Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level Geography (YGE01)
Explore global challenges and geographical investigation, then contested resources, environments and research themes.
Specification Issue 3, September 2025
Course structure and assessment routes
- IAS Geography XGE01: Units 1 and 2. IAL Geography YGE01: all four units, taken in stages or together.
- Unit 3 includes compulsory atmosphere/weather and biodiversity, plus one energy/water option and one superpowers/development option. Unit 4 uses one research option.
Main syllabus content
- World at Risk and Going Global
- Coasts, urban environments and fieldwork
- Atmosphere, biodiversity, energy/water and power/development
- Research options: tectonics, food, cultural diversity or health
Use Syllabus for the topic checklist. Where the qualification offers options, follow your chosen route rather than treating every option as compulsory.
YGE01 assessment structure
Use the route above to identify which components you take. Marks below are raw marks; the stated weightings determine their contribution to the award.
WGE01/01
Unit 1: Global Challenges
- Duration
- 1 hour 45 minutes
- Marks
- 90
- Weighting
- 60% IAS / 30% IAL
WGE02/01
Unit 2: Geographical Investigations
- Duration
- 1 hour 30 minutes
- Marks
- 60
- Weighting
- 40% IAS / 20% IAL
WGE03/01
Unit 3: Contested Planet
- Duration
- 2 hours
- Marks
- 90
- Weighting
- 30% IAL
WGE04/01
Unit 4: Researching Geography
- Duration
- 1 hour 30 minutes
- Marks
- 60
- Weighting
- 20% IAL
Key assessment information
- All units are externally assessed written examinations. Unit 4 is a research-informed exam, not a coursework submission. The specification explicitly permits calculators in Units 1–3.
Official sources and verification
Checked 2026-09-04 against the official YGE01 syllabus/specification (PDF). Specification Issue 3, September 2025.
Source PDF pages: 13, 14, 15, 16. PDF page positions may differ from printed page numbers.
IGCSEfy is an independent study aid. Check the full official document and your exam-paper instructions, especially exam-year options, equipment and centre arrangements. Older archive papers may follow an earlier syllabus.