2025 CCEA GCSE Geography 3910 模擬試題連答案詳解

Statement 1 is FALSE: infiltration is a transfer (water moving from the surface into the soil), not a store; interception by vegetation is the store in this system. Statement 2 is TRUE: the watershed is the line of high ground marking the edge of a drainage basin, separating it from a neighbouring drainage basin. Statement 3 is TRUE: evapotranspiration (evaporation plus transpiration) removes water from the basin back to the atmosphere and, together with river discharge, is classified as an output. Final answers: 1 - FALSE; 2 - TRUE; 3 - TRUE.

[1] mark per correct TRUE/FALSE response, to a maximum of [3]: 1 - FALSE; 2 - TRUE; 3 - TRUE. No mark awarded if a statement is left blank or both responses are given.

Precipitation is measured using a rain gauge, in millimetres (mm). Wind speed is measured using an anemometer, in knots. Atmospheric pressure is measured using a barometer, in millibars (mb). Final answers: 1-C; 2-A; 3-B.

[1] mark per correct match, to a maximum of [3]: 1-C; 2-A; 3-B.

Statement 1 is TRUE: rainfall radar is a land-based source of forecasting data, alongside land-based weather stations. Statement 2 is FALSE: buoys collect weather data at sea, not in the air; data in the air is collected by satellites. Statement 3 is FALSE: geostationary satellites remain fixed above the equator to continuously monitor the same area; it is polar satellites that orbit above the poles. Final answers: 1 - TRUE; 2 - FALSE; 3 - FALSE.

[1] mark per correct TRUE/FALSE response, to a maximum of [3]: 1 - TRUE; 2 - FALSE; 3 - FALSE.

A shield volcano is formed from runny, low-viscosity basaltic lava that flows freely before solidifying, producing a broad volcano with gentle slopes (B). A composite volcano is built up from alternating layers of ash and more viscous lava, producing a steep-sided cone and explosive eruptions (A). A supervolcano forms above an unusually large magma chamber and is capable of an eruption thousands of times larger than a typical volcanic eruption, with potential global consequences (C). Final answers: 1-B; 2-A; 3-C.

[1] mark per correct match, to a maximum of [3]: 1-B; 2-A; 3-C.

Statement 1 is FALSE: it is shield volcanoes, not composite volcanoes, that are formed from thin, runny (low-viscosity) lava that flows for long distances; composite volcanoes are built from thicker, more viscous lava and ash. Statement 2 is TRUE: shield volcanoes have gentle, broad slopes because of their runny lava. Statement 3 is TRUE: the vast quantity of ash and gas ejected by a supervolcano eruption could block out sunlight and alter global climate for years. Final answers: 1 - FALSE; 2 - TRUE; 3 - TRUE.

[1] mark per correct TRUE/FALSE response, to a maximum of [3]: 1 - FALSE; 2 - TRUE; 3 - TRUE.

Attrition is the process by which rock particles carried by the sea wear each other down as they collide during transport (B). Hydraulic action is the sheer force of breaking waves compressing air trapped in cracks in a cliff face, weakening the rock (C). Solution is the dissolving of soluble rock or minerals, such as chalk or limestone, by sea water (A). Final answers: 1-B; 2-C; 3-A.

[1] mark per correct match, to a maximum of [3]: 1-B; 2-C; 3-A.

A sea wall is a solid, curved barrier built along the coast to reflect wave energy back out to sea, protecting the land behind it (C). Groynes are wooden or rock structures built perpendicular to the coast to trap sediment being moved along the coast by longshore drift, widening the beach (A). Beach nourishment is the soft engineering method of importing sand or shingle from elsewhere to widen and heighten a beach (B). Final answers: 1-C; 2-A; 3-B.

[1] mark per correct match, to a maximum of [3]: 1-C; 2-A; 3-B.

Statement 1 is TRUE: a tropical maritime air mass forms over warm sub-tropical oceans and brings mild/warm, moist conditions. Statement 2 is FALSE: a polar continental air mass forms over the cold land mass of Europe/Russia and brings cold, dry conditions in winter, not mild, wet conditions. Statement 3 is TRUE: air masses are classified by source region temperature (tropical/polar) and surface (maritime/continental). Final answers: 1 - TRUE; 2 - FALSE; 3 - TRUE.

[1] mark per correct TRUE/FALSE response, to a maximum of [3]: 1 - TRUE; 2 - FALSE; 3 - TRUE.

Basalt is an igneous rock, formed when molten lava cools and solidifies quickly at the Earth's surface (A). Limestone is a sedimentary rock, formed from the compaction and cementation of shell and coral fragments (B). Slate is a metamorphic rock, formed when mudstone or shale is altered by heat and pressure (C). Sandstone is a sedimentary rock, formed from the compaction and cementation of sand grains (B). Final answers: 1-A; 2-B; 3-C; 4-B.

[1] mark per correct match, to a maximum of [4]: 1-A; 2-B; 3-C; 4-B.

Dams are a hard engineering method: large concrete structures built across a river to store and control the release of water (A). Flood walls are a hard engineering method: raised concrete or earth barriers built along a river bank to contain floodwater (A). Washlands are a soft engineering method: areas of land deliberately allowed to flood to store excess water and protect settlements downstream (B). Afforestation is a soft engineering method: planting trees in a drainage basin to increase interception and reduce surface runoff (B). Final answers: 1-A; 2-A; 3-B; 4-B.

[1] mark per correct match, to a maximum of [4]: 1-A; 2-A; 3-B; 4-B.

(a) The watershed is the line of high ground marking the edge of a drainage basin, separating it from adjacent drainage basins. (b) At a scale of 1:50,000, 1 cm on the map represents 50,000 cm = 500 m = 0.5 km in reality. Real distance = map distance x scale factor = 5.6 cm x 0.5 km = 2.8 km. Final answers: (a) Watershed; (b) 2.8 km.

(a) [1] mark for 'watershed'. (b) [1] mark for correct method (map distance x 0.5 km per cm conversion factor); [1] mark for the correct final answer of 2.8 km (accept 2.7-2.9 km to allow for measurement tolerance). Maximum [2] for part (b).

(a) The feature described is a hooked spit: a narrow depositional ridge of sand and shingle that extends from the coast, with a curved (hooked) end. (b) The description states the ridge 'curv[es] inland slightly at its distal end' and shelters an area of mudflats behind it; this curvature is evidence of a spit because it shows where a secondary wind/wave direction, or a river current, has deflected the end of the ridge, and the sheltered mudflat shows the calmer water in its lee where fine sediment can settle, both of which are diagnostic of a hooked spit. Final answers: (a) Hooked spit; (b) The curved end of the ridge, sheltering an area of mudflats, indicates a change in the dominant wave/current direction depositing sediment in the calmer water behind the spit.

(a) [1] mark for 'hooked spit' (accept 'spit', described with a hook, for [1]). (b) [1] mark for identifying relevant evidence (e.g. the curved end / sheltered mudflat); [1] further mark for a developed explanation linking the evidence to spit formation (e.g. change in wave/current direction, sheltered deposition). Maximum [2] for part (b).

