Urban Issues & Challenges (AQA GCSE Geography)

Exam Questions

3 hours40 questions
1a2 marks

Study Figure 3, some social media comments about traffic in Bangalore, a city in India.

fig-3-june-2018-paper2-qp-gcse-aqa-geo

Using Figure 3 suggest one problem faced by people in Bangalore as a result of traffic congestion. 

1b2 marks

Outline one reason why levels of air pollution are so high in many LIC/NEE cities.

1c2 marks

Outline one reason why managing transport is important for urban sustainability.

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21 mark

Study Figure 4, a graph showing GCSE scores along a transect through a UK city.

fig-4-june-2018-paper2-qp-gcse-aqa-geo

Calculate the range in GCSE scores shown in Figure 4.

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32 marks

Study Figure 1, a graph showing the average annual urban growth rates for selected African countries, 1960–2010.

fig-1-june-2019-paper2-qp-gcse-aqa-geo

Use the following data to complete Figure 1.

Country

Natural increase (%)

Migration (%)

Central African Republic

2.4

1.1

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4a1 mark

Study Figure 3, a 1:25 000 Ordnance Survey map showing part of Liverpool, city in the UK.

Areas X and Y show two areas of urban regeneration.

q_qNnxXT_fig-3-june-2019-paper2-qp-gcse-aqa-geo

What is the approximate area covered by Area Y?

Shade one circle only.

  • 0.1 km2

  • 0.4 km2

  • 0.7 km2

  • 1.0 km2

4b1 mark

Give the four-figure grid reference for the Albert Dock.

4c2 marks

Describe the location of Area X.

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5a1 mark

Which term is best defined by the phrase, ‘the increasing percentage of the population living in towns and cities’

  • Urban sprawl

  • Urbanisation

  • Migration

  • Urban regeneration

5b2 marks

Study Figure 1, a graph showing the percentage of people living in urban areas in selected countries.

fig-1-june-2020-paper2-qp-gcse-aqa-geo

Complete Figure 1 using the following data.

Country

% living in urban areas in 2019

% living in urban areas
in 2050 (projected)

UK

84

90

China

60

80

India

35

53

Nigeria

51

70

5c1 mark

Calculate the mean percentage of people projected to be living in urban areas in 2050, in the countries shown.
Answer to the nearest whole percentage.

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6a1 mark

Study Figure 3, in the insert, a 1:50 000 Ordnance Survey map (Map extract key) showing part of Aberdeen, a city in the UK.

aqa-gcse-geo-nov-2021-paper-2-fig-3-insert-q5

Using Figure 3, give the four-figure grid reference for the park and ride.

  • 0686

  • 0687

  • 8606

  • 8706

6b1 mark

Using Figure 3, what is the distance along the A944 from the junction at 854 063 to the edge of the built-up area at 890 066?

  • 2.8 km

  • 3.3 km

  • 3.8 km

  • 4.3 km

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7a3 marks

Study Figure 1, a graph showing the percentage of the population living in urban areas in different parts of the world 1950–2050 (projected).

fig-1-june-2018-paper2-qp-gcse-aqa-geo

Complete the following paragraph to describe the changes shown in Figure 1.

Choose the three correct answers from this list:

HICs 

doubled

NEEs

slow down

 trebled

speed up

The smallest increase in percentage of urban population 1950–2050 is expected to be in _____.
From 2020, the rate of increase is expected to ______ in NEEs.
Between 2000 and 2050, lower-income countries are projected to have almost _____ in the percentage living in urban areas.

7b2 marks

Outline one reason why rates of natural increase are high in many cities in LIC/NEEs.

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8a1 mark

What is meant by rural-urban migration?

8b2 marks

Study Figure 2, a pie chart showing the reasons for rural–urban migration in a region box of Pakistan, a country in Asia.

fig-2-june-2018-paper2-qp-gcse-aqa-geo

Describe the pattern of reasons for migration shown in Figure 2.

8c2 marks

Give two pull factors that encourage people to move to urban areas in LICs/NEEs.

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9a1 mark

Which statement completes the following sentence?

A megacity is a city with at least...
Shade one circle only.

  • 500 000 people.

  • 1 million people.

  • 5 million people.

  • 10 million people.

9b2 marks

Study Figure 1, a map showing cities that are expected to become megacities by 2035.

aqa-gcse-geo-nov-2021-paper-2-q2

Describe the distribution of the cities shown in Figure 1.

