Outline what is meant by the term “megacity”.

Using the map, describe the global distribution of megacities in 2015.

Explain one economic reason why large numbers of people have migrated to megacities in recent years.

Explain one reason, other than migration, why the number of megacities has risen globally in recent years.

Evaluate the success of strategies of sustainable city management in one or more urban areas.

A city with a population of more than 10 million people [1].

Award [1] for each valid statement, only one of which may be a quantitative statement.

Possibilities include:

• concentrated/largest number in Asia/Far East
• three in Africa / four in Latin America / few in USA/Europe
• mainly northern hemisphere / eastern hemisphere
• mainly coastal
• none in Oceania/Australasia.

Award [1] for a valid economic reason and up to [2] for development and/or exemplification.

Possibilities include:

• jobs in cities/lack of jobs in countryside
• regional economic disparities.

For example: One of the reasons for the increase is the concentration of rapid economic development in megacities [1]. For example, in Southern China industrial and economic growth has provided a large number of job opportunities [1], attracting many migrants from other provinces where jobs are scarce/badly paid [1].

Award [1] for high rates of natural increase of population and up to [2] for development and/or exemplification, focused on a growing number of cities passing the ten million threshold.

For example: Cities also grow in size because of natural increase [1] due to a youthful population [1]. Over time, this helps many ordinary cities grow large enough to be classed as megacities [1].

Sustainable urban management seeks to improve and maintain the quality of life for current and future populations. Aspects of management include environmental, economic and social factors affecting the present and future wellbeing of the local population without compromising development.

Environmental strategies might focus on issues such as reducing pollution, improving air and water quality, reducing waste and providing green space. Economic strategies might focus on provision of employment, sustainable energy, improving infrastructure and reducing poverty and inequalities. Social strategies could consider factors such as provision of adequate/affordable housing, reduction in deprivation and crime. These strategies are usually interrelated.

Alternatively, responses may be structured around strategies related to housing, pollution and city growth, or around strategies in different urban areas.

Good responses may consider the concepts and aims of sustainable city management and discuss the relative success of several strategies. It might be recognized that such strategies might be easier to achieve in urban areas of high-income countries than in low-income countries, where the scale of growth and poverty levels are much greater.

At band D, expect some understanding of sustainable city management and a description of at least one strategy.

At band E, expect either a greater and more detailed understanding of the aims and success of strategies, or some understanding of why sustainable urban management is difficult to achieve.

At band F, expect both.

Marks should be allocated according to the Paper 2 markbands (available under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials).