(a) Study Fig. 1, which shows information about the birth and death rates of Nigeria (an LEDC) and Ireland (an MEDC). Country Birth Rate (per 1000 of population) Death Rate (per 1000 of population) Nigeria 37.2 16.9 Ireland 14.4 7.8 Fig. 1 (b) Study Fig. 2, which shows a population pyramid for Ireland (an MEDC). male female 200 150 100 50 85+ 80-84 75-79 70-74 65-69 60-64 55-59 50-54 45-49 40-44 35-39 30-34 25-29 20-24 15-19 10-14 5-9 0-4 0 0 50 100 150 200 population (in thousands) Fig. 2

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2010). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] (a)(i) 14.4 people are born (per year) per 1000 people
2. [2] (a)(ii) 37.2 minus 16.9 (one mark for method); 20.3 per 1000
3. [3] (a)(iii) Ideas such as: good health care/enough hospitals/doctors/nurses/clinics; good sanitation/more hygienic; good access to safe/clean water; sufficient food supplies; innoculation against many disease/drugs/medicines/cures for diseases; availability of pensions; education re healthcare/life style issues; specific provision for elderly (or examples) etc.
4. [4] (a)(iv) Ideas such as: little availability of contraception/family planning; not educated re contraception/family planning; unable to afford contraception/family planning; traditionally large families/to prove virility; economic advantage of bringing up children/children work; many women do not have careers/work/are uneducated; no pensions/need children to look after parents in old age; high infant mortality rate; religious beliefs re. contraception etc.
5. [3] (b)(i) Ideas such as: LEDC pyramid will have wider base/more children/MEDC base will be narrower; LEDC pyramid will have narrower top/less old people/MEDC top will be wider; LEDC pyramid will be more pyramid shaped/MEDC less pyramid shaped; LEDC pyramid shows less people living to older age/MEDC more people living to older age etc. NB Answer can relate to pyramid or population structure. Ideally answer should be comparative, however accept discrete accounts.
6. [5] (b)(ii) Impacts such as: strain on economy/working population; therefore higher taxation (dev); in order to pay pensions (dev); need for more money to be spent on facilities for elderly; e.g. care homes/health care (dev); not enough workers for key positions; so need to attract foreign workers (dev); and difficult to defend country (dev); services for young under utilised/uneconomical; therefore schools closed down (dev) etc.
7. [7] (c) Level 1 (1-3) Statements including limited detail describing the policies which have been used to influence growth rates. (NB Could be to encourage population growth – e.g. Singapore, or reduction – China). (e.g. distribute free contraceptives, education about contraception, one child policy, incentives for one child families, advertise benefits of small families etc.)
8. [7] (c) Level 2 (4–6 marks) Uses named example (e.g. China). More developed statements describing the policies which have been used to influence growth rates. (e.g. incentives for one child families such as free places in schools and free healthcare, forced abortion/sterilization for parents after first child. Workplace 'snooper' required to grant permission for employees to have child, advertise benefits of small families such as greater amount of disposable income available etc.) (NB MAX 5 marks if no named e.g.)
9. [7] (c) Level 3 (7 marks) Uses named example (e.g. China). Comprehensive and accurate statements describing the policies which have been used to influence growth rates including some place specific reference. (NB Place specific references could include specific reference to one child policy (or aspects of it e.g. 'Granny Woo' or named settlements or rural areas. Alternatively candidates might quote changes in demographic statistics as a result of one child policy).