(a) The sweeping bends in the river's course described are meanders. (b) Erosion dominates on the outer bank of a meander bend, where faster-flowing water undercuts the bank to form a river cliff, while deposition dominates on the inner bank, forming a gently sloping slip-off slope, as described in the extract. Any six-figure grid reference identifying a point on the outer, steep bank of a bend within the stated range (e.g. 314 476) is therefore acceptable. Final answers: (a) Meander; (b) Any six-figure grid reference on the outer, steep, undercut bank of a bend between 305 480 and 322 471, e.g. 314 476.

(a) [1] mark for 'meander'. (b) [1] mark for a six-figure grid reference within the correct range (305 480-322 471); [1] further mark for the point correctly lying on the outer/steep bank of a bend rather than the inner slip-off slope side. Maximum [2] for part (b). Own-figure rule applies where the candidate's reasoning is logically consistent.

Where a river's course is not perfectly straight, water is forced to flow faster around the outside of each bend, where the channel is deeper and energy is concentrated. This faster flow increases the river's erosive power, so hydraulic action (the force of water compressing air in bank material) and abrasion (bank material being worn away by the river's load) undercut the outer bank, producing a steep river cliff. On the inside of the bend, water flows more slowly and shallowly, so the river loses energy and can no longer carry its full sediment load; this sediment is deposited, building up a gently sloping area called a slip-off slope. Because erosion continues on the outer bank while deposition continues on the inner bank, the bend becomes progressively more pronounced and the whole meander migrates sideways and downstream across the floodplain over time. Faster, more energetic flow on the outer bank erodes (by hydraulic action and abrasion) to form a river cliff, while slower flow on the inner bank causes deposition to form a slip-off slope, and this asymmetric erosion and deposition causes the bend to become more pronounced and migrate across the floodplain over time.

Level 1 (1-2 marks): Basic, generalised statement that a river erodes on one side of a bend and deposits on the other, with limited or inaccurate use of terminology and no clear distinction between the outer and inner bank.
Level 2 (3-4 marks): Accurate description identifying erosion on the outer bank and deposition on the inner bank, using at least one correct process term (e.g. hydraulic action, abrasion), but with limited explanation of why this asymmetry occurs or how the meander develops over time.
Level 3 (5-6 marks): Detailed and accurate explanation identifying erosion (hydraulic action and/or abrasion) undercutting the outer bank to form a river cliff, and deposition of sediment on the inner bank forming a slip-off slope, clearly linked to the difference in water velocity/energy across the channel, with reference to the bend becoming more pronounced and the channel migrating across the floodplain over time. Accurate use of specialist terminology throughout.

Longshore drift is the process by which sand and shingle are moved along a coast: swash carries material up the beach at an angle determined by the prevailing wind and dominant wave approach, while backwash drags it straight back down the beach under gravity, resulting in a net zig-zag transport of sediment along the shore. Where the coastline suddenly changes direction, for example at a river mouth or the entrance to a bay, the moving material is no longer supported by the land and is carried straight out into open, deeper water, where wave energy decreases and the sediment is deposited. Continued longshore drift adds further sand and shingle to this growing deposit, building up a long, narrow ridge that extends from the coast across the mouth of the bay or estuary; this depositional ridge is a spit. If a secondary, less dominant wind direction occasionally creates waves from a different angle, or if a river current pushes against the end of the spit, the exposed end can be curved inland, producing a hooked spit. Longshore drift transports sand and shingle along the coast in the direction of the prevailing wind and dominant wave approach; where the coastline changes direction sharply, such as at a river mouth or bay, the material is carried beyond the edge of the land and deposited offshore, building up a ridge that grows out across the bay to form a spit, which may develop a curved, hooked end if a secondary wind direction or river current deflects the far end.

Level 1 (1-2 marks): Basic, generalised statement that material is moved along the coast and deposited to form a spit, with limited or inaccurate terminology.
Level 2 (3-5 marks): Accurate description of longshore drift moving sediment along the coast and deposition occurring where the coastline changes direction, with some explanation of ridge growth, but limited detail on the swash/backwash mechanism or the formation of a hooked end.
Level 3 (6-7 marks): Detailed and accurate explanation of the swash/backwash mechanism of longshore drift, deposition occurring where the coastline changes direction (e.g. at a river mouth or bay) as wave energy decreases, the ridge extending across the bay over time, and the formation of a curved/hooked end due to a secondary wind/wave direction or river current. Accurate use of specialist terminology throughout.

A frontal depression forms where a mass of warm, moist air (tropical maritime) meets a mass of cold, drier air (polar maritime). As the warm front, at the leading edge of the depression, approaches a location, the warm air is forced to rise gradually over the retreating cold air; this produces thickening, lowering cloud, a steady fall in atmospheric pressure and a lengthy period of steady, moderate rainfall. Once the warm front has passed, the location enters the warm sector, where temperature rises noticeably, pressure levels off, and cloud becomes broken with drier, calmer conditions and only occasional light rain or drizzle. The cold front, which moves faster than the warm front, then arrives; the dense cold air undercuts the warm air ahead of it, forcing it to rise rapidly and condense, which produces a short but intense period of heavy, sometimes thundery rainfall together with strong, gusty winds. After the cold front passes, the location is in the cold air behind the depression, so skies clear quickly, temperature falls and pressure begins to rise again. As the warm front approaches, cloud thickens and lowers, pressure falls and prolonged, steady rainfall develops; in the warm sector behind the warm front, temperature rises, pressure stabilises and there is broken cloud with drier, calmer conditions; as the cold front then passes, the advancing cold air undercuts the warm air, forcing it to rise rapidly and producing a short period of heavy, thundery rainfall and gusty winds, followed by clearer skies, falling temperature and rising pressure.

Level 1 (1-2 marks): Basic, generalised statement of changing weather as a depression passes, with limited or inaccurate reference to the warm front, warm sector or cold front.
Level 2 (3-4 marks): Accurate description of at least two of the three stages (warm front, warm sector, cold front), with some correct detail on cloud, precipitation, temperature or pressure changes.
Level 3 (5-6 marks): Detailed and accurate sequential account of all three stages, correctly describing the changes in cloud cover, precipitation, temperature and pressure at the warm front, in the warm sector and at the cold front, with accurate use of specialist terminology.

A collision plate margin occurs where two tectonic plates, both carrying continental crust, move towards each other due to convection currents in the mantle. Continental crust is thick and made of relatively low-density rock, so, unlike the denser oceanic crust at a destructive margin, it is too buoyant to be forced down into the mantle at a subduction zone. As the two continental plates continue to converge, neither plate can sink, so the horizontal compressional forces have nowhere to go except upward. Layers of sedimentary rock that had been slowly deposited on the floor of the ocean that once separated the two landmasses are caught between the colliding plates; these layers are folded, crumpled and forced upward by the pressure. Over millions of years, this repeated folding and uplift builds enormous mountain ranges made up of folded sedimentary rock, known as fold mountains. At a collision plate margin, two plates carrying continental crust move towards each other; because continental crust is too buoyant to be subducted into the mantle, neither plate sinks, and the immense compressional forces instead crumple and uplift the layers of sedimentary rock that were originally deposited on the sea floor between the two landmasses, folding and pushing them upward over millions of years to form fold mountains.

