The changing structure of urban settlements: past paper questions
Real questions on the changing structure of urban settlements
The newest 20 of 62 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 9696/22 · May/June 2026 · Q5b[8]
With the aid of examples, explain the impacts of intra-urban migration (within urban settlements) on urban areas.
See it on the paper → - 9696/22 · May/June 2026 · Q6b[8]
With the aid of examples, explain the causes of residential segregation.
See it on the paper → - 9696/23 · May/June 2026 · Q5b[8]
With the aid of examples, explain the impacts of intra-urban migration (within urban settlements) on urban areas.
See it on the paper → - 9696/21 · October/November 2025 · Q6a[7]
Describe the main characteristics of the central business district (CBD) of urban areas.
See it on the paper → - 9696/21 · October/November 2025 · Q6b[8]
With the aid of examples, explain the factors causing change in central business districts (CBDs) of urban areas.
See it on the paper → - 9696/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3a[4]
Describe the pattern shown in Fig. 3.1.
See it on the paper → - 9696/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3b[2]
Suggest two problems for residents in shanty towns (squatter settlements).
See it on the paper → - 9696/23 · October/November 2025 · Q6a[7]
Describe how competition for space (spatial competition) leads to functional zonation in urban areas.
See it on the paper → - 9696/22 · May/June 2025 · Q2c[4]
Explain why international migrants are often concentrated in inner city areas of the receiving/ destination country. Settlement dynamics
See it on the paper → - 9696/22 · May/June 2025 · Q3a[3]
Suggest three problems for the people living in the settlement shown in Fig. 3.1.
See it on the paper → - 9696/22 · May/June 2025 · Q3b[2]
Suggest two advantages for the people of living in the settlement shown in Fig. 3.1.
See it on the paper → - 9696/22 · May/June 2025 · Q3c[5]
Explain why it is often difficult for a government to improve shanty towns (squatter settlements). Section B Answer one question from this section. All questions are worth 30 marks. Population
See it on the paper → - 9696/23 · May/June 2025 · Q2c[4]
Suggest why rural population may increase in the future in HICs. Settlement dynamics
See it on the paper → - 9696/21 · October/November 2024 · Q6a[7]
Describe how the concept of bid rent results in the functional zonation of land use in urban areas.
See it on the paper → - 9696/22 · October/November 2024 · Q6a[7]
With the aid of examples, describe how the locations of manufacturing areas are changing in urban settlements.
See it on the paper → - 9696/23 · October/November 2024 · Q3a[3]
Describe the pattern of land values shown in Fig. 3.1.
See it on the paper → - 9696/23 · October/November 2024 · Q3b[3]
Suggest two reasons for the pattern of land values shown in Fig. 3.1.
See it on the paper → - 9696/23 · October/November 2024 · Q3c[4]
Explain the concept of bid rent. Section B Answer one question from this section. All questions are worth 30 marks. Population
See it on the paper → - 9696/23 · October/November 2024 · Q6c[15]
‘Activities within urban areas are constantly changing in location.’ With the aid of examples, how far do you agree with this statement?
See it on the paper → - 9696/21 · May/June 2024 · Q6a[7]
With the aid of examples, describe the functional zonation that may occur in cities in HICs.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
This question was not answered well by many candidates, as few seemed to understand or were able to describe a pattern of distribution. Some resorted to describing where each city was located, and many did not use the scale and wrote about proximity to rivers that were 200 km away.
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 9696/22 Q3(a) (Cambridge)
Few candidates understood the term ‘world city’ even though the concept of a world city, the causes of their growth and the idea of a hierarchy are in the syllabus. Many candidates simply gave general reasons why cities grow or gave population size (as in 10 m+ ‘mega cities’) the main reason why a city could be classified as a ‘world city’. There were some good responses that discussed the role...
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 9696/22 Q3(c) (Cambridge)
Few candidates understood the term ‘world city’ even though the concept of a world city, the causes of their growth and the idea of a hierarchy are in the syllabus. Many candidates simply gave general reasons why cities grow or gave population size (as in 10 m+ ‘mega cities’) the main reason why a city could be classified as a ‘world city’. There were some good responses that discussed the role...
— Examiner report, May/June 2023, 9696/23 Q3(c) (Cambridge)
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