AQA GCSE Geography — Paper 2 (Challenges in the Human Environment)

Total marks: 88 · Duration: 90 minutes

Instructions to candidates

Answer all questions in Section A and Section B, and one question in Section C.
This paper covers Urban Issues and Challenges, The Changing Economic World, and The Challenge of Resource Management.
Where you see "case study", refer to a place you have studied.
The maximum mark for this paper is 88. The marks for each question are shown in brackets.

Paper

Section A — Urban Issues and Challenges (33 marks)

1.1 Define the term urbanisation. (1 mark)

1.2 Give two reasons why cities in lower-income countries (LICs) and newly emerging economies (NEEs) are growing rapidly. (2 marks)

1.3 Study a city you have studied in an LIC or NEE. Explain two social or economic opportunities created by the growth of the city. (4 marks)

1.4 "Squatter settlements create more problems than opportunities." Using a case study, assess this statement. (6 marks)

1.5 For a major UK city you have studied, explain how urban regeneration has improved the area. (6 marks)

1.6 Explain two features of a sustainable urban living strategy. (4 marks)

1.7 Study Figure 1 [a bar chart showing the percentage of the population living in urban areas for four world regions in 1990 and 2020]. Describe the changes shown in Figure 1. (4 marks)

Section B — The Changing Economic World (30 marks)

2.1 Define the term development gap. (1 mark)

2.2 State two measures used to compare the development of countries. (2 marks)

2.3 Explain how one strategy can help to reduce the development gap. (4 marks)

2.4 For a newly emerging economy (NEE) you have studied, explain how transnational corporations (TNCs) have affected its development. (6 marks)

2.5 Explain how the economy of the UK has changed towards a post-industrial economy. (6 marks)

2.6 "Tourism is the best way for an LIC or NEE to reduce the development gap." Using examples, evaluate this statement. (9 marks) (+3 marks SPaG)

Section C — The Challenge of Resource Management (25 marks)

3.1 Describe the global distribution of one resource (food, water or energy). (4 marks)

3.2 Explain why demand for one resource is increasing in the UK. (4 marks)

Answer either Question 3.3 (Food) or 3.4 (Water) or 3.5 (Energy).

3.3 / 3.4 / 3.5 "Large-scale schemes are the best way to increase the supply of your chosen resource." Using examples, assess this statement. (9 marks)

Plus structured short-answer questions on resource data (8 marks).

Mark Scheme (selected)

1.1 Increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities (1). 1.2 Any two: rural–urban migration (push/pull); natural increase / high birth rate (2). 1.3 Two opportunities, each identified (1) and explained/applied (1): e.g. better access to services/healthcare/education; jobs in industry (4). 1.4 (6 marks, levels): balanced assessment of problems (slums, sanitation, crime) vs opportunities (jobs, self-built community, informal economy), with a case study, leading to a judgement. L3 5–6, L2 3–4, L1 1–2. 1.5 (6): named UK city; specific regeneration scheme; social/economic/environmental improvements explained. 1.6 Two features explained: e.g. water/energy conservation; recycling; green space; integrated transport (4). 1.7 Manipulates data with figures, identifies the largest/smallest change, uses comparative language (4).

2.1 Difference in wealth/wellbeing between richest and poorest countries (1). 2.2 Any two: GNI per head; HDI; literacy rate; life expectancy; infant mortality (2). 2.3 (4): one strategy (aid, fair trade, debt relief, microfinance, tourism, intermediate technology) explained with a chain of reasoning. 2.4 (6): named NEE; TNC named; positive and negative effects on development. 2.5 (6): decline of manufacturing; growth of services/finance/IT; science/business parks; causes (de-industrialisation, globalisation, government policy). 2.6 (9 + 3 SPaG, levels): evaluates tourism with examples against other strategies; justified conclusion. L3 7–9, L2 4–6, L1 1–3.

3.1 (4): describes the global pattern of surplus/deficit with figures/regions. 3.3–3.5 (9, levels): assesses large-scale schemes (e.g. dams, water transfers, large farms) vs sustainable/small-scale approaches, with examples and a judgement.

Sample Answers with Examiner Commentary

Question 2.6 — Sample Answers

Grade 9 (top of Higher) answer "Tourism can be a powerful way to reduce the development gap. In an NEE such as Jamaica, tourism brings in foreign currency, creates jobs in hotels, transport and crafts, and funds improvements to infrastructure such as airports and roads that also benefit local people. The multiplier effect means money spent by tourists circulates through the local economy, raising incomes and tax revenue that can be invested in healthcare and education.

However, tourism has drawbacks. Much of the profit can 'leak' back to foreign-owned travel companies, jobs are often seasonal and low-paid, and the environment can be damaged by construction and water use. Tourism is also vulnerable to global events, as the pandemic showed when visitor numbers collapsed.

Other strategies can be equally or more effective. Fair trade raises incomes for farmers directly, intermediate technology builds long-term self-reliance, and debt relief frees government money for development. In my judgement, tourism can significantly reduce the development gap when it is well managed and profits are retained locally, but it works best as part of a mix of strategies rather than the single best solution, because relying on it alone leaves a country exposed to its risks." Mark: 9/9 (+3 SPaG). Examiner commentary: A genuinely evaluative answer — developed advantages and disadvantages of tourism, comparison with alternative strategies, place-specific detail, and a clear, justified conclusion. Top of Level 3.

Grade 6 answer "Tourism helps reduce the development gap because it creates jobs and brings money into the country which can be spent on schools and hospitals. But the jobs can be seasonal and some money goes to foreign companies. Other ways like fair trade and aid also help. Overall tourism is a good way to reduce the gap." Mark: 5/9. Examiner commentary: A balanced answer with valid points on both sides and a conclusion, but the points are not developed into full chains, there is no specific named example, and the comparison with alternatives is brief. Developing the reasoning and adding a case study would lift it into Level 3.

Question 1.1 — Sample Answer