The management of urban settlements: past paper questions
Real questions on the management of urban settlements
The newest 20 of 97 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 9696/21 · May/June 2026 · Q3a[3]
Using Figure 3.1, suggest three reasons for the location of the area of manufacturing shown in area A.
See it on the paper → - 9696/21 · May/June 2026 · Q3b[3]
Using Figure 3.1, suggest three problems the manufacturing area may cause for the surrounding area.
See it on the paper → - 9696/21 · May/June 2026 · Q3c[4]
Explain why manufacturing industries may change location within an urban area. Section B Answer one question from this section. All questions are worth 30 marks. Population
See it on the paper → - 9696/21 · May/June 2026 · Q6a(i)[3]
Describe the characteristics of a ‘world city’.
See it on the paper → - 9696/21 · May/June 2026 · Q6a(ii)[4]
Explain two causes of the growth of world cities.
See it on the paper → - 9696/21 · May/June 2026 · Q6c[15]
‘Some cities have grown too large to be managed effectively.’ With the aid of examples, to what extent do you agree with this statement?
See it on the paper → - 9696/22 · May/June 2026 · Q6a[7]
Explain why some retailing is moving out of central business districts (CBDs).
See it on the paper → - 9696/22 · May/June 2026 · Q6c[15]
‘The growth of shanty towns (squatter settlements) in LICs/MICs is caused by ineffective management.’ With the aid of examples, how far do you agree with this statement?
See it on the paper → - 9696/23 · May/June 2026 · Q6a[7]
Explain why some retailing is moving out of central business districts (CBDs).
See it on the paper → - 9696/23 · 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 · Q6c[15]
‘The growth of shanty towns (squatter settlements) in LICs/MICs is caused by ineffective management.’ With the aid of examples, how far do you agree with this statement?
See it on the paper → - 9696/21 · October/November 2025 · Q6c[15]
With the aid of examples, assess the extent to which the operation of the housing market is the main cause of residential segregation.
See it on the paper → - 9696/22 · October/November 2025 · Q3c[4]
Explain how the competition for space (spatial competition) influences the pattern of urban land values. Section B Answer one question from this section. All questions are worth 30 marks. Population
See it on the paper → - 9696/22 · October/November 2025 · Q6a[7]
Describe the changes in location of retailing in urban areas.
See it on the paper → - 9696/22 · October/November 2025 · Q6b[8]
With the aid of examples, explain the role of planning in the location of manufacturing industries in urban areas.
See it on the paper → - 9696/23 · October/November 2025 · Q3c[4]
Explain two challenges for governments of managing 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 · October/November 2025 · Q4c[15]
‘Underpopulation is easier to manage for a government than overpopulation.’ With the aid of examples, how far do you agree with this statement? Migration/Settlement dynamics
See it on the paper → - 9696/23 · October/November 2025 · Q5c[15]
With the aid of examples, assess the extent to which rural to urban migration in LICs/MICs causes problems in urban areas. Settlement dynamics
See it on the paper → - 9696/23 · October/November 2025 · Q6b[8]
With the aid of examples, explain the role of planning in the location of activities in urban areas.
See it on the paper → - 9696/43 · October/November 2025 · Q6[20]
With reference to examples, to what extent are degraded urban environments easier to improve than degraded rural environments? Global interdependence If answering this option, answer Question 7 and either Question 8 or Question 9.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Typically, answers referred to scrap materials and poor construction, whereas the majority of the houses in the photograph do not seem poorly built. Better answers recognised that there is a contrast between the buildings near the river and the rest of the buildings shown. Nearly all candidates correctly referred to the closely packed nature of the housing.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9696/22 Q3(a) (Cambridge)
Answers often included issues which are not indicated in the photograph, such as lack of sanitation or clean drinking water, high crime rates and lack of employment opportunities. Instead, the focus was on likely problems for the people living in the area based on the visible details in the photograph, for example that disease could spread quickly as the buildings are close together. Some response...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9696/22 Q3(b) (Cambridge)
The majority of answers addressed transport infrastructure. Those responses which were focused on the provision of infrastructure offered a range of environmental, economic, social and political challenges such as housing density, street patterns and the need for clearing existing dwellings, which would likely be opposed by local people. Answers which gave accounts of the challenges faced by users...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 9696/22 Q6(b) (Cambridge)
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