IGCSE Geography 2016 Examination potential 7-mark questions

Level 3 (7 marks)
3 or more developed statements + named example with at least one piece of place specific detail.
Section of
syllabus

Areas mentioned
in syllabus

Potential
questions

Named
example

1.1
Overpopulation

Causes

Explain the
causes of
overpopulation

Bangladesh

Suggested 3 statements
to develop

Nat pop growth

(BR and DR)
Lack of natural
resources and
impact of flooding
LEDC = cant
afford imports

Place specific detail

Consequences

Describe the
consequences
of overpopulation

Bangladesh

Malnourishment
Slow rate of
development
Lack of
education (cycle
of poverty)

pop growth of 2% per year

high birth rate due lack of
knowledge regarding
contraceptives + high
death rate due to lack of
suitable medical facilities
suffers from annual
floods - insufficient
resources to provide for the
growing population
low GDP per capita unable to afford imports to
replace natural resources
low GDP per capita unable
to afford sufficient food
supply
0.1 hectare of cultivable
land per land - not enough
for the necessary quantity
of food
approximately 2,000
candidates for twenty seats
- inefficient education due
to lack of teachers

1.1
Underpopulation

Causes

Consequences

Explain the
causes of
underpopulation

Describe the
consequences
of underpopulation

Australia

Australia

1.1.Natural
population
change

High rate

Explain why
there is a high
rate of natural
population
growth

Ethiopia

Low population
Wealth of
resources
Climate limits
access to certain
areas

Inability to use
resources
efficiently
Rate of
development is
slower than could
be
May use
foreign investment
/ labour to exploit
resources

Death rates
decreased due to
improved
healthcare
Birth rates
remain high
Life
expectancy higher

population of 23 million not enough people to

utilise the available
resources
3 head per km2 - not
possible to exploit all
resources, therefore large
areas remain undeveloped

high average temperature makes farming difficult

3 head per km2 - not
possible to exploit all
resources, rate of
development is slow
population of 23 million shortage of workers led to
lower optimum productivity

health sector follows a 5

-year rolling plan improved access to care
through the expansions
lack of education - leads to
lack of knowledge
regarding contraceptives
improved access to health
care - results in longer life

expectancy

Low rate

Explain why
there is a low
rate of natural
population
growth or
decline

Japan

Ageing
population
Low fertility
rate
Death rates
increase over birth
rates

1.2 International
migration

Reasons

Explain and
give reasons for
an international
migration

Mexico to
USA

Push factors
Pull factors
Obstacles

Impacts

Describe the
impacts of an

Mexico to
USA

Take low paid jobs

Create tension

old dependents of 23% - fe

expectancy increases,
therefore, the proportion of
old dependents increases
economically active women
- delay the age at which
they start to have a family
high suicide rate - due to
financial pressure (nearly
40% of the young
individuals unable to find
job) + isolating technology

high crime rates migrate for safety reasons

better job opportunities - a
wider range of job and
well-paid jobs available
illegal crossing of the
border - 850,000 caught in
1995

migrant workers keep

wages low - decreases

international
migration on the
destination

Cultural diversity

Describe the
impacts of an
international
migration on the
origin

Mexico to
USA

Economically active leave

Less tax paid
Increased money from
remittances

1.3 Dependant
population

Reasons

Explain why
there is a high
dependent
population

Japan

Ageing population
Low fertility rate
Relatively few
economically active

income revenue of America

illegal migration create
financial tension - costs
millions of dollars for
border patrols + prisons
America benefits from
cultural diversity - migrants
enriched border states with
food, language & music

shortage of
economically active people
- migrants are mostly
economically active
less tax paid - government
revenue decreases
migrants send average of
$6 billion back to Mexico

old dependents of 23%

- life expectancy increases,
therefore, the proportion of
old dependents increases
economically active women
- delay the age at which
they start to have a family
high unemployment rate nearly 40% of the young
individuals unable to find

job

Implications

1.4 Population
density

Influential factors

Explain the
implications of a
high dependent
population

Japan

Describe the
factors that
influence why
an area has a
high population
density

Bangladesh

Describe the
factors that
influence why
an area has a
low population
density

Australia

Investment in healthcare
More money needed to
support elderly
Impacts on economically
active, e.g. retirement age

