O-LevelGeographyPopulation and settlement2217/13 · May/June 2014 · Q225 Marks

(a) Study Fig. 3, a map showing a city in Europe where urban sprawl is taking place. [Figure 3] (b) Study Photographs A and B (Insert), which show part of a CBD (Photograph A) and part of a suburban shopping centre (Photograph B).

(a)(i)What is meant by urban sprawl?[1]
(a)(ii)Using Fig. 3, describe the location of the areas where: industry is declining; dormitory settlements are growing.[2]
(a)(iii)Explain how the growth of out-of-town shopping centres may affect the CBD.[3]
(a)(iv)Suggest reasons why industry is growing in some parts of the city shown in Fig. 3 but declining in others.[4]
(b)(i)Using only evidence from Photographs A and B, identify three differences between the two shopping centres.[3]
(b)(ii)Explain why services in a CBD have a larger sphere of influence than services in a suburban shopping centre.[5]
(c)For a named urban area you have studied, describe the attempts to reduce traffic congestion. Name of urban area[7]

This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2014). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] The spread of an urban/town/city area into the rural/farmland/countryside surroundings/town spreads/grows outwards;
[1] Industry is declining: in inner city/within ring road/East of river/within built up area/south/South east of CBD;
[1] (General/All)Dormitory settlements are: growing outside ring road/outside built up area/distance from CBD/outside greenbelt/ rural-urban fringe;
[1] 2 dormitory settlements: west of river/south of ring road/south west from CBD/outside greenbelt/south west of bridge; etc.
NB: Can accept either the 2 dormitory settlements or all of the dormitory towns depending upon how the candidate has interpreted the question.
Any distance or direction from any named feature on the map is acceptable but near or close to is not.
[1] Ideas such as: less business/profit for CBD services/shops/less customers;
[1] closure of shops/empty properties;
[1] dereliction of parts of CBD/doughnut effect;
[1] it becomes less noisy/crowded;
[1] growth of charity shops/£1 shops/cheap shops;
[1] less air pollution;
[1] less traffic congestion in CBD;
[1] shops/businesses move to out of town shopping centres;
[1] etc.
[1] Ideas such as: lack of space in inner city areas/more space on edge of city/more space for parking;
[1] closure of traditional industries due to competition etc.;
[1] growing industry on edge in better location for using road transport/less congested roads on edge;
[1] lower cost of land in rural urban fringe;
[1] environmental/planning regulations/protests forcing closure in inner
[1] city/close to where people live;
[1] better environment or examples/good working environment;
[1] etc.
NB: No need to look for comparison.
1 mark reserved on growth and 1 mark reserved on decline.
[1] Ideas such as: Larger shops in CBD;
[1] More floors/taller in CBD;
[1] Higher order shops in CBD/more expensive goods sold;
[1] Examples such as shoe shop/jeweller in CBD compared with newsagent in suburban shopping area; (1 max)
[1] Specialist shops in CBD, convenience in suburban centre;
[1] Busier in CBD/more crowded;
[1] More shops in CBD/more services;
[1] More shops to let in CBD;
[1] Buildings are older in CBD/more modern in suburban area;
[1] etc.
NB: Must be comparative.
[1] Ideas such as: higher order services available in CBD;
[1] which need a larger threshold population/need/more customers (dev);
[1] more specialist goods/services in CBD;
[1] which are not available locally (dev);
[1] transport links CBD with all city, suburban centre more difficult to get to;
[1] more shops selling comparison goods in CBD;
[1] which don't but frequently (dev);
[1] so people travel further to use services in CBD;
[1] big brands;
[1] wider range of goods/more choice in CBD;
[1] more/a lot of people work in CBD and will use the services;
[1] etc.
NB: No need for comparison – assume writing about CBD unless otherwise stated.
Level 1 (1–3 marks) Statements including limited detail which describe attempts to reduce traffic congestion.
Level 2 (4–6 marks) Uses named example. More developed statements which describe attempts to reduce traffic congestion.
(NB Max 5 if no named example)
Level 3 (7 marks) Uses named example. Comprehensive and accurate statements including some place specific reference.
Content Guide: Answers are likely to refer to; Road improvement/widening; Ring roads; By-passes; Public transport systems; Congestion charging; Alternate number plates idea; etc.
Place specific reference is likely to consist of: Named parts of the urban area/street names/locational detail/road numbers, Names of public transport schemes etc.
NB: Area can be from MEDC or LEDC. Development must be of attempts to reduce traffic congestion not the impact of it.