Outline the methods used to describe the magnitude (strength) of two hazard types.

Suggest three reasons why some people continue to live in places with a known hazard risk.

“Economic factors and not physical factors determine the severity of the impacts of hurricanes (typhoons, cyclones).” Discuss this statement using examples.

The most likely types selected will be earthquakes (Richter or Mercalli scale), volcanoes (VEI scale) and hurricanes/cyclones/typhoons (Saffir–Simpson scale). In each case allow 1 mark for naming the relevant scale and 1 mark for a brief description. Responses that refer to hazards not in the syllabus, such as tornadoes, but that outline the relevant scale, should be credited.

Award 1 mark for each reason stated (for example, soil quality, poverty, lack of knowledge, historical inertia) and 1 mark for an extended explanation or detail of the hazard risk.

A number of approaches are possible but most answers will refer to the contrasting effects of hurricanes on countries with contrasting levels of development. It is important that the answer refers to physical factors such as the strength of the hurricane, the size of the storm surge or the landscape of the area affected, as well as economic factors that may determine levels of preparation and protection, warning systems, evacuation, aid and recovery responses.

The strongest answers that access bands E and F should focus on at least two hurricane events and balance the relative importance of these factors in assessing the severity of the impact in terms of loss of life, environmental damage and loss of property (economic cost).

Answers that simply describe the impacts, or just describe physical and economic factors without discussing their relative importance, should not move above band D.

Similarly, answers that do not refer to examples should not be able to access bands E and F.

Marks should be allocated according to the markbands.

The most common scale chosen was the Richter scale, though few candidates at standard level were able to describe how it relates to earthquake strength. Many candidates who chose hurricanes were unable to refer to the Saffir–Simpson scale and simply referred to wind speeds.

Generally well done with a wide range of reasons, though weaker responses failed to refer to the actual risk that faced the inhabitants.

Responses were much stronger on economic factors than physical factors, with a surprising number of answers failing to mention that the consequences might depend on the category of the hurricane, its speed of movement, height of the storm surge and the type of coastline at landfall. Equally, the term "severity" was often interpreted in a very narrow sense with candidates apparently not realizing that such terms include a perceptual component (what is severe to one person is not to another).

There were however many excellent case studies included at both levels.