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10a1 mark

Study Figure 3, a graph showing the percentage of household waste that was recycled in 2016-17 in selected cities in the UK.

fig-3-june-2020-paper2-qp-gcse-aqa-geo

Complete Figure 3 using the following data.  

City

Percentage of household waste recycled

Hull

50

10b2 marks

Outline one advantage of recycling waste.

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11a1 mark

Study Figure 5, a graph showing air pollution for 24 hours on 3 January 2019 in New Delhi, a city in India.

aqa-gcse-geo-nov-2021-paper-2-q8

At what time of day is air pollution the highest?

11b1 mark

Calculate the range in air pollution levels shown in Figure 5.

______ micrograms per cubic metre.

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12a2 marks

Complete the following fact file for a UK city you have studied.

Name of UK city

 

Location in the UK

 

Importance in the UK

 

12b2 marks

Outline one way that national migration has led to change in the character of a named UK city. 

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132 marks

Urban issues and challenges

Study Figure 1, a world map showing the rate of growth for some major cities, measured in people per hour.

Figure 1

figure-1-june-2022-paper-2-aqa-gcse-geography

Calculate the mean rate of growth per hour for the Asian cities shown in Figure 1.

Answer to the nearest whole number

Show your working

Answer = ____________ people per hour

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142 marks

Outline one reason for the slower rates of growth in HIC cities

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151 mark

Give one way in which a major city in an LIC/NEE is regionally important.

Name of city 

Regional importance 

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16a1 mark

Study Figure 4, a graph showing the 10 UK urban areas with the highest population growth rate (%), 2011–2036 (projected).

Figure 4

figure-4-june-2022-paper-2-aqa-gcse-geography

Complete Figure 4 using the following data

City

Population growth rate (%) 
2011–2036 (projected)

Swindon

26.5

16b1 mark

Calculate the range of population growth rate (%), 2011–2036 (projected) for the urban areas shown in Figure 4.

Shade one circle only

  • 8.0% 

  •  8.3% 

  • 8.6%

  • 8.9%

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172 marks

Study Figure 5, a map showing the 10 highest and 10 lowest UK urban areas for population growth rate (%), 2011–2036 (projected).

Figure 5

figure-5-june-2022-paper-2-aqa-gcse-geography


Compare the distribution of the 10 highest and 10 lowest urban areas shown in Figure 5.

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182 marks

Outline how international migration has affected a UK city you have studied.

Name of UK city

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191 mark

Give one reason for the growth of megacities in LIC/NEEs.

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202 marks

Study Figure 1, a table showing the projected population of the world’s ten largest cities in 2030.

Figure 1

City

Projected population in 2030 (millions)

Delhi, India

38.9

Tokyo, Japan

36.9

Shanghai, China

32.9

Dhaka, Bangladesh

28.0

Al-Qahirah (Cairo), Egypt

25.5

Mumbai (Bombay), India

24.6

Beijing, China

24.3

Mexico City, Mexico

24.1

Sao Paulo, Brazil

23.8

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

21.9

Calculate the mean size of the cities shown in Figure 1.

Answer to one decimal place.

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21a1 mark

Study Figure 2, a graph showing selected crimes reported on Twitter in Mexico City, a city in a NEE, September 2016–April 2017.

Figure 2

Bar chart showing crime reports: street robbery (most), theft of motor vehicle, business burglary, card fraud, and domestic burglary (least).

Complete Figure 2 using the following data.

Crime

Number of reports

Sept 2016-Apr 2017

Theft of motor vehicle

350

21b1 mark

Approximately how much more frequent is street robbery than business burglary?

  • 2 times

  • 3 times

  • 4 times

  • 5 times

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222 marks

Outline one reason why reducing crime is a challenge in some LIC/NEE cities.

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23a1 mark

Study Figure 4, a map of Leicester’s cycle routes in 2020.

Cycle map with routes from Bike Park to various locations, colour-coded for Belgrave, Beaumont Leys, A47 Hinckley Road, and others, with travel times.

Which route would you use to travel south west from the bike-park?

  • A47 Hinckley Road

  • A50 Groby Road

  • Mill Lane Bridge

  • Oadby Racecourse

23b1 mark

How long would it take to cycle from the bike park to Evington Library?

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16 marks

Use Figure 3 and a case study of a city in a LIC or NEE to suggest why managing traffic congestion and air pollution may be challenging.

