Cambridge International AS & A Level Geography

Specimen Paper Answers

Cambridge International AS & A Level Geography

9696

For examination from 2018

Cambridge International Examinations retains the copyright on all its publications. Registered Centres are permitted to copy material from this booklet for their own internal use. However, we cannot give permission to Centres to photocopy any material that is acknowledged to a third party even for internal use within a Centre.

? Cambridge International Examinations 2016

Version 1

Contents

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Assessment at a glance ................................................................................................................. 3 Paper 1 Core Physical Geography ................................................................................................ 4 Paper 2 Core Human Geography................................................................................................. 19 Paper 3 Advanced Physical Geography Options....................................................................... 34 Paper 4 Advanced Human Geography Options ......................................................................... 65

Introduction

Introduction

The main aim of this booklet is to exemplify standards for those teaching Cambridge International AS and A Level Geography (9696), and to show examples of high grade answers. This booklet contains answers to the 2018 Specimen Papers 1, 2, 3 and 4, which have been marked by a Cambridge examiner. Each response is accompanied by a brief commentary explaining the strengths and weaknesses of the answers. The following format for each paper has been adopted:

Question

Specimen answer

Examiner comment

Each question is followed by an example of a high grade answer with an examiner comment on performance. Comments are given to indicate where and why marks were awarded, and how additional marks could have been obtained. In this way, it is possible to understand what candidates have done to gain their marks and what they still have to do to improve their grades. The mark schemes and inserts for the Specimen Papers are available on our Teacher Support at

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Cambridge International A Level Geography (9696) ? from 2018

Assessment at a glance

Assessment at a glance

For Cambridge International AS and A Level Geography, candidates: take Papers 1 and 2 only (for the Cambridge International AS Level qualification)

or follow a staged assessment route by taking Papers 1 and 2 (for the Cambridge International AS Level qualification) in one series, then Paper 3 and 4 (for the Cambridge International A Level qualification) in a later series

or take Papers 1, 2, 3 and 4 in the same examination series, leading to the full Cambridge International A Level.

Component

Paper 1 Core Physical Geography

1 hour 30 minutes

Section A: Three data response questions (30 marks) Section B: One structured question from a choice of three (30 marks) 60 marks

Paper 2 Core Human Geography

1 hour 30 minutes

Section A: Three data response questions (30 Marks) Section B: One structured question from a choice of three (30 marks) 60 Marks

Paper 3 Advanced Physical Geography Options

1 hour 30 minutes

Candidates answer questions on two of the optional topics Each topic consists of one structured question (10 marks) and a choice of essay questions (20 marks) 60 marks

Paper 4 Advanced Human Geography Options

1 hour 30 minutes

Candidates answer questions on two of the optional topics Each topic consists of one structured question (10 marks) and a choice of essay questions (20 marks) 60 marks

Weighting

AS Level

A Level

50%

25%

50%

25%

-

25%

-

25%

Cambridge International A Level Geography (9696) ? from 2018

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Paper 1 Core Physical Geography

Paper 1 Core Physical Geography

Section A (30 marks)

Answer all questions in this section. All questions carry 10 marks.

Specimen answers

Hydrology and fluvial geomorphology 1. Photograph A shows a meandering river.

a) Draw a sketch map of the meander in Zone X in Photograph A. Label the main features. [4]

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Cambridge International A Level Geography (9696) ? from 2018

b) Explain the formation of one feature you identified in (a). [3]

Paper 1 Core Physical Geography

Meanders form due to areas of deeper and shallower water in the river's middle course, called pools and riffles. These pools and riffles interact with the flow of the water in this part of the rivers course, causing the fastest flow (thalweg) to swing from one side of the river to another. Erosion is caused on the outside of the bend where the current is fastest which produces the river cliff. By contrast deposition occurs on the inside of the bend where the current slows, forming the slip off slope. This differential movement of water leads to the development of helicoidal flow which accentuates the erosion and deposition.

c) Using photograph A, suggest how the river might change course. [3]

The meanders in photograph A could be further exaggerated due to erosion on the outer bank and deposition on the inner. This would further accentuate their already very curved shape. This will mean that eventually the neck of these meanders is broken through, often in a time of flood, leading to the river taking the quicker, straight route across the neck. This leaves behind the cut-off meander loop which becomes an oxbow lake.

Examiner comment

Questions 1(a) An accurate sketch map with a range of river features correctly located and labelled.

Mark awarded = 4 out of 4

Question 1(b) Meanders are not easy to explain but this candidate focused on formation and development with an appreciation of the specific processes of erosion and deposition. The answer specifically relates to feautres identified in Part (a), which is the main emphasis of the question. The answer shows a good understanding of cause and effect. A diagram would have made the explanation even more effective.

Mark awarded = 3 out of 3

Question 1(c) Clearly the candidate understands the mechanism of meander movement and has extended this to the conclusion of oxbow formation. Again the task would have been easier if diagrams had been used to illustrate the development of the meander.

Mark awarded = 3 out of 3

Cambridge International A Level Geography (9696) ? from 2018

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Paper 1 Core Physical Geography

Atmosphere and weather

2. Fig 1. shows the temperature at midnight across an urban area.

a) Using Fig. 1, identify: (i) the location of the maximum temperature; [1]

The maximum temperature occurs over the CBD.

(ii) the value of the minimum temperature. [1]

The minimum temperature is 24?C.

b) With reference to evidence from Fig. 1, describe the relationship between land-use and temperature shown. [3]

Urban temperatures are highest in the CBD, between 27.5?C and 28.4?C. These temperatures decline westwards and more sharply eastwards as you move into the outer residential areas. To the west of the CBD, a temperature plateau occurs over the industrial zone where temperatures drop to 27.5?C and then rise again to 28.8?C before decreasing steadily in the inner and outer residential areas to 25.5?C. To the east, temperatures decrease more rapidly to 24.0?C.

c) Explain why night time temperatures vary across an urban area such as the one shown in Fig.1. [5]

Night time temperatures will be higher in the CBD because larger quantities of heat are absorbed by surfaces such as brick, concrete and tarmac. During the day these surfaces absorb heat and slowly release it again at night as a result of the low albedo of such surfaces. In the CBD there are much greater concentrations of these types of surfaces to absorb heat during the day and then release it again slowly at night than in the surrounding residential and industrial areas. In addition, anthropogenic sources of heat such as lighting, air conditioning units, vehicles etc. are concentrated in the busier CBD. This heat is once again released slowly at night, causing temperatures to remain higher in the CBD than in the surrounding residential areas.

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Cambridge International A Level Geography (9696) ? from 2018

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