High BR / Low DR
Fertile land
Climate

Central = desert
Wealth in cities (mostly
East coast)
Farmland (cattle) in centre

old dependents require

medical and health care
money is needed to
provide pension and
nursing homes
retirement age delays economically active
individuals have to provide
for old dependents
high birth rate - due lack of
knowledge regarding
contraceptives
no adequate rainfall unable to provide a reliable
source of water for people
and farming at certain
areas

about 45% of Australia

is desert - extreme weather
is not suitable for people
small quantity of developed
- communities grow and
develop best in temperate
and tropical climates
fertile land in desert -

suitable for farming

1.5 Service
provision
(settlement)

Influence

Explain the
factors which
are influential in
the growth of
the settlement

Ho Chi Minh
City

Hierarchy

Explain the
factors which
determine
where services
are located in
the area

Ho Chi Minh
City

Explain the
reasons for the
hierarchy of

Ho Chi Minh
City

Main roads
Distance from CBD
Distance from highincome areas (D2/D7)

Transport links (road, rail,

air)
Distance to CBD

flat land - suitable for

building shelters
economic drive - where
large domestic + foreign
companies are set up,
therefore, maximum
communications and trade
can be made
transport system - new
technologies with higher
speed and safer vehicle
increase people's mobility

most services located

on the main roads - allow
easy access for customers
majority of services located
near CBD - where
population is dense
less located in high-income
areas - far away from CBD

constructions of road
increasing - public
transport links improved,

settlements in
an area

Services in the area

Explain the
reasons for the
hierarchy of
services in an
area

Ho Chi Minh
City

Proximity to wealthy areas

Proximity to large
populations
Sphere of influence

1.6. Urban area

Changing land
use

Urban sprawl

Give reasons
for the changing
land use in an
urban area

Describe urban

Ho Chi Minh
City

Ho Chi Minh

Urbanisation (rural to
urban)
Increased wealth in the
city
Infrastructure
development

Growth of city

therefore business moved

to take advantage
wide sphere of influence facilities attract people from
wider area
wide range of services
available - provide both low
and high-order services
low + high order goods
found in CBD - densely
populate so more products
are in demand
high order goods in D7 high income areas
large sphere of influence offers wide variety of goods

increased urbanisation
- people seek to improve
standard of living
better paid jobs available higher chance of increased
income
improved infrastructure increase opportunities for
employment and overall
development

urban growth rate of

sprawl in your
area and
explain the
impacts of this

City

Loss of natural vegetation

River pollution

Problems

Explain the
problems
associated with
your urban area

Ho Chi Minh
City

Noise / visual and air

pollution from buildings
Water pollution into the
river
Increased traffic

Describe
attempts to
manage
problems in
your urban area

Ho Chi Minh
City

Building restrictions
Taxation on cars
Infrastructure investment

12% - initially densely

populated + additional
migrants
less natural vegetation majority of land used for
buildings
takes over river development near the river
results in pollution

increased constructions
- create noise/air/visual
pollution to local residents
increased production chemical pollution from
industries into rivers
increased traffic - densely
populated + additional
migrants cause traffic
congestion

zoning regulations specific requirements as to

the type of building allow
increased taxation on car to reduce the purchase of
car
increased investment in
infrastructure -

improvements in
vegetation to improve
visual image

1.7 Urbanisation

Developing
country

Explain why
urbanisation is
occurring in a
developing
country

Vietnam and
Ho Chi Minh
City

Rural to urban migration

jobs
Foreign investment
GDP growth focused in
HCMC

2.1 Earthquakes

Causes

Describe the
causes of an
earthquake

Japan, 2011

Direction of plate
movement and pressure
build up
Epicentre
Seismic waves

urban growth rate of

12% - initially densely
populated + additional
migrants
increased foreign
investment - foreign
investors take advantage
of undeveloped resources
or areas
development mostly in
GDP - centre of
businesses, therefore,
allow easy access to trade