Level 1 (1-2 marks): Basic, generalised statement that plates collide and mountains form, with limited or inaccurate terminology and no explanation of why neither plate is subducted.
Level 2 (3-5 marks): Accurate description of two continental plates converging and rock being folded/uplifted, using some correct terminology (e.g. collision margin, folding), but with limited explanation of the buoyancy of continental crust or the origin of the folded rock.
Level 3 (6-7 marks): Detailed and accurate explanation that two continental (low-density, buoyant) plates converge, that neither plate is subducted because continental crust cannot sink into the mantle, and that compressional forces fold and uplift sedimentary rock originally deposited between the landmasses over millions of years to form fold mountains. Accurate use of specialist terminology throughout.

The Mississippi River drains a very large area of the USA and has historically caused severe flooding in cities and farmland along its banks. To manage this risk, the US Army Corps of Engineers has built thousands of kilometres of levees (raised earth and concrete embankments) along the river to contain floodwater within the channel, together with engineered floodways and spillways that can be deliberately opened to divert excess floodwater away from major cities, reducing pressure on the main levee system during periods of extreme discharge. This hard-engineering approach has been effective in protecting densely populated and economically important areas, such as New Orleans and Baton Rouge, from many flood events, and in reducing the loss of life and property associated with the river's natural flood cycle. However, the strategy has significant drawbacks that limit its long-term sustainability. The levees and floodways are extremely expensive to build and require constant, costly maintenance and periodic raising to remain effective. By confining the river to a narrow channel, the levees prevent it from spreading naturally onto its floodplain, which destroys important wetland habitats that would otherwise support wildlife and naturally absorb floodwater. Confining the river also increases the river's velocity and the height of the flood peak within the channel, which can increase the risk of catastrophic, sudden failure of the levees and worsen flooding for communities further downstream that are outside the protected zone. Because the strategy relies on continual, expensive human intervention rather than working with the river's natural processes, and because it displaces rather than removes flood risk, it can be judged only partially sustainable. Hard-engineering flood management on the Mississippi River, such as its extensive levee system and engineered floodways, is effective at protecting people and property from flooding in the short term, but it is not fully sustainable in the long term because of its very high construction and maintenance cost, its damage to natural wetland habitats, and the way it can increase flood risk for communities located further downstream.

Level 1 (1-3 marks): General, undeveloped points about flood management, which may lack a named example or use an inappropriate scale of example; little or no evaluation of sustainability (a purely one-sided or absent judgement); weak quality of written communication.
Level 2 (4-6 marks): Accurate description of the named strategy with limited or one-sided evaluation of its sustainability; includes at least one named location and a correct factual detail or method; some accurate use of specialist terminology; satisfactory quality of written communication.
Level 3 (7-8 marks): Balanced evaluation weighing both the benefits (e.g. effective short-term flood protection) and the drawbacks (e.g. cost, environmental damage, displaced flood risk downstream) of the named strategy, supported by detailed and accurate facts and figures, accurate specialist terminology, and a clear overall judgement on sustainability; fluent quality of written communication.

The Holderness coast in East Yorkshire is one of the fastest-eroding coastlines in Europe, retreating at an average of around 1.5 to 2 metres per year, because its cliffs are made of soft, easily eroded boulder clay and are exposed to powerful waves. In 1991, rock groynes and a rock armour revetment were built at the village of Mappleton to protect the settlement and the B1242 coastal road from being lost to the sea. This hard-engineering strategy has been successful in its immediate aim: it has effectively halted erosion at Mappleton itself and protected the homes, road and land use in the village. However, the groynes work by trapping sand and shingle moving south along the coast by longshore drift, which starves beaches further south, such as at Cowden, of the sediment they would otherwise receive. Without this natural beach supply to absorb wave energy, erosion rates immediately to the south of Mappleton have increased, a problem known as the terminal groyne effect, leading to greater loss of farmland and greater risk to property in these undefended areas. The strategy is therefore effective and can be judged sustainable at the local scale of Mappleton itself, but it is not sustainable at the wider scale of the Holderness coast as a whole, because it does not reduce the total amount of erosion occurring, it merely displaces the problem onto neighbouring communities, and hard engineering of this kind also remains costly to maintain over time. The rock groynes and rock armour built at Mappleton on the Holderness coast successfully protect the village and the coastal road from the area's very rapid erosion, but the strategy is not fully sustainable because it starves beaches further along the coast of the sediment they need, increasing erosion rates in undefended communities to the south.

Level 1 (1-3 marks): General, undeveloped points about coastal management, which may lack a named example or use an inappropriate scale of example; little or no evaluation of sustainability; weak quality of written communication.
Level 2 (4-6 marks): Accurate description of the named strategy with limited or one-sided evaluation of its sustainability; includes at least one named location and a correct factual detail or method; some accurate use of specialist terminology; satisfactory quality of written communication.
Level 3 (7-8 marks): Balanced evaluation weighing both the benefits (e.g. effective local protection) and the drawbacks (e.g. terminal groyne effect, increased erosion elsewhere, cost) of the named strategy, supported by detailed and accurate facts and figures, accurate specialist terminology, and a clear overall judgement on sustainability; fluent quality of written communication.

Hurricane Katrina made landfall near the Louisiana-Mississippi coast of the USA in August 2005 as a powerful hurricane. Its storm surge, combined with heavy rainfall, overwhelmed and breached several of the levees that protect New Orleans, a city that lies largely below sea level; as a result, around 80 percent of the city was flooded, in some areas to a depth of several metres, and floodwater remained for weeks in the worst-affected districts. The impacts on people were severe: more than 1,800 people were killed across the affected region, and hundreds of thousands of residents were displaced from their homes, with many families from low-lying, poorer neighbourhoods such as the Lower Ninth Ward never able to return, permanently reducing the population of New Orleans. Thousands of people were forced to shelter in emergency locations such as the Superdome stadium in difficult and unsanitary conditions while awaiting evacuation. The impacts on property and infrastructure were also extensive: tens of thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed or made uninhabitable, roads, bridges and the electricity and water supply networks were badly damaged, and oil refineries and ports along the Gulf coast were forced to shut down, disrupting fuel supplies. The total economic cost of the disaster has been estimated at well over 100 billion US dollars, making it one of the costliest weather disasters in US history. Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf coast of the USA in 2005, and its storm surge breached the levees protecting New Orleans, flooding around 80 percent of the city, killing more than 1,800 people, displacing hundreds of thousands from their homes, and causing well over 100 billion US dollars of damage to property and infrastructure.

Level 1 (1-3 marks): General, undeveloped points about the impacts of extreme weather, which may lack a named example or use an inappropriate scale of example; limited factual detail; weak quality of written communication.
Level 2 (4-6 marks): Accurate description of impacts on both people and property, including at least one named location and one correct factual detail or figure; some accurate use of specialist terminology; satisfactory quality of written communication.
Level 3 (7-8 marks): Detailed and accurate description of a range of impacts on both people (e.g. deaths, displacement) and property/infrastructure (e.g. damage, economic cost), supported by specific facts and figures, accurate specialist terminology, and a clear, well-organised structure; fluent quality of written communication.

