O-LevelGeographyPopulation and settlement2217/13 · Oct/Nov 2017 · Q225 Marks

(a) Study Fig. 3, which shows information about the population of five LEDCs. (b) Study Photographs A and B (Insert), which show different types of services in an urban settlement.

(a)(i)Name the city with the largest population in Kenya.[1]
(a)(ii)Using Fig. 3 only, identify the country which has the largest percentage of: - the total population of the country living in towns and cities; - the total population of the country living in its largest city.[2]
(a)(iii)The largest cities named in Fig. 3 are examples of high-order settlements. Give three characteristics of high order settlements.[3]
(a)(iv)Explain why many people migrate from rural areas to cities in LEDCs.[4]
(b)(i)Compare the services shown in Photographs A and B by completing the table below. You should circle one word in each of the six boxes. [Table with 'Photograph A' and 'Photograph B' columns, and 'order of service', 'size of sphere of influence', 'size of threshold population' rows, with 'low/medium/high' or 'small/medium/large' options.][3]
(b)(ii)Suggest reasons why people travel different distances to use the services shown in Photographs A and B.[5]
(c)For an area or country you have studied, describe the hierarchy of settlement and service provision. Name of area or country[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 (Oct/Nov 2017). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] Nairobi
[2] Brazil; Angola
[3] Ideas such as: They have high order/specialist services; They sell comparison goods; They have a high density of population; They are well served by/have good communications/roads/rail; Government buildings/administrative buildings are there; Headquarters of large companies are there; Large sphere of influence; Large population; Fewer in number/far apart/more spread out etc.
[4] Ideas such as: availability of work in urban areas/to get a job/better wages/better pay/can make money easily; more hospitals/better health care/doctors/clinics in urban areas; more access to education in urban areas/more schools; more entertainment/bright lights syndrome; more secure food supply in cities than rural areas/infertile soils/poor harvest; access to water/water is polluted/water not available; access to electricity network; natural hazards e.g. drought/flooding; to join family and friends; to escape persecution; better sanitation/hygiene etc. (Note: Candidates can refer to rural pushes but no double credit. No need to specify context)
[3] Photograph A: Order of Service: Low, Sphere of Influence: Small, Threshold population: Small; Photograph B: Order of Service: High, Sphere of Influence: Large, Threshold population: Large (Note: Comparison needed for each mark.)
[5] Ideas such as: travel a long way for higher order services/order of services high order services are less available/availability of services people travel a long way so they have a better choice/a wider variety of services/choice and variety travel further for a better quality product/quality of product; travel a long way if shop/service not used often/frequency of use; travel a long way for specialised service/specialism; travel a long way for expensive goods/services/expense of goods etc.; Note: Accept answers that refer to high order goods, low order goods or generic ideas. No need to compare. For example, the same idea could be expressed as: People will travel a long way for high or goods/services People will travel less distance for low order goods/services It depends on whether a good/service is high or low order
[7] Level 1 (1-3 marks): Statements including limited detail which describe the hierarchy of settlement and/or service provision.
[7] Level 2 (4-6 marks): Uses named example. More developed statements which describe the hierarchy of settlement and/or service provision. (Note: Max 5 if no named or inappropriate example)
[7] Level 3 (7 marks): Uses named example Comprehensive and accurate statements, with some place specific reference which describe the hierarchy of settlement and service provision.
[7] Content Guide: Low to high order examples Reference to quantity/spacing of each More small settlements than large Greater distance between large settlements than small etc. Place specific reference is likely to consist of: named settlements/areas within country etc. Note: If just one settlement is named then MAX 1 × L2 – 4 marks.