As japan locate in the epicentre,

plate at the east edge of the
Eurasian Plate
Plate margin is destructive cause
friction as plate stick
When plate move, tension builds
up
As pressure increases, it releases
cause a rapid shift in the plates
and lots of energy going to be
release

2.1 Volcanoes

Effects

Describe the
social and
environmental
effects of an
earthquake

Japan, 2011

Short term social effects

Long term social effects
Flooding from tsunami

Power failure, fires,

homelessness, congestion
Poverty- poor forced to live on
marginal land
the Yen fell rapidly, stocks also
decrease
damage cause in tokyo
A tsunami warning was issued 3
minutes after the earthquake
Innovations for responses with
disasters

Reduce impact

Explain how the

impact of
earthquakes
can be reduced

Japan, 2011

Buildings designed to
sway
Bullet train automatic
switch off
Automatic emergency
warning

Japan government, offered aids

and as bank of japan set up
disaster control team
Rescue teams have been
researched from other countries,
joining to search for survivors

Causes

Describe the
causes of a
volcanic
eruption

Mt Pinatubo,
Phillippines

Plate boundary movement As plates move further apart,

Build-up of magma and
constructive plate boundary
increased earthquakes
Cause a hole in earths surface,
Shape of volcano
magma, gas and ashes escape
changed
onto the Earths surface
Due to Phillips have a lot of plates
tectonics within the country,
tension occurs, as movement
apart allows magma to escape
from the mantle below
As the movement varies, the shape
of the volcano changes

Effects

Describe the
social and
environmental
effects of a
volcanic
eruption

Mt Pinatubo,
Phillippines

Evacuation
Health impacts of dust
(short and long term)
Farmland destroyed

Many people will be injured in the

hazard, as they will need to be
treated which requires a lot of
money
Infrastructure gets damage and
electricity, water, transport and
other communications will be
damaged hampering search
Diseases get started, as an impact
of dirty living conditions
Unemployment is also the case of
many industries becoming decline
as people lose their jobs
Ash blocked rivers destroy
population sites + cause flooding
turn destroyed crops and livestock
Flooding destroyed
communications such as road and
railway bridges sediment carry
downstream ruin water transport

Reduce impact

Explain how the

impact of
volcanic
eruptions can
be reduced

Mt Pinatubo,
Phillippines

Monitoring
Evacuation
Clearing farmland quickly
and using dust as
fertiliser

Government start systems to help

monitor when volcanoes are going
to erupt therefore they can start
podcast to tell the population who
live near there so they can move
before volcanoes erupt
Foreign countries help the
evacuation easier by importing
transportation to help the
population from escorting

As podcasts are posted, farmers

from the area help to clear
farmland faster + as they use
farmland as fertilizers
2.2 Rivers

Opportunities

Explain how
rivers can
provide
opportunities for
people

Mekong
River,
Vietnam

Agriculture
Transport
Tourism

It allows tourism opportunities as

more tourists especially from
foreign countries are interested to
see the area
More fertile land for farming,
especially crops like rice as they
have more water for fishing and
other aquaculture (provide higher
economic income)
Water is a good transport link,
which is easier for trade
People can build house and are
then transportable + not easy to
flood

Hazards

Explain how
rivers can
present hazards
for people

Saigon River

Flooding (rain / storm

surge)
Flooding (sea level rise)
Pollution

Harder to transport links by road cost of bridges

Areas are easy for flood especially
when sea levels rise
Water pollution is high as
mosquitos attract to dirty water
Costs of building defences while
money can be spent on something
else

