(a) Study Fig. 1, which shows information about population growth rates in 2011. [Figure 1]

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2015). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] (a)(i) Population is decreasing/falling/getting less/negative growth rate;
2. [2] (a)(ii) Ideas such as: • Mainly Northern Hemisphere/north of Equator/north of tropic of cancer; • Eastern Europe/Northern Asia; • Any example of a country to illustrate the above point to max.1 (e.g. Russia/Poland/South Africa/Cuba/Japan)
3. [3] (a)(iii) Ideas such as: • Generally higher in Africa/lower in South America; • Some parts of Africa over 3% but in South America all countries between 1–3%/below 3%; • there is more variation in Africa/uneven in Africa/less variation in South America; • mainly 1–2% in South America but in Africa varies between less than 0% and over 3%; etc.
4. [4] (a)(iv) Reference to factors such as: • high birth rates; • poor access to contraceptives/family planning; • lack of education about birth control/family planning; • some religions are against contraception; • look after elderly parents; • early marriage/teenage pregnancy; • little education about adverse impacts of large families; • large amount of mechanization/of dependence on agriculture/send children to work; • high IMR; • attitudes towards women; • traditional attitudes encourage large families/sign of virility/polygamy/sign of wealth/want a son; • many women don’t have careers; • no government policies; • decreasing death rates; • improving health care; • better care for elderly; • pension schemes being set up; • improved water supply/sanitation; • improved food supply; etc.
5. [3] (b)(i) Ideas such as: • Higher in Brazil than India between 1950 and 1980/earlier on; • Higher in India than Brazil between 1990 and 2010/later on; • Steeper increase/decrease in Brazil than India; • Equal/same in 1986–87; • Can refer to any one year; • 1960’s India rising but Brazil falling; etc.
6. [5] (b)(ii) Ideas such as; • birth/population growth rates can be reduced/increased (by policies)/pro/anti-natalist policies; • if people are given incentives to have children birth rates might increase; • (e.g. Singapore) more than 3 children policy; • free places in nurseries; • if people are given incentives to have small families/one child birth rates might decrease; • (e.g. China) One Child Policy • no free education for families with more than one child; • anti-immigration policies can reduce growth rates; • policies to attract immigrants (e.g. no need for a VISA) can increase growth rates; • policies to invest heavily in health care can increase growth rates; NB: no max. on any policy. May give examples of incentives or disincentives.
7. [7] (c) Levels marking Level 1 (1–3 marks) Statements including limited detail which describe the problems caused by an ageing population Level 2 (4–6 marks) Uses named example. More developed statements which describe the problems caused by an ageing population (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; • High levels of dependent population, • Pressure on working population, • Increased taxation, • Payment for health care, • Payment of pensions, • Lack of workforce, • Difficult to defend country, etc. Place specific reference is likely to consist of: Named parts of the chosen country/locational detail, Population data etc.