Geography

1. 1.

   Fictional town demographic data for one year: starting population 50,000; births 700; deaths 450; in-migrants 1,200; out-migrants 950. No boundary changes. Some newcomers join relatives; local rents rise, but housing supply and incomes are not measured. This is invented teaching data. Distinguish natural increase from net migration.

   [2 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

   Draft walkthroughs are based on marking guidance, not independently verified derivations.

   1. Both contribute to population change but arise from different processes. Movement does not belong in the natural-increase calculation.
   2. Award each point once. Accept other well-supported interpretations addressing the task.

   Marking points

   • Natural increase is births minus deaths.
   • Net migration is in-migrants minus out-migrants.

   Examiner tip: Use a net measure rather than treating all arrivals as population gain.

2. 2.

   Fictional town demographic data for one year: starting population 50,000; births 700; deaths 450; in-migrants 1,200; out-migrants 950. No boundary changes. Some newcomers join relatives; local rents rise, but housing supply and incomes are not measured. This is invented teaching data. Calculate end-year population and percentage growth using the starting population.

   [2 marks]

   Answer explanation

   Draft walkthroughs are based on marking guidance, not independently verified derivations.

   1. The two net contributions are each 250, so the population rises by 500. Divide the change, not the final population, by the specified starting base.
   2. Award each point once. Accept other well-supported interpretations addressing the task.

   Marking points

   • Change = (700 - 450) + (1,200 - 950) = 500; end population = 50,500.
   • Growth = 500/50,000 × 100 = 1%.

   Examiner tip: Use the starting denominator specified in the question.

3. 3.

   Fictional town demographic data for one year: starting population 50,000; births 700; deaths 450; in-migrants 1,200; out-migrants 950. No boundary changes. Some newcomers join relatives; local rents rise, but housing supply and incomes are not measured. This is invented teaching data. Explain how relatives can influence migration beyond a simple wage difference.

   [3 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

   Draft walkthroughs are based on marking guidance, not independently verified derivations.

   1. A network changes the feasibility of a move as well as its attraction. Lower uncertainty and support can make the same destination more accessible to linked households.
   2. Award each point once. Accept other well-supported interpretations addressing the task.

   Marking points

   • Relatives can provide housing or financial support that reduces moving costs.
   • Networks provide job information and familiarity with local services.
   • These links can sustain flows even where wage incentives alone are weak.

   Examiner tip: Separate the desire to migrate from the resources enabling migration.

4. 4.

   Fictional town demographic data for one year: starting population 50,000; births 700; deaths 450; in-migrants 1,200; out-migrants 950. No boundary changes. Some newcomers join relatives; local rents rise, but housing supply and incomes are not measured. This is invented teaching data. Explain why the annual total alone is insufficient for school-place planning.

   [3 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

   Draft walkthroughs are based on marking guidance, not independently verified derivations.

   1. An extra 500 people could have very different service implications depending on their ages and addresses. Cohort projections and existing capacity are needed before adding classrooms.
   2. Award each point once. Accept other well-supported interpretations addressing the task.

   Marking points

   • Age composition determines how many residents need schooling.
   • Spatial distribution determines which schools face demand.
   • Timing and future cohort progression matter beyond one year of net growth.

   Examiner tip: Do not assume all migrants are working-age adults or all births need school immediately.

5. 5.

   Fictional town demographic data for one year: starting population 50,000; births 700; deaths 450; in-migrants 1,200; out-migrants 950. No boundary changes. Some newcomers join relatives; local rents rise, but housing supply and incomes are not measured. This is invented teaching data. Evaluate the claim that newcomers caused the rent rise.

   [4 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

   Draft walkthroughs are based on marking guidance, not independently verified derivations.

   1. The data show two changes in the same year, not the mechanism or its size. Compare housing completions, vacancies and similar towns before attributing the entire increase to migration.
   2. Award each point once. Accept other well-supported interpretations addressing the task.

   Marking points

   • New arrivals may increase housing demand.
   • Departures and household formation alter net housing demand.
   • Supply constraints, incomes and other demand changes are unmeasured alternatives.
   • Concludes that coincidence supports a hypothesis, not an established single cause.

   Examiner tip: Net people are not automatically net households.

6. 6.

   Fictional town demographic data for one year: starting population 50,000; births 700; deaths 450; in-migrants 1,200; out-migrants 950. No boundary changes. Some newcomers join relatives; local rents rise, but housing supply and incomes are not measured. This is invented teaching data. Assess whether population growth is necessarily beneficial for this town.

   [4 marks] · no calculator

   Answer explanation

   Draft walkthroughs are based on marking guidance, not independently verified derivations.

   1. The same growth rate can support a declining local economy or strain an already constrained housing market. A useful evaluation asks who gains, when, and whether infrastructure can adapt.
   2. Award each point once. Accept other well-supported interpretations addressing the task.

   Marking points

   • Growth may expand the workforce, demand and tax base.
   • Housing and services may face capacity pressures.
   • Benefits and costs differ between landlords, renters and service providers.
   • Makes a conditional judgement using composition, capacity and distribution rather than growth alone.

   Examiner tip: A positive demographic balance is not a value judgement.

Original, unofficial practice questions from SubjectScout — not official past-paper questions.