In Geography we discuss current local and global affairs to reflect about the changing world as a result of the interacting natural and social processes.  For more detailed information, one can refer to the syllabus for Geography available at the MATSEC’s website. 

Yes, but it is always recommended that you do further reading on the topics being discussed in class so that you increase background knowledge on the area.

At Intermediate Level, you are not required to present coursework. The subject at Intermediate Level is assessed by MATSEC by a 3-hour long written examination.

At Advanced Matriculation level, you are required to submit coursework, which accounts for 28% of the total mark of the examination. The coursework includes 2 teacher-led class fieldwork reports. Each short-term report accounts for 4% of the MATSEC final mark. You will also have to present and individual fieldwork report with accounts for 20% of the MATSEC final mark. You will be guided throughout the coursework by one of the lecturers. Students are urged to start working on the individual fieldwork project as from the beginning of their 2 years course of study at Junior College. Regular meetings are held with one of the lecturers to guide the Advanced Level student in the individual fieldwork project to ensure individual attention according to the students’ choice of research.

You will have to sit for two examination written papers when doing the Advanced Matriculation examination. Paper I, which is 3 hours long focuses on Physical Geography whereas Paper II is also 3 hours long and focuses on Human Geography.

Yes, definitely. While the marks that you obtain in your coursework will be taken into account both for getting the Advanced Matriculation examination certification and part of your assessment mark at the Junior College, you will have to carry out other tasks which are assigned by your lecturer during the academic year. These will be used for your Junior College assessment. If you will choose the subject at Intermediate Level, your Junior College assessment will be worked out on marks obtained in the tasks assigned by your lecturer only, as there is no MATSEC coursework for Geography at Intermediate Level. The assessment marks obtained are important for one to be promoted to second year at Junior College.

Past students who succeeded in their Geography Advanced and Intermediate MATSEC examination have pursued several carrier paths. Apart from progressing their studies at a Bachelor’s level in Geography or Earth System or Geosciences at University of Malta, a number of students used Geography at Advanced or Intermediate level as an entry requirement to read for a degree in nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, criminology and marketing amongst others. Students are advised to seek further information on specific courses through the University of Malta webpages and the Student Advisory Services.

If you choose Geography at Intermediate Level, you will have two lectures every week. If you choose it at Advanced Matriculation Level, you will have five lectures and one tutorial.

In a tutorial, you will work out past paper questions and clarify difficulties you might encounter during lectures.

A contact hour is a set time in your lecturer’s time table where, after making an appointment, you will meet your lecturer on a one-to-one basis and discuss difficulties that you might have.

The booklist is on the Junior College website. We recommend that you speak to your lecturer before purchasing the books in the list of recommended publications.

At Intermediate level, we discuss the planning and procedures related to fieldwork but you do not have any fieldwork report or any coursework to submit to MATSEC.

At Advanced level, the whole class will have 2 teacher-led fieldwork which account for 8% of the MATSEC mark. Moreover, Advanced Level Geography students will have to work on an individual project that will involve fieldwork. This account to 20% of the MATSEC mark. Students are provided individual guidance on their individual fieldwork project through regular meetings with one of the Lecturers.

It is recommended that one would inform the administration so that you are provided with the appropriate assistance and access arrangements for both the school based examinations and MATSEC would be planned in advance.

The course at Junior College is two years long. So the lecturers prepare the students to sit for the examination after the full term of two scholastic years. If a student changes the subject and joins a group during the second year, it is the responsibility of the student to cover the content of the first year. This is more precarious for the Advanced level students who decides to join the Geography class in Year 2 since students start working on the MATSEC’s coursework during the first year of their studies at Junior College.

The size of the group varies according to the intake, but lecturers ensure individual attention to all the students.