Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management: Human Population — Practice Questions (0680)

These questions test every learning outcome in Topic 7, Human population, of Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management (0680, 2027-2029). They include a density calculation, pyramid interpretation, migration factors, the impacts of rapid urban growth and the benefits and limitations of population policies.

These are original questions written for Marlbridge, for revision and practice on this content. They are not reproduced past-paper questions, and they do not replicate the exam’s exact structure, question count or mark tariffs — Cambridge International holds copyright in its own papers. Use these alongside the official past papers available free from your board.

Related: Human population study guide and revision notes

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Section A

1. Define population density. [1]

2. Name the three income groups the World Bank uses to classify economies. [1]

3. State what is meant by urbanisation. [1]

4. State one push factor and one pull factor for rural-urban migration. [2]

Section B

5. Country X has an area of 120 000 km² and a population of 30 million. (a) Calculate its population density. Show your working. [2] (b) Explain why population density alone does not describe where people live in Country X. [2]

6. The table shows the percentage of the population in three age groups for two countries.

Age group	Country P	Country Q
0-14	44%	15%
15-64	53%	63%
65+	3%	22%

(a) Calculate the total dependent population for each country. [2] (b) Identify which country is more likely to be an LIC. Give two reasons using the data. [3] (c) Describe two challenges Country Q faces because of its population structure. [2]

7. Explain three reasons why birth rates are often higher in LICs than in HICs. [3]

8. Explain how improvements in healthcare and sanitation change death rates and population size. [3]

9. A city of 4 million is growing by 200 000 people a year, mainly from rural-urban migration. (a) Describe four impacts of this growth on the city’s environment. [4] (b) Explain why informal urban settlements often develop. [2]

10. Distinguish between a pro-natalist and an anti-natalist population policy. [2]

Section C

11. Discuss the benefits and limitations of improving access to education and contraception as strategies to reduce birth rates. [6]

12. “Controlling migration is the most effective way for a country to manage its population size.” Discuss. [6]

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Answers

1. The number of people living in an area, usually measured in people per km². [1]

2. Low-income (LICs), middle-income (MICs) and high-income (HICs) countries. [1]

3. An increase in the proportion of a country’s population living in urban areas. [1]

4. Push, any one: lack of jobs; drought or crop failure; poor services [1]. Pull, any one: jobs; schools and hospitals; better housing or services [1].

5. (a) 30 000 000 / 120 000 = 250 people per km². [2] (1 for working, 1 for answer with units.) (b) Density is an average for the whole country [1]; distribution may be uneven, with most people in cities or fertile valleys and few in mountains or deserts [1].

6. (a) P: 44 + 3 = 47% [1]; Q: 15 + 22 = 37% [1]. (b) Country P [1]: 44% aged 0-14, showing a high birth rate [1]; only 3% aged 65+, showing lower life expectancy [1]. (c) Any two: rising cost of pensions [1]; greater demand for healthcare and care homes [1]; fewer young workers in future, so labour shortages [1]. [max 2]

7. Any three explained: children work on farms or support the family income [1]; high infant mortality means families have more children to ensure some survive [1]; limited access to contraception [1]; limited access to education, especially for girls [1]; children provide security in old age [1]. [max 3]

8. Healthcare (vaccination, hospitals) and sanitation (clean water, sewage systems) reduce disease [1]; death rates fall and life expectancy rises [1]; if birth rates stay high, the population grows rapidly [1].

9. (a) Any four: more air pollution from vehicles and industry [1]; traffic congestion [1]; more waste than can be collected, leading to land pollution [1]; water pollution from untreated sewage [1]; loss of land and habitats at the city edge [1]; noise, light and visual pollution [1]; greater energy usage. [max 4] (b) Migrants arrive faster than formal housing is built [1] and cannot afford formal housing, so they build on unused land without planning permission or services [1].

10. A pro-natalist policy encourages people to have more children [1]; an anti-natalist policy encourages people to have fewer [1].

11. [6] Education benefits: women who stay in school marry later, are more likely to work and tend to have fewer children; it brings wider economic benefits. Limitation: it takes many years to affect birth rates and needs funding for schools and teachers. Contraception benefits: directly lets couples choose family size; relatively cheap per person. Limitations: supply in remote areas, cost, and cultural or religious objections. Conclusion: the two work best together, as education increases demand for contraception.

12. [6] For: immigration can offset low birth rates and fill labour shortages in an ageing HIC; emigration can ease pressure in a crowded country. Against: migration does not change the world’s population; it can cause tension, brain drain from LICs and pressure on services; most population growth comes from natural increase, which is better addressed by education, healthcare and contraception. Conclusion: migration control is one tool, but rarely the most effective on its own.

A note on exam technique for this topic

When asked to “use the data”, quote the figures and their units. In “explain” questions, link each factor to its effect on birth rate, death rate or migration, then to population size.

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate the dependent population? Add the percentages of young dependants (usually 0-14) and elderly dependants (usually 65+).

Which strategies does the 0680 syllabus name for managing population? Access to contraception, pro-natalist and anti-natalist policies, access to education, access to healthcare and control of migration.

What is a megacity? A city with more than 10 million inhabitants; megacities are listed as an impact of population growth.

Official syllabus

Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management (0680) syllabus for 2027, 2028 and 2029 - official syllabus PDF.