In March 2011, an earthquake of magnitude 9.0 struck off the coast of the Tohoku region of Japan, an MEDC. The earthquake occurred at a destructive plate margin, where the dense oceanic Pacific Plate is subducted beneath the less dense North American Plate (on which northern Japan sits); the sudden release of pressure built up by this subduction caused the seabed to lift and generated a massive tsunami. In the short term, the tsunami, with waves reaching heights of up to around 40 metres in some coastal areas, swept inland and devastated coastal towns and cities, killing an estimated 18,000 to 20,000 people, destroying tens of thousands of buildings, and cutting off electricity, water and transport links across the region. The tsunami also disabled the backup cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, causing reactor meltdowns and the release of radioactive material, which forced the long-term evacuation of a wide exclusion zone around the plant. In the long term, the environmental impacts included contamination of land and sea around Fukushima that will take decades to fully clean up, while the human impacts included many displaced families who have never been able to return home, the loss of livelihoods in fishing and farming communities, and the enormous cost of rebuilding, which has run into hundreds of billions of US dollars. Japan's preparation for earthquakes was, in some respects, highly effective: strict earthquake-resistant building codes and extensive public education and drills meant relatively few buildings collapsed and few people died from the shaking itself, and existing tsunami sea walls and warning systems saved many lives by giving residents time to move to higher ground. However, the response also revealed clear weaknesses: the tsunami substantially exceeded the height of many sea walls and warning assumptions, and safety planning for the Fukushima nuclear plant had not adequately prepared for a tsunami of this scale, contributing to the nuclear disaster. Overall, Japan's wealth and technology allowed for a much more effective, rapid response (including large-scale emergency deployment and international aid) than would be possible in many LEDCs, but the disaster still showed that even a well-prepared MEDC can be overwhelmed by an event of this magnitude. The magnitude 9.0 Tohoku earthquake of 2011 occurred at the destructive plate margin where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate off the coast of Japan, and triggered a devastating tsunami that killed around 18,000-20,000 people, destroyed coastal towns and caused a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant; Japan's strict building codes and tsunami defences reduced deaths from the earthquake itself, but its tsunami warning systems and sea defences were still overwhelmed, and the response exposed serious weaknesses in nuclear plant safety planning.

Level 1 (1-3 marks): General, undeveloped points about the earthquake, which may lack a named example, omit the plates involved, or use an inappropriate scale of example; little or no evaluation of preparation/response; weak quality of written communication.
Level 2 (4-6 marks): Accurate identification of the plates involved and description of some short-term and/or long-term impacts, with limited or one-sided evaluation of the country's preparation and response; some accurate use of specialist terminology.
Level 3 (7-9 marks): Accurate identification of the plates involved (including the plate margin type); detailed, accurate description of both short-term and long-term impacts on people and the environment, supported by facts and figures; a balanced evaluation of both the successes and weaknesses of the country's preparation for and response to the earthquake; accurate specialist terminology throughout.

Stage 1 has high, fluctuating birth and death rates, so natural increase is low (A). Stage 2 has a high birth rate but a rapidly falling death rate (due to improved healthcare, sanitation and food supply), producing rapid natural increase (C). Stage 4 has both a low birth rate and a low death rate, so population growth is low or stable (B). Stage 5 occurs where the birth rate falls below the death rate, so the population begins to decline (D). Final answers: 1-A; 2-C; 3-B; 4-D.

[1] mark per correct match, to a maximum of [4]: 1-A; 2-C; 3-B; 4-D.

Statement 1 is TRUE: this is the standard definition of the crude birth rate. Statement 2 is FALSE: natural increase occurs when the crude birth rate is higher than the crude death rate, not the other way round (a higher death rate than birth rate causes natural decrease). Statement 3 is TRUE: this is the standard definition of the crude death rate. Final answers: 1 - TRUE; 2 - FALSE; 3 - TRUE.

[1] mark per correct TRUE/FALSE response, to a maximum of [3]: 1 - TRUE; 2 - FALSE; 3 - TRUE.

The Central Business District is the commercial core of a city, characterised by the highest land values and a concentration of shops, offices and services (C). The inner city is an older residential zone close to the centre, often with terraced housing and some older industry (B). The suburbs are a residential zone further from the centre, typically with larger houses and gardens built in the 20th century (D). The rural-urban fringe is at the edge of the city, where urban and rural land uses meet, often the site of new housing estates and retail/business parks (A). Final answers: 1-C; 2-B; 3-D; 4-A.

[1] mark per correct match, to a maximum of [4]: 1-C; 2-B; 3-D; 4-A.

Statement 1 is TRUE: competition for space is greatest in the CBD, making land values highest there. Statement 2 is FALSE: the rural-urban fringe is located at the edge of a settlement, not the centre. Statement 3 is TRUE: aerial photographs and OS maps are standard tools for identifying settlement functions and land use zones. Final answers: 1 - TRUE; 2 - FALSE; 3 - TRUE.

[1] mark per correct TRUE/FALSE response, to a maximum of [3]: 1 - TRUE; 2 - FALSE; 3 - TRUE.

Appropriate technology is technology that is simple, low-cost and suited to the skills, resources and needs of the local community using it (B). A Sustainable Development Goal is one of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda targets, agreed in 2015, aiming to reduce poverty and inequality and protect the environment (A). A solar cooker uses reflected sunlight to cook food without needing fuelwood or fossil fuels (C). A Hippo Water Roller is a barrel-shaped container that can be rolled along the ground, making it easier to transport large volumes of water (D). Final answers: 1-B; 2-A; 3-C; 4-D.

[1] mark per correct match, to a maximum of [4]: 1-B; 2-A; 3-C; 4-D.

Statement 1 is TRUE: a guaranteed minimum price is a central feature of fair trade, protecting producers from volatile world market prices. Statement 2 is FALSE: fair trade aims to pay producers a fairer, more stable price than the open market, not less. Statement 3 is TRUE: fair trade schemes often include a community premium that can be invested in local services. Final answers: 1 - TRUE; 2 - FALSE; 3 - TRUE.

[1] mark per correct TRUE/FALSE response, to a maximum of [3]: 1 - TRUE; 2 - FALSE; 3 - TRUE.

Reduce means using less of a resource or producing less waste in the first place (D). Reuse means using an item again for its original or a new purpose rather than discarding it (B). Recycle means processing used materials to make new products (A). A renewable energy source, such as wind or solar power, will not run out because it is naturally replenished (C). Final answers: 1-D; 2-B; 3-A; 4-C.

[1] mark per correct match, to a maximum of [4]: 1-D; 2-B; 3-A; 4-C.

Statement 1 is TRUE: the central aim of the agreement is to limit the rise in global average temperature, ideally to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Statement 2 is FALSE: the agreement was reached through international cooperation between nearly 200 countries, not by a single country. Statement 3 is TRUE: countries submit their own nationally determined contributions setting out emission reduction targets. Final answers: 1 - TRUE; 2 - FALSE; 3 - TRUE.

[1] mark per correct TRUE/FALSE response, to a maximum of [3]: 1 - TRUE; 2 - FALSE; 3 - TRUE.

