AQA GCSE Geography Paper 2 Challenges in the human environment: a complete overview of urban, economic and resource issues

What Paper 2 actually demands

Challenges in the human environment is the human geography half of AQA GCSE Geography. Paper 2 runs from the rapid growth of cities, through the uneven development of the world economy, to the rising pressure on food, water and energy. The examiners test two linked skills: clear understanding of human processes, and the confident use of detailed, named case studies to support an evaluation.

This guide walks through the three sections in specification order, then sets out the exam patterns AQA repeats. Each topic has a matching dot-point page with practice questions; this overview ties them together.

Urban issues and challenges

The paper opens with urbanisation: the global pattern, the causes of urban growth through rural-urban migration and natural increase, and the challenges and opportunities of rapid growth. You study a major city in an NEE or LIC (such as Rio de Janeiro, with the Favela Bairro Project) and a major UK city (such as London, with the Olympic Park regeneration), and the features of sustainable urban living.

The recurring marks come from explaining the causes of growth, balancing opportunities and challenges, and describing a named scheme that improves life in squatter settlements or regenerates a UK city.

The changing economic world

This section covers measures of development (GNI per head, the HDI), the Demographic Transition Model, the causes and consequences of uneven development, and the strategies that reduce the development gap (aid, fair trade, tourism, microfinance and intermediate technology). You study a newly emerging economy in depth (Nigeria, with the role of TNCs such as Shell and aid) and the changing UK economy (deindustrialisation, the post-industrial shift, the north-south divide and global links).

The key skills are interpreting development data and evaluating which strategy best closes the gap.

The challenge of resource management

After a compulsory overview of the global significance of food, water and energy and how supply and demand are changing in the UK, you study one resource in depth. For your chosen resource you cover the global pattern, the impacts of insecurity, and a large-scale scheme (such as the Indus Basin irrigation system) alongside a sustainable, local strategy.

The recurring marks come from contrasting large-scale and sustainable solutions and judging which is more appropriate.

How Paper 2 is examined

A typical AQA profile for Challenges in the human environment:

• Multiple choice and short answer. Defining terms (urbanisation, development), reading development data, and interpreting maps, graphs and photographs.
• Case-study questions. Using named facts for Rio, London, Nigeria and your chosen resource scheme.
• Process and explanation questions. Explaining the causes of urban growth, uneven development or resource insecurity.
• Extended 6 and 9 mark answers. Evaluating a regeneration scheme, the role of TNCs, or large-scale versus sustainable resource strategies, with a balanced judgement and SPaG marks at stake.

Check your knowledge

A mix of recall and applied questions covering Paper 2. Attempt them under timed conditions, then check against the solutions.

1. Define the term urbanisation. (2 marks)
2. Explain two causes of rapid urban growth in lower-income countries. (4 marks)
3. Explain how a named scheme has improved squatter settlements. (4 marks)
4. State one economic and one social measure of development. (2 marks)
5. Explain one historical cause of uneven development. (3 marks)
6. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of TNCs operating in an NEE. (6 marks)
7. Explain what is meant by a post-industrial economy. (2 marks)
8. Compare a large-scale and a sustainable strategy to increase resource supply. (6 marks)