Population dynamics: past paper questions
Real questions on population dynamics
The newest 20 of 97 written questions. Open one to see it on the real paper.
- 2217/12 · May/June 2025 · Q1a(i)[1]
How is population growth calculated? Put the words from the box into the correct places in the formula. birth rate death rate emigration immigration Population growth = natural increase ( minus ) +/– (i)
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · May/June 2025 · Q1a(ii)[2]
Using Fig. 1.1 only, state two differences between the population growth rates in Africa and South America. Do not use statistics.
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · May/June 2025 · Q1a(iii)[3]
Put the following countries in rank order of their population growth rates. China Mexico Niger Spain high
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · May/June 2025 · Q1a(iv)[4]
The population is declining in some countries. Explain two problems which may be caused by population decline.
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · May/June 2025 · Q1b(i)[3]
Suggest three different problems which the people living in the area shown in Fig. 1.2 may experience as a result of high rates of population growth.
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · May/June 2025 · Q1b(ii)[5]
Explain how a government may attempt to reduce population growth.
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · May/June 2025 · Q6a(ii)[2]
State the percentage employed in the secondary and the tertiary industry in country X. secondary industry %
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · May/June 2025 · Q6a(iii)[3]
Using Fig. 6.1, compare the employment structure of LEDCs and MEDCs. Do not use statistics.
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · May/June 2025 · Q6a(iv)[4]
Suggest two different ways in which the employment structure of country X is likely to change in the future. Give one reason for each of the changes you suggest.
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · October/November 2024 · Q1a(i)[1]
Using Fig. 1.1, identify which one of the following countries is most sparsely populated. Underline your answer. France Spain Tunisia
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · October/November 2024 · Q1a(ii)[2]
Calculate the population density of Turkey. You should include your calculations in the box provided. per km 2
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · October/November 2024 · Q1a(iii)[3]
Study Fig. 1.2 (Insert), a photograph of a mountainous area. Explain why mountainous areas, like the one shown in Fig. 1.2, have an uneven population distribution.
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · October/November 2024 · Q1a(iv)[4]
Study Fig. 1.3 (Insert), a photograph of a hot desert area. Explain why hot desert areas, like the one shown in Fig. 1.3, are not attractive places to live.
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · October/November 2024 · Q1b(i)[3]
Suggest reasons why many coastal lowland areas, like the one shown in Fig. 1.4, have a high population density.
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · October/November 2024 · Q2b(i)[3]
Using evidence from Fig. 2.2 only, describe the changes in the rate of increase in the population of Nairobi between 1900 and 2020. Use statistics to support your answer.
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · May/June 2024 · Q1a(i)[1]
Define over-population.
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · May/June 2024 · Q1a(ii)[2]
Using Fig. 1.1 only, identify two problems which over-population was causing for people living in China in the 1970s.
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · May/June 2024 · Q1a(iii)[3]
Describe the problems which over-population may cause to the natural environment.
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · May/June 2024 · Q1a(iv)[4]
Suggest why the government of China was concerned about the following impacts of under-population: fewer people were paying taxes fewer people were available to join the armed forces fewer people were growing food fewer people were making things to sell.
See it on the paper → - 2217/12 · May/June 2024 · Q1b(i)[3]
Describe the distribution of countries where deaths were higher than births before 2024.
See it on the paper →
What examiners said
Most candidates correctly identified 11 million but a few read off the birth rate, whilst others saw that the death rate was halfway between 10 and the next number without looking carefully at the scale and gave 10.5.
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2217/12 Q1(a)(i) (Cambridge)
This discriminated well with many weaker responses only stating the change in the birth rate (or just using data for birth rate). Stronger answers understood the importance of the relative changes in both birth and death rates and that, for a decline, the death rate must be higher than the birth rate. Some candidates made good use of data in their answers; others, however, only quoted a limited am...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2217/12 Q1(a)(ii) (Cambridge)
Many candidates gave the correct answer and included their calculations, but some weaker responses used an incorrect formula whilst others read incorrect figures from the graph. The latter at least gained some credit for knowing that natural increase is calculated by subtracting death rate from birth rate. Some candidates multiplied the values read from Fig. 1.1 by a thousand, so did not understan...
— Examiner report, October/November 2023, 2217/12 Q1(a)(iii) (Cambridge)
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