Housing issues in the inner city include poor-quality, ageing housing stock existing alongside areas undergoing gentrification (C). Traffic congestion reduces air quality and increases journey times because of high volumes of vehicles (A). Public transport issues concern the cost and efficiency of bus and rail services (D). Cultural mix issues can include ethnic and religious tensions or language barriers between communities living close together (B). Final answers: 1-C; 2-A; 3-D; 4-B.

[1] mark per correct match, to a maximum of [4]: 1-C; 2-A; 3-D; 4-B.

Statement 1 is TRUE: the greenhouse effect is a natural process, without which the Earth would be too cold to support life; it is the enhancement of this effect by human activity that causes concern. Statement 2 is TRUE: a carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gases produced, usually expressed as carbon dioxide equivalent. Statement 3 is FALSE: burning fossil fuels releases additional carbon dioxide, increasing, not reducing, the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Final answers: 1 - TRUE; 2 - TRUE; 3 - FALSE.

[1] mark per correct TRUE/FALSE response, to a maximum of [3]: 1 - TRUE; 2 - TRUE; 3 - FALSE.

(a) Country X's pyramid would have a narrow base, reflecting a low birth rate, a wide middle section representing a large working-age population, and a relatively wide top reflecting a large elderly population; since the elderly (65%) group... since the elderly (65+) group (25%) outnumbers the child (0-14) group (15%), this is an aged-dependent population, in which both the young and the elderly are dependent on the working-age population. (b) Dependency Ratio = [(15 + 25) / 60] x 100 = [40 / 60] x 100 = 0.6667 x 100 = 66.7 (checked by an independent route: 40/60 = 2/3 = 0.6667, so 66.7 to one decimal place). Final answers: (a) A narrow base, a wide middle and a relatively wide top, showing an aged-dependent population, with both the young (0-14) and elderly (65+) age groups dependent on the working-age population; (b) 66.7

(a) [1] mark for an accurate shape description (narrow base / wide top relative to an LEDC pyramid); [1] mark for correctly identifying that both young and elderly age groups are dependent. (b) [1] mark for correct substitution into the formula; [1] mark for the correct final answer of 66.7 (accept 66.6-66.7 for rounding). Maximum [4].

(a) Because Country Y has a much higher birth rate, its pyramid would have a wider base, showing a greater proportion of children, and a narrower top, showing a smaller proportion of elderly people, compared with the aged-dependent MEDC pyramid. (b) Youth Dependency Ratio = (40 / 55) x 100 = 0.72727... x 100 = 72.7 (checked by an independent route: 40/55 = 8/11 = 0.72727, so 72.7 to one decimal place). Final answers: (a) Country Y's pyramid would have a much wider base (a higher proportion of children) and a narrower top (fewer elderly people) than the MEDC pyramid; (b) 72.7

(a) [1] mark for a valid point of contrast (e.g. wider base / narrower top). (b) [1] mark for correct substitution into the formula; [1] mark for the correct final answer of 72.7 (accept 72.6-72.8 for rounding). Maximum [3].

People migrating from a rural area to a city are influenced by push factors, which make them want to leave, and pull factors, which attract them to the destination. Economic push factors include a lack of local job opportunities and low, unreliable incomes from small-scale farming, while economic pull factors include the prospect of higher-paid, more secure employment in city industries and services. Social push factors include limited access to services in rural areas, such as poor-quality healthcare and education, while social pull factors include a greater range and quality of these services in cities, as well as the perception of a more modern lifestyle and better long-term opportunities for children. Together, these economic and social push and pull factors explain why so many people in LEDCs choose to migrate from rural areas to cities. Push factors such as a lack of local job opportunities and low agricultural incomes, together with limited access to services such as healthcare and education, drive people to leave rural areas, while pull factors such as the prospect of higher-paid employment and a greater range of services attract them to cities.

Level 1 (1-2 marks): Basic, generalised statement that people move for a better life, with limited or no distinction between push and pull factors, or between economic and social factors.
Level 2 (3-4 marks): Accurate identification of at least one push factor and one pull factor, with some reference to either economic or social factors, but limited development or balance.
Level 3 (5-6 marks): Detailed and accurate explanation of both push and pull factors, clearly referring to both economic factors (e.g. income, employment) and social factors (e.g. access to healthcare and education), with accurate use of specialist terminology.

Many MEDC inner city areas face significant housing issues: much of the housing stock is old and in poor condition, requiring costly repair and modernisation, while in some inner city areas gentrification (wealthier people moving in and renovating property) has pushed up house prices and rents, displacing lower-income, long-term residents who can no longer afford to live there. Inner city areas also face significant traffic issues: the high density of population, businesses and narrow, older road layouts leads to congestion, which reduces air quality and increases journey times for residents and workers; this also creates pressure on public transport, in terms of both its cost and its efficiency in moving large numbers of people, and on the availability and cost of parking in areas where space is limited. Housing issues include poor-quality, ageing housing stock in need of repair alongside pressures from gentrification pushing up prices and displacing lower-income residents; traffic issues include congestion that harms air quality and increases journey times, and pressure on public transport and parking due to the high density of the inner city.

Level 1 (1-2 marks): Basic, generalised statement of one or two problems in the inner city, with limited or inaccurate terminology.
Level 2 (3-4 marks): Accurate description of at least one issue relating to housing and one relating to traffic, with some explanation, but limited development.
Level 3 (5-6 marks): Detailed and accurate explanation of both a housing issue (e.g. poor-quality housing and/or gentrification) and a traffic issue (e.g. congestion, public transport, parking), with accurate use of specialist terminology and clear links to causes and effects.

GNI per capita is a purely economic indicator: it shows the average income per person in a country but says nothing about how evenly that income is distributed, and it does not directly measure people's health, education or overall quality of life. A country could have a high GNI per capita while a large proportion of its population remains poor, uneducated or in poor health, because wealth can be concentrated among a small, wealthy elite. The Human Development Index (HDI) addresses this weakness by combining an economic indicator (income) with two social indicators: life expectancy at birth, which reflects the overall health and living conditions of the population, and education (mean and expected years of schooling), which reflects access to and quality of education. By combining these three dimensions, the HDI gives a more rounded, composite picture of development and human wellbeing than income alone, making it more useful for comparing genuine living standards between countries, even though it still cannot capture every aspect of development, such as political freedom or environmental quality. The HDI combines an economic measure of income with social indicators of life expectancy and education, so it reflects quality of life and human wellbeing more broadly than a purely economic measure, which can hide inequality within a country and does not capture non-monetary aspects of development such as health and access to education.

Level 1 (1-2 marks): Basic, generalised statement that HDI is 'better' or 'more accurate' than GNI, with limited or no explanation of why.
Level 2 (3-5 marks): Accurate description of what the HDI measures (e.g. income, life expectancy, education) with some explanation of why this is broader than GNI alone, but limited development of the weaknesses of using GNI alone.
Level 3 (6-7 marks): Detailed and accurate explanation identifying that GNI is a purely economic measure that can hide inequality and says nothing about health or education, and that the HDI combines income with life expectancy and education to give a broader, more accurate picture of development and quality of life. Accurate use of specialist terminology throughout.

