Young Geographer of the Year
Competition 2014
Run in conjunction with Geographical Magazine
The question for this year’s Young Geographer of the Year is:
“How can geography help you?”
We want to hear how geography, be it the knowledge you learn, understanding you gain, or skills you develop, helps
you across different parts of your life. This help might be at many different levels:
 At school
 At home with your family
 When you travel and go on holidays
 When you think about current events at home or abroad
 Whether it will helps you with further study, perhaps at university
 Or leads to a particular career you’d like to do
We are interested in answers which might look at both the serious and the fun sides of geography and particularly
want to see how you can relate the value of geography to a number of different settings. We welcome applications
which, as appropriate for the age range, recognise the value of both human and physical geography.
For the all categories geographical vocabulary needs to be used.
We will provide additional credit for entries which use primary data collected by the student, alongside secondary
data.
Categories:

Pupils in the three youngest categories (KS2, KS3 and GCSE) should answer this question using an annotated
diagram or map (no larger than A3 in size)

Students in the A Level category should answer this question through a 1,500 word essay which can include
illustrations, maps or graphs
For each category there will be an overall winner and a number of highly commended awards.
Where your school has more than ten entries, the Society suggests that your teachers run their own local semi-final
and select the best entries (ideally no more than 10) to be entered into the national competition and forward these
entries on to the RGS-IBG.
Young Geographer of the Year is kindly supported by:
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), 1 Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AR
E [email protected]
T 020 7591 3045
F 020 7591 3001
www.rgs.org/ygoty2014
Young Geographer of the Year
Competition 2014
Run in conjunction with Geographical Magazine
“How can geography help you?”
For the all categories geographical vocabulary needs to be used. Sources of data should be acknowledged where
possible.
All entries should be submitted with an entry form, and this must be stapled to any hard copies. Hard copies must be
submitted flat or folded, not rolled. Hard copies must not be larger than A3 size.
Students must enter the Key Stage category which they will be in as of November 2014.
Competition categories
There are four categories as follows

Key Stage 2 (ages 9-11)

Key Stage 3 (ages 11-14)

GCSE (ages 14-16)

A Level (ages 16-18)
Work can be submitted electronically by schools to [email protected]. Only MS Word and PDF formatted documents will
be acceptable. Hard copies can also be sent through to the address below, FAO Education Department.
Judging criteria for Key Stage 2 category

Describe one or more settings in which geography helps you in a visual or diagrammatic way

We are looking for original ideas presented in your own style—class sets of identical entries will be marked
down

You can include drawings, sketches, photographs and maps

You should include maps, graphs or other geographical information

Make sure your annotations are clear
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), 1 Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AR
E [email protected]
T 020 7591 3045
F 020 7591 3001
www.rgs.org/ygoty2014
Young Geographer of the Year
Competition 2014
Run in conjunction with Geographical Magazine
Judging criteria for Key Stage 3 category
As for Key Stage 2, but you also need to ensure in your entry that you:

Describe and explain the differences between at least two settings in which geography helps you

Show accurate use of scale and symbols in any diagrams used

Use a range of visual data sources

Describe the types of data sets compared (i.e. say whether they are social, environmental, political)
Judging criteria for GCSE category
As for Key Stage 3, but you also need to ensure in your entry that you:

Clearly define a number of settings and consider geography in the current news

Use of a range of visual data sources, which could include photographs, graphs or inset maps

Evaluate the impact, strengths and limitations of the data used
Entry Requirements for Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3 and GCSE
All entries must be accompanied by an entry form downloadable from www.rgs.org/ygoty2014

Entry form must be stapled to each hard copy entry or included in email with electronic entries

Your work must be presented on one side of paper (maximum A3 size– larger will not be accepted)

Your work must be visual or diagrammatic

Work must be original and all words must be your own. This means work you have done yourself.

Individual entries only, no joint entries
All entries must go through your school. Where your school has more than ten entries, the Society suggests that
your teachers run their own local semi-final and select the best entries (ideally no more than 10) to be entered into
the national competition and forward these entries on to the RGS-IBG.
For Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3 and GCSE, all work must be submitted by Schools as hard copies or as a PDF/MSWORD
and either emailed, posted or hand-delivered to Young Geographer of the Year, Education Team, Royal Geographical
Society (with IBG), 1 Kensington Gore, London SW7 2AR or emailed to [email protected]
The Society regrets that it cannot return any entries or provide feedback on individual entries.
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), 1 Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AR
E [email protected]
T 020 7591 3045
F 020 7591 3001
www.rgs.org/ygoty2014
Young Geographer of the Year
Competition 2014
Run in conjunction with Geographical Magazine
Competition details for A Level category
Your task is to demonstrate your understanding of this topic with detailed comparisons of a number of geographical
settings. We particularly welcome consideration of how geographical help can reach beyond school or sixth form. You
may consider both human and physical settings in an essay of 1500 words maximum; it is recommended that you
include diagrams and visuals in your essay. We are looking for evidence that you are able to select, describe and
analyse appropriate data sets.
Judging Criteria for A Level category

Introduction which defines the geographical settings chosen and any data sets to be compared

Justification of why data sets used in the essay were selected. Appreciation of advantages/disadvantages of
primary/secondary data sets used respectively

Evidence of first-hand observation of chosen geographical settings. Critical analysis of qualitative/quantitative
information collected

Critical analysis of each comparison, recognising strengths and weaknesses of the ways in which data is being
presented

Effective presentation of a range of data, including graphs and tables, with effective linking to the text of the
essay

Strong conclusion

Confident use of specialist vocabulary
Entry Requirements for A Level category
All entries must be accompanied by an entry form downloadable from www.rgs.org/ygoty2014

Entry form must be stapled to each hard copy entry or included in email with electronic entries. Entries should
be submitted either via email or hard copy– not both

Essays must be typed in font size 12

Work must be original and all words must be your own. This must be work you have done yourself

Individual entries only, no joint entries

You may find www.rgs.org/studygeography a useful starting resource
The deadline for all category entries is 5.00pm on Friday 24 th October 2014 and the awards are to be
presented at the Society on Friday 28 November 2014.
Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), 1 Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AR
E [email protected]
T 020 7591 3045
F 020 7591 3001
www.rgs.org/ygoty2014