The drainage basin system: past paper questions
Real questions on the drainage basin system
The newest 20 of 99 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 9696/12 · May/June 2026 · Q1a(i)[1]
state flow A
See it on the paper → - 9696/12 · May/June 2026 · Q1a(ii)[1]
name one output from the drainage basin system.
See it on the paper → - 9696/12 · May/June 2026 · Q1b[4]
Using Figure 1.1, explain two types of water flow below the ground.
See it on the paper → - 9696/12 · May/June 2026 · Q4a(ii)[3]
Briefly explain how the shape of a storm hydrograph is affected by the drainage density of a drainage basin.
See it on the paper → - 9696/12 · May/June 2026 · Q5b[8]
Explain the different types of precipitation.
See it on the paper → - 9696/13 · May/June 2026 · Q1a(i)[1]
state flow A
See it on the paper → - 9696/13 · May/June 2026 · Q1a(ii)[1]
name one output from the drainage basin system.
See it on the paper → - 9696/11 · October/November 2025 · Q1a[4]
Describe the distribution of the areas above the flood threshold shown in Fig. 1.1.
See it on the paper → - 9696/11 · October/November 2025 · Q4a(i)[4]
Define the hydrological terms ‘interception’ and ‘throughfall’.
See it on the paper → - 9696/12 · October/November 2025 · Q1a[4]
Describe the relationship between land use and the level of risk of river flooding shown in Fig. 1.1.
See it on the paper → - 9696/12 · October/November 2025 · Q1b[3]
Briefly explain how land use might influence the risk of river flooding.
See it on the paper → - 9696/12 · October/November 2025 · Q1c[3]
Explain how river floods may be prevented by one method of hard engineering. Atmosphere and weather
See it on the paper → - 9696/12 · October/November 2025 · Q4b[8]
Explain how the size and shape of a drainage basin may affect the shape of a storm hydrograph.
See it on the paper → - 9696/13 · October/November 2025 · Q4a(i)[3]
Describe the process of stemflow.
See it on the paper → - 9696/11 · May/June 2025 · Q1a(i)[1]
state the maximum discharge shown
See it on the paper → - 9696/11 · May/June 2025 · Q1a(ii)[1]
calculate the lag time.
See it on the paper → - 9696/11 · May/June 2025 · Q1b[3]
Describe the shape of the hydrograph shown in Fig. 1.1.
See it on the paper → - 9696/11 · May/June 2025 · Q5a(ii)[3]
Briefly describe how land/sea distribution affects seasonal variation in temperature.
See it on the paper → - 9696/12 · May/June 2025 · Q1a[1]
State the depth of groundwater at X in Fig. 1.1.
See it on the paper → - 9696/12 · May/June 2025 · Q1b[4]
Describe two similarities and two differences between the patterns shown in Fig. 1.1 and Fig. 1.2.
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What examiners said
Many candidates did not understand what the shape of a drainage basin entailed. Shape was often interpreted as size. Even if the analysis was in terms of circular and elongated drainage basin shapes, explanations for the effect these shapes had on the characteristics of a storm hydrograph were often inaccurate.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9696/12 Q4(a)(ii) (Cambridge)
Some answers referred generically to base flow as ‘water flowing under the surface’, and not clearly distinguishing between infiltration, throughflow and base flow. However, many displayed a clear understanding of the whole process, beginning with precipitation and ending with base flow towards the river channel.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9696/13 Q4(a)(i) (Cambridge)
There was generally a clear understanding of the correlation between porosity/permeability and infiltration rates, but not always a clear understanding of the differences between porosity and permeability. Examples offered were not always appropriate, concrete being specified by a number of candidates as an example of an impermeable soil.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9696/13 Q4(a)(ii) (Cambridge)
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