The greenhouse effect is a natural process in which gases in the atmosphere trap some of the outgoing long-wave radiation given off by the Earth's surface, keeping the planet warm enough to support life. Human activities add extra greenhouse gases to the atmosphere, enhancing this natural process. Burning fossil fuels, such as coal, oil and gas, for electricity generation, industry and transport, releases large quantities of carbon dioxide, while deforestation reduces the number of trees available to absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and can itself release stored carbon; agriculture and waste also release methane, another powerful greenhouse gas. As the concentration of these gases in the atmosphere increases, more outgoing radiation is trapped, so the atmosphere retains more heat than it naturally would; this enhanced greenhouse effect causes average global temperatures to rise over time, a process known as climate change, which is linked to rising sea levels, more extreme weather events and shifting climate patterns. Human activities such as burning fossil fuels for energy and transport, and deforestation, release additional greenhouse gases (mainly carbon dioxide and methane) into the atmosphere; these gases trap outgoing long-wave radiation from the Earth's surface, enhancing the natural greenhouse effect and causing average global temperatures to rise, which is known as climate change.

Level 1 (1-2 marks): Basic, generalised statement that pollution or human activity causes climate change, with limited or inaccurate terminology.
Level 2 (3-4 marks): Accurate identification of at least one human activity (e.g. burning fossil fuels) that releases greenhouse gases, with some explanation of a link to warming, but limited detail on the mechanism.
Level 3 (5-6 marks): Detailed and accurate explanation of how human activities (e.g. burning fossil fuels, deforestation) release additional greenhouse gases that trap outgoing radiation, enhancing the natural greenhouse effect and causing global temperatures to rise. Accurate use of specialist terminology throughout.

Wind power has several benefits as a sustainable energy solution. It produces no direct greenhouse gas emissions while generating electricity, helping to reduce a country's contribution to climate change, and it uses wind, a renewable resource that will not run out, unlike fossil fuels. Once a wind farm is built, its running costs are relatively low compared with fossil fuel power stations, since there is no fuel to purchase. However, wind power also has disadvantages. Its output is intermittent and unreliable, since electricity can only be generated when wind speeds are within a suitable range, meaning it usually needs to be backed up by other energy sources. The initial cost of building wind turbines and connecting them to the electricity grid is high, and wind farms, particularly onshore, can have negative visual impacts on the landscape and can generate noise that affects nearby communities, sometimes leading to local opposition. Overall, wind power is a valuable part of a sustainable energy strategy because of its low emissions and renewable nature, but its intermittency and cost mean it is best used alongside other energy sources rather than as a sole solution. Wind power benefits include producing no direct greenhouse gas emissions during operation, using a renewable and effectively inexhaustible resource, and having relatively low running costs once built; disadvantages include unreliable, intermittent output that depends on wind conditions, high initial construction costs, and visual and noise impacts on nearby communities and landscapes.

Level 1 (1-2 marks): Basic, generalised statement of one benefit or one disadvantage of wind power, with limited or inaccurate terminology.
Level 2 (3-4 marks): Accurate description of at least one benefit and one disadvantage, with some explanation, but a one-sided or underdeveloped evaluation.
Level 3 (5-6 marks): Balanced evaluation of both the benefits (e.g. low emissions, renewable, low running cost) and disadvantages (e.g. intermittency, construction cost, visual/noise impact) of wind power, with accurate use of specialist terminology and a clear overall judgement.

Since the outbreak of civil war in Syria, large numbers of Syrian refugees have made dangerous journeys, often by small boat across the Aegean Sea, to reach Greece, which has been a major entry point into the European Union. Refugees arriving in Greece have faced serious challenges: many were housed for long periods in overcrowded, poorly resourced camps, such as Moria camp on the island of Lesbos, with inadequate sanitation, healthcare and shelter; refugees also face uncertain legal status while their asylum claims are processed, language and cultural barriers, and significant difficulty finding work, which can leave families in poverty for extended periods. Greece, as the destination country, has also faced significant challenges: the sudden arrival of large numbers of refugees put severe pressure on housing, healthcare, education and other services, particularly on smaller islands with limited existing infrastructure; this arrived at a time when Greece's economy was already under strain following its financial crisis, limiting the resources available to support new arrivals; and the scale of arrivals has also created social and political tensions within Greek society and disputes with other EU countries over how responsibility for hosting and relocating refugees should be shared. Refugees face challenges such as dangerous journeys, overcrowded and poorly resourced camps (for example, Moria camp on Lesbos), uncertain legal status and difficulty finding work, while the destination country, Greece, faces challenges including pressure on housing, services and infrastructure, strain on an already fragile economy, and social and political tensions linked to public and government responses to large numbers of arrivals.

Level 1 (1-3 marks): General, undeveloped points about migration, which may lack a named example or use an inappropriate scale of example; little or no reference to both refugees and the destination country; weak quality of written communication.
Level 2 (4-5 marks): Accurate description of challenges facing either refugees or the destination country (or limited coverage of both), including at least one named location and a correct factual detail; some accurate use of specialist terminology; satisfactory quality of written communication.
Level 3 (6-7 marks): Balanced and detailed discussion of challenges facing both the refugees and the destination country, supported by specific facts and named locations, accurate specialist terminology, and a clear, well-organised structure; fluent quality of written communication.

Titanic Quarter is a large urban regeneration scheme built on former shipyard land beside the River Lagan in Belfast, developed after the decline of large-scale shipbuilding left much of the site derelict. The scheme aimed to regenerate the area by providing new housing, employment opportunities, improved transport links and a better-quality environment. In terms of housing, the scheme has delivered new apartment developments along the waterfront, bringing residents back to a previously derelict industrial area. In terms of employment, new offices, a business park, further and higher education facilities and tourism and leisure developments, most notably the Titanic Belfast visitor attraction (which opened in 2012 and tells the story of the shipyard and the RMS Titanic), have created jobs in construction, tourism, retail and office-based industries, replacing some of the manufacturing jobs lost when shipbuilding declined. In terms of the environment, the scheme has improved the appearance and public accessibility of the riverside, with new public spaces, cycling and walking routes replacing derelict industrial land. However, the scheme has also faced some criticism: the pace of development has been slower than originally planned, with some sites remaining undeveloped for long periods, and the number and range of jobs and new housing delivered has not always matched the scale of the original vision, meaning the benefits have not always reached all parts of the surrounding inner city community as quickly as intended. The Titanic Quarter regeneration scheme in Belfast has transformed the former Harland and Wolff shipyard site into a mixed-use area with new housing, offices, tourism and leisure attractions such as the Titanic Belfast visitor centre, successfully creating jobs and improving the riverside environment, although the scale and pace of new housing and employment delivered has, at times, fallen short of the scheme's original ambitions.

Level 1 (1-3 marks): General, undeveloped points about urban regeneration, which may lack a named example or use an inappropriate scale of example; little or no evaluation; weak quality of written communication.
Level 2 (4-5 marks): Accurate description of the named scheme with reference to at least two of housing, employment and environment, but limited or one-sided evaluation; some accurate use of specialist terminology; satisfactory quality of written communication.
Level 3 (6 marks): Balanced evaluation of the named scheme covering housing, employment and environment, weighing successes against limitations, supported by accurate detail and a clear overall judgement; fluent quality of written communication.

