Cambridge IGCSE Pakistan Studies: Power — Practice Questions (0448)

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: Power study guide and revision notes

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What do these questions practise? They cover every learning outcome in Section 3 Power of Cambridge IGCSE Pakistan Studies 0448 Paper 2: extraction methods, non-renewable supplies and their transport, electricity generation, renewables and hydel schemes, and the reasons for unreliable supply. Short recall items come first, followed by explain and evaluate items like the final parts of Paper 2 questions.

Section A: recall and description

1. State the difference between a renewable and a non-renewable source of electricity. [2]

2. Name one coalfield and one natural gas field in Pakistan. [2]

3. Draw a simple labelled diagram to show how coal is obtained by adit mining. [3]

4. Name two methods, other than pipeline, used to transport oil within Pakistan. [2]

5. Name one nuclear power station site and one wind power area in Pakistan. [2]

Section B: explanation

6. Explain why most of the coal mined in Pakistan is used close to where it is mined. [3]

7. Explain why Pakistan has to import large amounts of oil. [4]

8. Explain how natural gas is supplied to areas of Pakistan away from the pipeline network, and the limitations of this method. [4]

9. Describe the physical and human conditions that favour the building of a multi-purpose hydel scheme. [5]

10. Explain why the supply of electricity is not sufficient or reliable in many parts of Pakistan. [5]

Section C: evaluation

11. “Small-scale solar power is the best way to supply electricity to remote villages in Pakistan.” To what extent do you agree? Give reasons and refer to examples. [6]

12. Assess whether Pakistan should rely more on Thar coal or on wind power to increase electricity generation. [6]

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Answers

1. A renewable source is naturally replenished and will not run out, for example water, wind or sunlight [1]. A non-renewable source cannot be replaced once used, for example coal, oil or natural gas [1].

2. Coalfield: Thar, Lakhra or the Salt Range [1]. Gas field: Sui (or another named field in Sindh or Balochistan) [1].

3. One mark each for: a hillside drawn with a coal seam outcropping or lying near-horizontally inside it [1]; a horizontal tunnel (adit) driven from the valley side into the seam [1]; a label showing coal being carried out of the tunnel entrance, for example by tubs or a conveyor [1].

4. Any two of: rail tankers, road tankers, coastal tankers by sea [2].

5. Nuclear: Chashma, or the coastal site near Karachi [1]. Wind: the Gharo–Jhimpir corridor in Sindh [1].

6. Most local coal is low-grade lignite with high ash and moisture [1], so it has a low heat value per tonne [1]. Transporting large, heavy amounts of low-value coal is costly, so it is cheaper to build power stations at or near the mine and send electricity by transmission line instead [1].

7. Domestic oil fields, mainly on the Potwar Plateau and in Sindh, are small [1] and produce only a small share of what the country needs [1]. Demand is high and rising from transport, industry and thermal power stations [1]. Exploration is costly and new finds have not kept pace with demand, so the gap is filled with crude oil and refined products imported, mainly from the Gulf [1].

8. Gas is bottled as LPG and carried in cylinders by road to homes and businesses [1–2]. Limitations, any two: cylinders cost more than piped gas [1]; supply depends on roads, which may be poor or blocked in mountain or desert areas [1]; supply can be irregular, especially in winter when demand peaks [1]; cylinders carry a safety risk if handled badly [1].

9. Physical (up to 3): a narrow, deep valley to keep the dam short [1]; strong, impermeable rock for foundations and to hold water [1]; a large, reliable river flow fed by snowmelt and monsoon rain [1]; a large area upstream for a reservoir [1]. Human (up to 3): capital, often from international loans [1]; engineering expertise [1]; demand for irrigation water and electricity downstream [1]; few people to be resettled when the reservoir floods land [1]. Maximum 5, with both physical and human factors needed for full marks.

10. Any five developed points: demand has grown faster than generating capacity [1]; many thermal stations rely on expensive imported oil and gas, so they cannot always run [1]; hydel output falls in winter when river flow is low [1]; reservoirs silt up, reducing storage [1]; high transmission and distribution losses, including theft [1]; remote areas are far from the grid and costly to connect [1]; this leads to load-shedding [1].

11. Level-marked answer. Points for: Pakistan has high sunshine across most of the year [1]; panels can be installed without a grid connection, so they suit scattered villages in Balochistan or the Thar [1]; low running costs [1]. Points against: no output at night and less in cloudy weather [1]; batteries add cost and need replacing [1]; dust lowers efficiency [1]; output may be too small for machinery or industry [1]. Alternatives: micro-hydel suits mountain valleys with fast streams, so solar is not always best [1]. A clear judgement linked to type of location earns the top mark.

12. Thar coal, for: very large local reserves reduce fuel imports and help the balance of trade [1]; provides steady, round-the-clock output [1]; brings jobs to a poor desert area [1]. Against: low-grade lignite produces high emissions and ash [1]; open cast mining damages land and needs water in a dry area [1]; local people may be displaced [1]. Wind, for: no fuel cost or emissions [1]; steady winds in southern Sindh near demand centres [1]. Against: output varies with wind speed [1]; turbines and new transmission lines need high capital [1]. Credit a judgement such as combining both, with wind expanded for sustainability and coal used to cut imports in the short term. Maximum 6.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a 6-mark evaluation answer be? Aim for both sides with at least two developed points each, a named example, and a one-sentence judgement at the end.

Will diagrams be asked for? The syllabus states that candidates should describe extraction methods with the help of a simple diagram, so practise drawing open cast, adit, shaft and drilling diagrams.

Where can I find real questions? Use the Cambridge 0448 past papers and mark schemes on the School Support Hub or your school’s copies alongside these original questions.

Based on the Cambridge IGCSE Pakistan Studies 0448 syllabus for examination in 2026, Paper 2 Section 3.