Geography is over-burdened with content.

Which type of content would you like to see significantly less of in GCSE Geography when all Geography specifications are reformed?

Vote on our quick poll in our Edexcel Teacher group

We've updated our GCSE Geography specifications to refelect the additional 15 minutes exam time in Paper 1 for Geography A and Paper 2 for Geography B

We wanted to let you know that the fieldwork statement requirement has now been removed for  Pearson Edexcel International AS in Geography and Pearson Edexcel International A Level in Geography from Janaury 2026. 

This means you no longer need to submit a fieldwork statement as part of your students’ assessment.

We’ve made this change to simplify the process and reduce the administrative burden on centres, while still maintaining the rigour and integrity of the qualification.

What does this mean for you?

You must continue to teach the compulsory fieldwork content (understanding and skills) as part of the course – they remain an important part of geographical learning and continue to be assessed in the Unit 2 exam. 

However, there’s no longer a need to submit any documentation related to fieldwork for your IAS and IAL Geography students.

The specification content and assessments remain unchanged.

The specification wording will be updated to reflect the removal of the requirement to submit the fieldwork statement.We hope this makes things a little easier and more flexible for you to bring geography to life for your learners through fieldwork!

We can support educators' understanding of the Pearson Edexcel mark scheme and provide confidence that marking is consistent across schools, departments and cohorts. Our moderators supply commentaries and reports to help identify areas that need improvement and that could benefit from additional CPD.

We'll help you to:

• Understand the mark scheme and provide reassurance that your marking is aligned with the Pearson Edexcel standard.
• Understand the awarding of marks for each question type.
• Develop accurate expectations and understanding of levels and progression of learning.
• Identify key areas of focus, intervention strategies and additional CPD needs.