Figure showing tweets on reasons for Bangalore traffic: 62% blame poor road quality, 28% cite insufficient public transport, and 10% say roads are never repaired.

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26 marks

Assess the importance of managing transport as part of urban sustainability.

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34 marks

Using Figure 4 and your own understanding, suggest reason(s) for inequalities in education in urban areas in the UK. 

screenshot-2023-06-21-at-09-30-25

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44 marks

Study Figure 4, showing some information about Area and some photographs of Area Y in Figure 3 below.

fig-4-june-2019-paper2-qp-gcse-aqa-geo
2233170a-a435-4151-9f79-9a483c09ed44

Explain how regeneration can help to solve urban problems.

Use Figure 4 and your own understanding.

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56 marks

Study Figure 4, in the insert, a 1:50 000 Ordnance Survey map (Map extract key) from the 1950s showing the same area of Aberdeen as Figure 3.

screenshot-2023-06-21-at-09-32-08
aqa-gcse-geo-nov-2021-paper-2-fig-4-insert-q7

Suggest how urban sprawl and the growth of commuter settlements have impacts on the rural-urban fringe.

Use Figure 3 and Figure 4 and your own understanding.

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66 marks

Study Figure 2, maps and information about the Kendal Industrial Park in Java, Indonesia.

Figure 2

Map of "Park by the Bay" showing cycling track, golf, pedestrian street, Fashion City, Food City, Furniture Hub, Logistic Hub, and housing areas.

Explain how urban industrial areas can help encourage development.

Use Figure 2 and your own understanding.

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74 marks

Study Figure 2, a photo of a shared toilet in an Indian city.

fig-2-june-2020-paper2-qp-gcse-aqa-geo

Suggest why sanitation systems in cities in LICs/NEEs create challenges.

Use Figure 2 and your own understanding.

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84 marks

Study Figure 2 photographs of the Vertical Forest development in Milan, a city in Italy.

aqa-gcse-geo-nov-2021-paper-2-q4

Explain why creating green space is important for sustainable urban living.

Use Figure 2 and your own understanding.

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96 marks

Study Figure 2, a newspaper extract about urban change in sub-Saharan Africa.

Figure 2

Housing in sub-Saharan Africa improves but millions still live in slums

A new study of housing quality in sub-Saharan Africa states ‘there has been a dramatic improvement in living conditions during the past 15 years’. 

Researchers found housing had improved across several measures during the period. Amount of living space, access to water and sanitation, and good quality construction were found in 23% of houses in 2015, up from 11% in 2000.

The study’s author said, “Our study shows that many people are investing in their homes, but there is also an urgent need for governments to help improve infrastructure.”


Explain how urban planning is improving quality of life for the urban poor.

Use Figure 2 and an LIC/NEE example you have studied.

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104 marks

Study Figure 3, a photograph and factfile about transport improvements in Utrecht, a city in the Netherlands.

Figure 3

figure-3-june-2022-paper-2-aqa-gcse-geography

Suggest how developments such as this can help urban areas to become more sustainable.

Use Figure 3 and your own understanding.

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114 marks

Study Figure 4, a map of Leicester’s cycle routes in 2020.

Cycle route map with key. Routes include Belgrave, Beaumont Leys, A50 Groby Road, A47 Hinckley Road, Mill Lane Bridge, and Evington Library.

Suggest how urban transport strategies can be used to reduce traffic congestion.

Use Figure 4 and your own understanding.

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19 marks

Assess the extent of the challenges created by urban growth in LICs/NEEs.

Use a case study of a city in an LIC/NEE.

Name of LIC/NEE city

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29 marks

To what extent has urban change created social and economic opportunities in a UK city you have studied?

Name of UK city _____________

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39 marks

Evaluate the effectiveness of an urban transport scheme(s) you have studied.

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49 marks

Assess the challenges created by urban change in a UK city you have studied.

Name of UK city.

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59 marks

Study Figure 5a and Figure 5b which were taken at point X on Figure 4. They show the same location before and after a regeneration scheme.

fig-5-june-2020-paper2-qp-gcse-aqa-geo

Suggest how a regeneration project can solve urban problems. Use Figure 5a and Figure 5b and a UK example you have studied.

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69 marks

‘Urban change in the UK has created more economic opportunities than social opportunities.’

Evaluate this statement.

Use a UK city you have studied.

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