| Date | May 2022 | Marks available | 1 | Reference code | 22M.1.bp.3 |
| Level | SL and HL | Paper | 1 | Time zone | |
| Command term | State | Question number | 3 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
The map shows the pattern of movement of oil tankers and their chokepoints.
[Source: Bender, J., 2015. These 8 narrow chokepoints are critical to the world’s oil trade, [online] Available at:
https://www.businessinsider.com/worlds-eight-oil-chokepoints-2015-4?r=US&IR=T [Accessed 4 May 2020].
Source adapted.
U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2014. World oil transit chokepoints critical to global energy security [online]
Available at: https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=18991#menu [Accessed 19 July 2021].
Source adapted.]
Identify the chokepoint with the most barrels of oil moved per day.
State the number of millions of barrels of oil moved per day at the Strait of Malacca choke point.
Outline one reason why the ownership of one named ocean area or territory is contested.
Suggest one political challenge and one environmental challenge associated with the movement of oil around the globe by sea.
Markscheme
Strait of Hormuz
15
Award [1] for a valid reason and [1] for further development.
Award maximum [1] if no example.
For example: Spratley Islands — multiple countries claim ownership [1] because the islands are within their territorial waters [1].
Award [1] for a political challenge and a further [2] for development/explanation /exemplification.
For example, an international dispute can escalate between unfriendly countries [1] when one country’s tankers move through the territorial waters of the other [1] because of geographical features, such as narrow straits, causing choke points [1].
Award [1] for an environmental challenge and a further [2] for development/explanation/exemplification.
For example, pollution from accidental spillage/ accidents from tankers [1] causing harm to marine eco-systems [1] which is extremely difficult/costly and difficult to clean up as ocean currents disperse it over a wide area [1].
Accept weather related conditions that may affect navigation.
Examiners report
Very few issues found.
Very few issues found.
Most chose the South China Sea but there were also some examples (taken from the resource) which are not contested. There were some who misread the question and wrote about contested land areas. Often the reason was not sufficiently developed for the second mark.
Generally, this was answered quite satisfactorily although often without sufficient development to gain the full (6) marks. The identification of a political challenge was more difficult with a poor understanding of what political entailed. The question asked for challenges associated with oil movement (transport) so using Deepwater Horizon as an example was not appropriate.