Management

Explain what

Saigon River

Dredging of vegetation

Emergency water and good

can be done to
manage the
impacts of
flooding

2.3 Coasts

Opportunities

Explain how the

coastline can
provide
opportunities for
people

Hazards

Explain how the

coastline can
present hazards
for people

Storm drains
House construction

Vung Tau / Ho Direct tourism (day trips,

Tram Strip
hotels)
Indirect tourism
(restaurants, local
economy)
Fishing

Holderness
Coast, UK

Coastal erosion loss of

farmland
Coastal erosion loss of
buildings
Tourism reliant industry

supplies for surviving animals

Boats for rescuing victims stranded
on buildings and scratches of dry
land
Aid accepted from foreign
countries
Create flood water storage areas
Developing flood warning scheme
Tents and blankets are provided to
the people who dont have shelters
Many uses for tourism
Many resorts along coasts and
tourists enjoy using the coast for
swimming and sunbathing
Resorts usually have activities for
tourists like fishing and other
sports like golf
People also making living with
fishing from aquaculture takes
place along the coast
Other accommodations are also
built on resorts, which provide
higher income
Tropical storms are usual near
coastline, which is dangerous for
the people live near there,
increase cause of flooding etc.
Erosion as many coastlines are
being eroded by stronger storms

and also rising sea levels

as many people are dependent on
the tourism as a way of making a
living, if tropical storms and
erosion occur as resorts are
damaged, people there will find it
hard to make livings by other way

2.5 Tropical
rainforest

Management

Explain what
can be done to
manage the
impacts of
coastal erosion

Holderness
Coast, UK

Hard engineering
(groynes, sea walls)
Soft engineering
(managed retreat)
Relocation / rebuilding

Buildings are being re - built to help

continue the work
Engineering are being managed
for retreats
Groynes and sea walls are being
built

Characteristics of
climate

Describe and
explain the
characteristics
of a tropical
rainforest
climate

Borneo

Temperature
Precipitation type
Variations in the year

Constant 25 30 degrees Celsius

Rainfall all year around
Experience convectional rainfall
(close to equator)
Days start of warm and
temperature and humidity build up
Air saturated and tropical rainforest
experience rainstorms
This temperature; rainfall and
precipitation varies throughout the
year

Characteristics of
ecosystems

Describe and
explain the
characteristics
of tropical

Borneo

Rainforest layers
Soil and nutrient cycle
Animal adaptations

Well developed canopy and

understory vegetation thick, with
short trees
Annual rainfall around 200 225

rainforest
ecosystems

evenly distributed throughout the

year
Temperature and humidity are high
and has a very rich floristic and
faunistic composition

Deforestation
causes

Describe the
causes of
tropical
rainforest
deforestation

Borneo

Palm oil
Timber
Unsustainable methods

Mining rainforests have many

resources including metals and
fossils fuels beneath their soils
(gold mining)
Cattle ranching increase tracts
of rainforest, being cleared to
make pastures for grazing
Road building trans amazon
highway from Brazil to Bolivia
cause deforestation opens up to
mining and farming cause further
deforestation

Deforestation
effects

Describe the
impacts of
tropical
rainforest
deforestation

Borneo

Indigenous people lose

homes
Wildlife habitats lost
(Orangutan)
Smog from fires

Loss of habitats
Changes in the hydrological cycle
Removal of organic matter,
increase water erosion and
removal of producers
Flooding less interception less
root uptake transpiration
rainwater reaches ground quick
Landslides trees removal make
soil less stable floods increase
Less photosynthesis less CO2

2.5 Hot deserts

3.1 Development

Characteristics of
climate

Describe and
explain the
characteristics
of a hot desert
climate

Sahara

Day / night temperature

differences
Lack of moisture in
atmosphere
Variations in the year

Characteristics of
ecosystems

Describe and
explain the
characteristics
of hot desert
ecosystems

Sahara

Lack of moisture in soil /

air
Plant adaptations (e.g.
Cactus)
Animal adaptations (e.g.
Camel)

Inequalities

Explain why
there are
inequalities
between
different
countries

Vietnam /
South Korea

GDP per capita from

development
Urban population
difference
Cultural differences

Presence high pressure create

cloud free conditions
Desserts have less than 250mm of
rainfall per year
Most deserts found between 20
and 35 north and south of equator
Day temperature reach around
50, night fall below 5
High evaporation rates from soil
surfaces

korea gdp= 25,976.95

vietnam gpd= 1,910.5

korea urban pop= 82

vietnam urban pop= 33

in 1968 koreans decided to

improve their pulpils
education. borrowed Japanese
textbooks and then translate
into korean. This shortens their
time to develop a whole new
educational system therefore
able to focus on other
welfares.

Japanese hardworking culture

influenced Koreans via the
translated txtbooks.
after only 20 years
development, 1988 held their

first Olympic Seoul. -globalised

Inequalities

Explain why
inequalities
exist within
countries

Vietnam

Trans-National
Corporation

Identify a TNC
and explain its
global links

Nike

Rural / urban differences

Access to wealth
Cultural reasons

vietnam rural ppl cant identify

inequality gap, only urban, young ppl
are able to due to access to tvs or
internet and edu

highlands of northen VN
children may fail to perform
well in school due to
inadequate nuitrition, can not
afford to stay in school although Vietnam has one of
the highest enrollment rate in
the world, kids drop out after
primary. teachers fail to
ecourage interactive studying,
good teachers are at city and
can not travel far to teach rural
kids

HQ and research = MEDC

Manufacturing = NICs
(e.g. Vietnam)
Sales / advertising
worldwide

reseach and development

headquarters in beaverton, ore.

20vnd per hour - cheap and

available workforce

beneficial as all profits goes to

origin country

workers may get verbally

abused by bosses

people in origin country have

no job as there are no
factories

price can go over thousands

for one pair of nike

3.2 Food
production

Agricultural
system

Explain the
main features of
an agricultural
system

Food shortages
causes

Describe the
causes of a
food shortage

Rice farming, Inputs

Vietnam
Processes
Outputs

Ethiopia

Precipitation levels
El Nino (2016)
Overpopulation

human inputs: types of rice seeds are

selected carefully. prep in salt water to
remove dirt and outer shell. soak in
normal water for a day. dry the seeds
then ferment for 36 hours, this is when
the seeds germinate. then the plan is
plowed carefully

physical inputs: sun and rain

help plant grows. flood water
leaves alluvium, natural
fertiliser, good for growth.

process; ploughing, fertilisig,

weeding, harvesting

outputs: rice. waste is flower.

flower could be grinded and
used as fertilisers.

Country located near equator

therefore hot climate

never above 200cm rainfall.

mostly dessert

heavy rainfall only during june,

july, aug,

Therefore ,often experience

droughts, unable to grow
crops, leading to food shortage
-----------------------------------------------------------

el nino: temporary climate

change of the Pacific Ocean, in
the regions around the equator.
less rain, crop failures
farmers want to focus on
preventing future droughts

instead of keep growing

animals that rely on pastures
and water survive less. As a
result, rare, increase demands,
increase price, people cant
afford.
-----------------------------------------------------------

population: 94.1 mil, growth

rate 3.02% per year
As a result, government unable
to support all of population only half of pop is supported
by government, the rest by
aids
therefore government lacks
incentives to support food
production, unable to help
farmers with El Nino, poor
irrigation system, less crops

Food shortages
effects

Describe the
effects of a food
shortage

Ethiopia

Malnourishment /
starvation
Reliant on Aid
Development stops /
reverses

because overpopulation, food shortage,

435 children need treatment for
malnuitrition.

no rain for 2 seasons

10.2 mill need food aid

2 million children on the verge

of dropping out of school, 3000
schools risks closure

government focuses on finding

aid and problem fixing, no
exports of goods, no import, no
trade, poor economic growth

