Examine the influence of two or more physical factors on patterns of economic activity in urban environments.

Examine the management challenges in cities experiencing rapid population growth.

Marks should be allocated according to the Paper 1 markbands (available under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials.

Patterns of economic activity are influenced by several different physical factors, such as geology, relief, drainage, site (e.g. coastal or riverside) and local climates (which might influence patterns of pollution). Geological factors might include proximity to mineral deposits (mining); areas of low relief might be suitable for industrial and retailing activities and influence the development of infrastructure. Coastal regions may attract port activities.

Possible applied themes (AO2) demonstrating knowledge and understanding (AO1):

• Physical factors that might influence patterns of economic activity include geology, relief, drainage, site (coastal/riverside) and climate.
• Relief is an important factor – low relief is a site factor influencing the location of large scale industrial or retail activities, which will avoid areas of steep slopes.
• Economic activities will also tend to avoid areas of poor drainage/marshland liable to flooding. On the other hand, these areas may be of low economic value and so suitable for extensive industrial activities.
• Infrastructure development is also favoured by areas of low relief.
• A coastal or riverside location is an important site factor for the development of port-related activities.
• Geology may be important – proximity to mineral resources may lead to the development of mining; unstable ground may be unsuitable for urban development.
• Local climates, such as the direction of prevailing winds, may influence the location of polluting industrial activities.

Good answers may be well structured (AO4) and may additionally offer a critical evaluation (AO3) of the statement in a way that examines interactions between different factors (such as physical, economic, and planning) at varying scales; e.g. different site factors in different places. Examination may also be made of the changing role of physical factors over varying time scales.

For 5–6 marks, expect some weakly evidenced outlining of the influence of one or more physical factors on urban economic activities.

For 7–8 marks, expect a structured account that includes:

• either an evidenced explanation of the influence of two or more physical factors in urban environments
• or a discursive conclusion (or ongoing evaluation) grounded in geographical concepts and perspectives.

For 9–10 marks, expect both of these traits.

Marks should be allocated according to the Paper 1 markbands (available under the "Your tests" tab > supplemental materials.

In recent years there has been a dramatic growth of population in cities, especially in Asia and Africa, caused by a combination of rural–urban migration and high rates of natural increase. This rapid growth causes significant challenges to urban planners, especially in relatively poor areas of the world.

Possible applied themes (AO2) demonstrating knowledge and understanding (AO1):

• Rapid population growth in large urban areas is causing significant challenges to urban planners, especially in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
• Challenges include provision of employment, housing, water supply, sanitation and health.
• Other challenges include reducing urban stress caused by traffic congestion, pollution and waste disposal.
• Urban planners need to devise strategies to manage the urban systems for a sustainable future, such as resilient city design, reducing the urban ecological footprint, and purpose-built settlements.

Good answers may be well structured (AO4) and may additionally offer a critical evaluation (AO3) of the statement in a way that links the challenges to the scale of the city and growth (i.e., some worse than others); demographic processes of migration and natural increase mean management goals must keep changing. Different places/world regions may have different context-specific challenges.

For 5–6 marks, expect some weakly evidenced outlining of one or more management challenges caused by rapid population growth in cities.

For 7–8 marks, expect a structured account that includes:

• either an evidenced explanation of management challenges facing cities experiencing rapid population growth
• or a discursive conclusion (or ongoing evaluation) grounded in geographical concepts and perspectives.

For 9–10 marks, expect both of these traits.

An unpopular question and those who did answer this question mostly described a broad range of factors affecting economic activity (e.g. bid rent) in cities in general and did not focus on physical factors nor the spatial distribution in cities. Several forgot that they were discussing urban environments and ended up discussing agriculture.

There were a number of high-quality answers giving an evidenced examination of management challenges. However, not all examples were appropriate to the question as the city selected was not experiencing "rapid population growth". Other responses were a description of the measures taken to solve the problems that cities are facing and did not emphasize the management challenges. A strength identified in many responses was an awareness about the dynamic nature of cities and how the challenges change and/or can be so great that even the best planned responses are insufficient.