India, one of the BRICS countries, has experienced rapid economic growth linked to globalisation over recent decades. Globalisation has helped India's development in several ways: foreign transnational corporations (TNCs) have invested heavily in Indian manufacturing and services, taking advantage of India's large, increasingly skilled and comparatively low-cost workforce; India has also become a global centre for IT and business process outsourcing, with cities such as Bangalore developing into major technology hubs providing services to companies worldwide. This investment and growth have created millions of jobs, raised incomes for many workers and their families, and contributed to a significant reduction in extreme poverty over recent decades. However, globalisation has also hindered development in some respects: the benefits of growth have been very unevenly distributed, with prosperity concentrated in major cities and IT hubs while many rural areas remain much poorer, widening inequality within the country; rapid industrialisation linked to globalisation has contributed to serious air and water pollution in many Indian cities; and small local businesses have sometimes struggled to compete with large, powerful transnational corporations entering the Indian market, threatening traditional industries and livelihoods. Globalisation has helped India's development by attracting foreign direct investment and driving rapid growth in manufacturing and IT/outsourcing services, such as the technology hub around Bangalore, creating jobs and raising incomes for many, but it has also hindered development by widening the gap between prospering cities and poorer rural areas, contributing to pollution from rapid industrialisation, and exposing local businesses to competition from powerful transnational corporations.

Level 1 (1-3 marks): General, undeveloped points about globalisation, which may lack a named example or use an inappropriate scale of example; one-sided coverage of only help or hindrance.
Level 2 (4-5 marks): Accurate description of at least one way globalisation has helped and one way it has hindered development, with some explanation and at least one correct named detail (e.g. Bangalore, TNCs); some accurate use of specialist terminology.
Level 3 (6-7 marks): Detailed and balanced explanation of how globalisation has both helped (e.g. investment, jobs, income) and hindered (e.g. inequality, pollution, threat to local business) development in the named country, supported by specific facts and accurate specialist terminology.

Costa Rica is one of the world's leading destinations for ecotourism, small-scale tourism that aims to conserve the environment, educate visitors and benefit local communities, and has protected a very large proportion of its land, in the form of national parks, reserves and forest, in recognition of the value of its rainforests, coastlines and biodiversity. Ecotourism protects the environment in Costa Rica in several ways: the entrance fees and tourism revenue generated by visitors help to fund the ongoing management, monitoring and protection of national parks and reserves, giving the government and conservation organisations a clear financial incentive to maintain rather than exploit these habitats; ecotourism also provides local communities with income and employment as guides, in lodges and in related small businesses, giving them a sustainable economic alternative to more environmentally damaging activities such as logging, cattle ranching or unregulated agriculture, which reduces the pressure to convert forest to other land uses; and by educating visitors about the value of rainforest and coastal ecosystems, ecotourism can also raise wider awareness and support for conservation. However, ecotourism is not without risk to the environment: increasing visitor numbers can place pressure on fragile ecosystems and popular sites through construction of access roads, trails and accommodation, and if poorly managed or if revenue does not genuinely reach local communities and conservation efforts, tourism growth can undermine the very environment it depends on. Overall, when carefully managed, ecotourism in Costa Rica has given the environment real economic value, supporting its protection, though this benefit depends on tourism being kept small-scale and revenue being reinvested in conservation and local communities. In Costa Rica, ecotourism generates revenue that funds the conservation of a very large protected network of national parks and reserves, and provides local communities with income from guiding and hospitality as a sustainable alternative to environmentally damaging activities such as logging, so that the environment is given real economic value that supports its protection.

Level 1 (1-3 marks): General, undeveloped points about ecotourism, which may lack a named example or use an inappropriate scale of example; little or no assessment of how it protects the environment; weak quality of written communication.
Level 2 (4-5 marks): Accurate description of the named case study with at least one correct way ecotourism protects the environment (e.g. funding conservation, alternative income), but limited or one-sided assessment; some accurate use of specialist terminology; satisfactory quality of written communication.
Level 3 (6-7 marks): Detailed and balanced assessment of how ecotourism protects the environment in the named case study, including its limitations, supported by specific facts, accurate specialist terminology and a clear overall judgement; fluent quality of written communication.

The geographical enquiry process begins with identifying a question or issue to investigate and planning the enquiry, including setting an aim and hypotheses (B, stage 1). Data is then collected using appropriate methods (C, stage 2). Once collected, the data is analysed and interpreted, for example by identifying trends, patterns and anomalies (A, stage 3). Finally, evidenced conclusions are drawn and the enquiry, including its methods and findings, is evaluated (D, stage 4). Final answers: 1-B; 2-C; 3-A; 4-D.

[1] mark for each stage placed in the correct position in the sequence, to a maximum of [4]: 1-B; 2-C; 3-A; 4-D.

(a) A primary source of data is information collected first-hand by the student themselves during fieldwork, for example through their own observations, counts or measurements. A secondary source of data is information that already exists and was collected by someone else, for example census data, local council reports or newspaper articles, which the student uses rather than collecting themselves. (b) A suitable hypothesis must be a clear, testable statement (not a question) relating the two variables under investigation. For an investigation into pedestrian count and distance from the CBD, a suitable hypothesis would be: 'Pedestrian count decreases with increasing distance from the CBD.' Final answers: (a) A primary source is data collected first-hand by the student themselves (e.g. through their own counts or measurements); a secondary source is data that already exists and was collected by someone else (e.g. census data or a published report). (b) e.g. 'Pedestrian count decreases with increasing distance from the CBD.'

(a) [1] mark for a correct definition of a primary source; [1] mark for a correct definition of a secondary source. (b) [1] mark for a hypothesis phrased as a clear, testable statement rather than a question; [1] mark for correctly relating the two variables (pedestrian count and distance from the CBD); [1] mark for a hypothesis that implies a sound, geographically logical directional relationship (e.g. a decrease). Maximum [5]. Accept any other valid, testable hypothesis relating the two variables for part (b).

The graph should be a bar graph with distance from the CBD (km) on the x-axis, showing the five sites at 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 km, and pedestrian count (people per 5 minutes) on the y-axis, correctly scaled from zero to at least 142, with both axes clearly labelled including units. Five bars of equal width, separated by equal gaps, should be drawn to the correct heights: 142 (Site 1), 98 (Site 2), 61 (Site 3), 72 (Site 4) and 15 (Site 5). The graph should have a clear, appropriate title, such as 'Bar graph to show the change in pedestrian count with distance from the CBD'. Bar graph: x-axis = distance from CBD (km) - 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0; y-axis = pedestrian count (people per 5 minutes), scale starting at zero and rising to at least 142; bars of height 142, 98, 61, 72 and 15 respectively; title e.g. 'Bar graph to show the change in pedestrian count with distance from the CBD'.

[2] marks for a suitable, appropriate title. [1] mark for the correct graphical technique (a bar graph, with equal-width bars and equal gaps, appropriate for this discrete site-based data). [3] marks for accuracy of plotting, awarded in bands (all 5 bars accurate = 3; 3-4 accurate = 2; 1-2 accurate = 1; 0 accurate = 0). [2] marks for conventions (both axes correctly labelled with units, and the y-axis scale starting at zero and evenly spaced). Maximum [8].

The data table shows that pedestrian count generally decreases as distance from the CBD increases, falling from 142 people per 5 minutes at Site 1 (0.1 km from the CBD) to 15 people per 5 minutes at Site 5 (2.0 km from the CBD), an overall decrease of 127 people per 5 minutes. This general pattern is not perfectly steady, since Site 4 (1.5 km, 72) records a higher count than Site 3 (1.0 km, 61). The overall decreasing trend supports the geographical theory of distance decay, which states that the intensity, frequency or influence of an activity linked to a central point decreases the further away you move from that point. In this case, the CBD is the source of the greatest concentration of shops, services and employment, so its pulling power for pedestrians is strongest closest to it and weakens with distance, because fewer people are willing to travel further to reach the same services when equivalent, more local alternatives, or simply less need to travel, exist closer to home. Pedestrian count generally decreases as distance from the CBD increases, falling from 142 people per 5 minutes at Site 1 (0.1 km) to 15 people per 5 minutes at Site 5 (2.0 km); this supports the theory of distance decay, which states that the intensity of an activity linked to a central point decreases the further away you move from that point, because fewer people are willing to travel further to reach the services and attractions concentrated in the CBD.

[1] mark for correctly identifying the overall trend (pedestrian count generally decreases with distance from the CBD). [1] mark for correct figures quoted from the table (e.g. 142 at Site 1, 15 at Site 5). [1] mark for a valid additional comment on the pattern (e.g. the overall decrease of 127, or noting the trend is not perfectly steady). [1] mark for a correct definition/explanation of distance decay. [1] mark for clearly linking the theory of distance decay to the specific data trend described. Maximum [5].

An anomaly is a data value that does not fit the general pattern or trend shown by the rest of the data set. In the pedestrian count data, Site 4 (1.5 km from the CBD) is an anomaly: its count of 72 people per 5 minutes is higher than both the preceding Site 3 (1.0 km, 61) and the following Site 5 (2.0 km, 15), breaking the otherwise generally decreasing trend in pedestrian count with distance from the CBD. A possible reason for this anomaly is that Site 4 may be located close to a secondary generator of pedestrian footfall that is independent of distance from the CBD, such as a school at pick-up/drop-off time, a local parade of shops, or a bus stop or transport interchange, any of which could temporarily increase the number of people passing that site regardless of its distance from the CBD. Site 4 (1.5 km) is an anomaly: its count of 72 people per 5 minutes is higher than both Site 3 (61) and Site 5 (15), breaking the otherwise decreasing trend; a possible reason is that Site 4 may be located near a secondary generator of pedestrian footfall, such as a school, local shopping parade or bus stop, independent of its distance from the CBD.

[1] mark for correctly identifying the anomaly (Site 4, 1.5 km). [1] mark for correct supporting figures quoted (72 at Site 4, compared with 61 at Site 3 and/or 15 at Site 5). [2] marks for a plausible, well-reasoned possible explanation for the anomaly (e.g. a secondary generator of footfall such as a school, shops or bus stop): [1] for a plausible reason, a further [1] for a developed link to why this would increase footfall independently of distance from the CBD. Maximum [4].

A first limitation of this method is that counting at only one point in time, on a single weekday afternoon, means the results may not be representative of pedestrian flows at other times of day, such as the morning rush hour or the evening, when patterns of activity in and around the CBD are likely to differ; this could be improved by repeating the counts at several different times of day and taking an average, to obtain a more representative and reliable set of results. A second limitation is that manual tallying carried out by a single observer is prone to human error, particularly at busy sites where it is easy to lose count or miscount people moving quickly or in groups; this could be improved by using a second, independent observer to cross-check the counts at the same site and time, or by using an automated pedestrian counter, to increase the accuracy and reliability of the data collected. Limitation 1: counting at only one point in time means the results may not be representative of pedestrian flows at other times of day; improvement: repeat counts at several different times of day (e.g. morning, afternoon and evening) and take an average. Limitation 2: manual tallying by a single observer is prone to human error, especially at busy sites; improvement: use a second observer to cross-check counts, or use an automated pedestrian counter.

[1] mark for each valid limitation identified (maximum [2]). [1] mark for each corresponding valid improvement clearly linked to that limitation (maximum [2]). [1] further mark for a clearly and coherently developed explanation of how the improvements increase reliability. Maximum [5]. Any other valid limitation/improvement pair is acceptable.

The hypothesis 'Pedestrian count decreases with increasing distance from the CBD' should be accepted. This is supported by the data as a whole: pedestrian count falls from 142 people per 5 minutes at Site 1 (0.1 km from the CBD) to 15 people per 5 minutes at Site 5 (2.0 km from the CBD), an overall decrease of 127, and this decreasing pattern is repeated across most of the sites, not just between the first and last. The conclusion should acknowledge that the decrease was not perfectly consistent at every single site, since Site 4 (1.5 km, 72) recorded a higher count than the closer Site 3 (1.0 km, 61); however, this single anomalous result does not outweigh the strong overall decreasing trend shown across the full data set, so the hypothesis should still be accepted, with the anomaly noted as a limitation on how consistently the pattern held. The hypothesis should be accepted, since pedestrian count clearly decreases overall with increasing distance from the CBD, falling from 142 at Site 1 (0.1 km) to 15 at Site 5 (2.0 km), even though one anomalous result at Site 4 (1.5 km, 72) shows the decrease was not perfectly consistent at every site.

[1] mark for the correct decision (accept the hypothesis). [1] mark for correct use of figures/evidence from the data to support the decision. [1] mark for reference to the overall pattern across the full data set, not just the first and last values. [1] mark for acknowledging/discussing the anomaly and its effect on the strength of the conclusion. [1] mark for a clear, well-evidenced overall judgement. Maximum [5].

One way to extend the scope of the study would be to collect pedestrian count data along more than one transect, in different directions from the CBD, rather than along a single route; this would allow the student to check whether the same distance decay pattern applies consistently in all directions, or whether it varies depending on factors such as the location of transport routes or competing retail centres. A second way to extend the scope would be to collect data across a wider range of distances from the CBD, beyond the 2.0 km already studied, and/or to add more sites in between the existing ones; this would show whether the decreasing trend in pedestrian count continues, levels off, or changes at greater distances, giving a fuller picture of the relationship between pedestrian count and distance from the CBD. Extension 1: collect pedestrian count data along more than one transect (in different directions from the CBD), to check whether the same distance decay pattern applies in all directions, not just along a single route. Extension 2: collect data across a wider range of distances from the CBD (beyond 2.0 km) and/or at more sites in between, to see whether the decreasing trend continues, levels off or changes at greater distances.

[1] mark for each valid way to extend the scope of the study (maximum [2]). [1] mark for each corresponding, clearly developed reason why this would improve or extend the study (maximum [2]). Maximum [4]. Any other valid, developed suggestion for extending scope is acceptable.