Food shortages
solutions

Describe
possible
solutions to a
food shortage

Ethiopia

Food storage
Aid (charity and
governmental)
More efficient farming

Ethiopian Security Food Reserve makes

basic stored food availble and easy to
obtain. distributed to locals

Action Against Hunger Org

280,388 ppl in 2014 with

methods

3.3 Industrial
zone

Location

Explain the
locational
factors for the
site of an
industrial zone
or factory

3.4 Tourism

Importance

Explain why
tourism is
important

nuitrional support, access to

safe water and economic and
self sufficiency
government plans small scale
farming on state-held land

Toyota, Japan Flat land

Close to markets
Transport links

government policy: Koromos local

government provided cheap land for
factory

Factory near Nagoya =

metropolitan area = ideal for
auxilary corporate services +
port for exporting cars to US
and other countries in ASIA

Vung Tau / Ho Local economy improves

Tram Strip
Jobs for local people (&
skill development)
Attracts further investment

Ba Ria had been the main city of

growth in Vung Tau area, less tourism
elsewhere. tourism helps people live
near Ho Tram area get jobs. Ho Tram
now became a resort and hotel area

jobs at local hotels develop

skills for workers

fast development attracts

large businesses to invest in
Ho Tram Strip. E.g the Grand
Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas,
and worldwide now opens here

Benefits

Describe the
benefits tourism
brings

Vung Tau / Ho Local economy improves

Tram Strip
Jobs for local people (&
skill development)
Attracts further investment

A market opens near where cheap local

hotels locate in Ho Tram. This meets
tourists demands of enjoyment of
cheap Vietnamese cuisine and services
and also provides jobs for local people

skills development, may learn

foreign language to
communicate with tourists

may use foreign language

skills and apply for job to The
Grand Hotel, where pay is
higher. improve income.
government collects tax of
foreign business and
employees

Disadvantages

Describe the
disadvantages
tourism brings

Vung Tau / Ho Foreign companies take

Tram Strip
profits overseas
Increased noise / air /
water / visual pollution
Reliant on tourism and
local culture / skills
disappear

shareholders of the Grand Hotel are

mostly foreigners, take most of profits
overseas, leaving government with
little left.

may even cause damages

worth more than profited. local
market may produce litter,
pollution. litter may get carried
to close by sea shore, ocean
pollution

less people continue jobs like

fisherman due to less benefits,
lose culture image, skills
disappear.

Management

Explain how

Vung Tau / Ho Employ locals and

skillful bilingual receptionists and

tourism can be
sustainably
managed

Tram Strip

encourage training
Re-invest some of the
profits in local charities
Enforce stricter pollution
rules / street / beach

employees

ethical image raised?

no littering in Ho Tram The

Grand private beach

3.5 Energy

Supply

Describe and
explain the
energy supply
in a country or
area

Vietnam

Hydroelectricity
Petroleum
Coal

VN power stations locations rely on

nearby local area resources

northwest areas like Son La,

Da Lat, uses hydroelectric as
alot of available and strong
water sources.

southern areas like Thu Duc,

Ba Ria uses coal energy, alot
of available coal mines - like in
Binh Duong

3.6 Water supply

Domestic access

Describe
methods of
domestic water
supply

Vietnam

Water sanitation national

level
Water filters individual
household
Bottled drinking water

in 2009, bad level. contamination of

tap water containing high level of ecoli

most households boil drinking

water, because they do not
trust the quality of the tap
water

ISO 9001-2015 standard

bottling water

Agricultural /
Industrial access

Describe
methods of

Vietnam
rice farming

Irrigation systems - hills

Flood plain Mekong

agricultural
water supply
3.7 Environment

Delta
Aquaculture

Economic
development
local

Describe the
local
environmental
effects of
economic
development

Ho Chi Minh
City

Economic
development global

Describe the
global
environmental
effects of
economic
development

China

Water pollution Saigon

River
Traffic and air pollution
Increased plastic
disposable waste

Coal power stations

CO2 (climate change etc)
Smog and air quality
Cheap cost of coal

unable to meet national quality

standard of river water - 2013

problems trade commerce as it

is the main water supply of the
city and hosts many important
facillities like Saigon port, and
Thu Thiem tunnel