O-LevelGeographyPopulation and settlement2217/12 · May/June 2016 · Q225 Marks

(a) Study Fig. 3, which shows information about four areas of rural settlement in Malta (an MEDC in Europe). [Figure 3]

(a)(i)What is meant by a rural settlement?[1]
(a)(ii)Use evidence from Fig. 3 only, to identify two similarities between the settlements of Tas-Salih and Bingemina.[2]
(a)(iii)Describe the main features of an area of dispersed rural settlement such as L-Andrijiet.[3]
(a)(iv)Suggest reasons for the growth of a nucleated settlement such as Ta' Mrejnu.[4]
(b)Study Figs. 4A and 4B, which show information about Llanelli, an urban settlement in the UK, in 1850 and 2000. [Figure 4A] [Figure 4B]
(b)(i)Using evidence from Figs. 4A and 4B only, describe the main changes which have taken place in Llanelli between 1850 and 2000.[3]
(b)(ii)Suggest reasons for Llanelli’s function as an industrial town.[5]
(c)For a named area you have studied, describe the hierarchy of service provision. Name of 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 2016). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] A settlement in the countryside/small settlement/a settlement surrounded by fields/a settlement consisting of only a few houses 1 mark (1)
[2] Ideas such as both; are linear/have developed along a road; are aligned from north-south; are small/about 400 metres long/around 13–16 buildings/only a few buildings in them; both have large and small buildings; both surrounded by fields, etc. 2@1 mark (2)
[3] Ideas such as: separated by countryside/farmland/woodland/by fields; buildings are scattered/separated from each/in small groups/far apart/spread out; no focus/central part of settlement/no roads meet in the middle; no/few services available; low population density/sparsely populated, etc. 3 @ 1 mark (3)
[4] Ideas such as: roads from all directions meet/nodal point/crossroads; flat land; no restrictions to development in any direction; presence of a water source/spring/well/lake; mine/natural resource/quarry; bridging point; defensive site, etc. NB: The focus of the question is on nucleation rather than growth. 4 @ 1 mark (4)
[3] Ideas such as: increase of built-up area; increase in high class residential area/high class residential area moved north and west; small settlements swallowed up by urban sprawl/surrounding settlements (or example) became part of urban area; closure of coal mines; increase in industrial sites/or example; new motorway built/M4 built/more roads, etc. 3 @ 1 mark (3)
[5] Ideas such as: coastal site/port; easy import/easy export/transporting products/trade; flat, low land for construction; coal available; fuel smelting/powering of machinery; good roads/motorway; component factory/tin works provided raw materials/components for other industries/steel for component factory; cost of transported raw materials/components was low; abundant/skilled workforce; market; availability of water; lots of space/cheap land, etc. 5 @ 1 mark or development (5)
[7] Levels marking Level 1 [1-3 marks] Statements including limited detail which describe the hierarchy of services. Level 2 [4-6 marks] Uses named example. More developed statements which describe the hierarchy of services. (NB Max 5 if no named or inappropriate example) Level 3 [7 marks] Uses named example. Comprehensive and accurate with some place-specific reference. Content guide: Answers are likely to refer to: number of services specific types/examples of services order of services, etc. Place-specific reference is likely to consist of: named settlements locational details of services named shops and services, etc. NB: The example can be a named area of any size. Development is of the description. If the answer focuses on a city rather than an area, then MAX 5.