ACJC 2025 Prelims H1 Geog P1 Answers final

© ACJC 2025 [Turn over Suggested Answers ANGLO-CHINESE JUNIOR COLLEGE JC2 Preliminary Examination Higher 1 GEOGRAPHY 8834/01 Paper 1 28 August 2025 3 hours

2 © ACJC 2025 8834/01/JC2 Preliminary Examination Section A Cluster 2 Fieldwork 1 A group of students conducted a fieldwork investigation on the needs of elderly residents in Toa Payoh, Singapore. The focus of their investigation was to assess how well pedestrian pathways and neighbourhood amenities support elderly residents in staying active and independent. The hypothesis for their study was: ‘Pedestrian pathways and the markets in Toa Payoh adequately meet the needs of elderly residents.’ The students conducted the investigation over two weekdays in October, between 9am and 12pm. The students started by firstly doing a pre- fieldwork site visit of Toa Payoh Estate. The main locations selected were a pedestrian pathway in Toa Payoh Central and another in the hawker and market centre. They then started to collect data by conducting a survey of elderly residents at the two locations. The aim was to gather data on their experiences about the pedestrian pathways and the markets in Toa Payoh. They approached anyone that they thought looked over 60. A total of 40 elderly respondents, aged 60 and above, participated in the survey. They also took photographs of the pathways and the markets in the area. Resource 1 shows a map of Toa Payoh and the locations of the fieldwork sites. Resource 2 shows photographs of the pedestrian pathways and the market in Toa Payoh. Resource 3 shows the results of the survey about pedestrian pathways. Resource 4 shows the results of the survey about markets in Toa Payoh. (a) Explain why this hypothesis is suitable for the investigation. [4] Marking guidance Award 1 mark for each explanation of a strength. Award a maximum of 1 additional mark for further development of each explanation. Possible responses include: • The hypothesis is clearly aligned with the aim of the investigation to assess whether pedestrian pathways and markets meet the needs of the elderly. [1] • It is testable and measurable, since aspects such as pathway condition, shelter, crossings, and market usage can be evaluated through structured surveys. [1] The use of Likert-scale questions in the survey allows quantifiable responses that make the hypothesis operational and evidence-based. [+1] • It is manageable and realistic for the students to study, since both the pathways and market are confined to specific sites in Toa Payoh, making data collection feasible within two weekdays. [1] • The hypothesis is contextually relevant, as Toa Payoh has a large elderly population, so investigating their liveability concerns makes the study meaningful. [1]

3 © ACJC 2025 8834/01/JC2 Preliminary Examination (b) With reference to Resource s 1 and 2, suggest how the students could minimise potential impacts at the sites while conducting their investigation. [5] Award 1 mark for each suggestion of how to minimise potential impacts. Award a maximum of 1 additional mark for further development of each suggestion. Possible responses include: • Students should stand at the edges of the pedestrian pathways shown in Resource 2 to avoid obstructing elderly residents using mobility aids [1 mark]. • Students should position themselves away from stall fronts in the market when conducting surveys [1 mark]. This prevents disruption to vendors and keeps circulation aisles clear for shoppers [1 additional mark]. • Students should time approaches respectfully such as speak to seated pedestrians or after shoppers have completed purchases. [1 mark]. This minimises inconvenience to the elderly and shortens interaction time [1 additional mark]. • Students should ensure any trash that they have accumulated should be disposed of correctly. [1 mark] This will reduce the chances of littering and polluting the environment for the other users of the pathways. [1 additional mark] (c) Explain the benefits of conducting a pre-fieldwork site visit of Toa Payoh estate. [4] Award 1 mark for each benefit of a pre-fieldwork site visit. Award a maximum of 1 additional mark for further development of each benefit Possible responses include: • Students can familiarise themselves with the physical layout of the estate [1 mark]. This helps them identify the most suitable pedestrian pathways and market entrances where elderly residents are concentrated, improving data collection efficiency [1 additional mark]. • Students can refine their data collection methods such as deciding where to stand and how to approach respondents [1 mark]. This reduces confusion during the actual survey and ensures smoother interaction with the elderly [1 additional mark]. • Students can carry out a risk assessment of the sites [1 mark]. This allows them to spot potential safety issues such as crowded aisles or uneven pavements, so they can plan precautions in advance [1 additional mark].

4 © ACJC 2025 8834/01/JC2 Preliminary Examination (d) With reference to Resource 3, describe the results on satisfaction with pedestrian pathways. [3] Award 1 mark for each description. Award a maximum of one additional mark for further development of each description, where applicable. Possible responses include: Overall, the results were mostly positive, with more elderly residents expressing satisfaction than dissatisfaction [1 mark]. Many respondents felt the pathways were wide enough [1 mark]. For instance, 14 rated +1 and 6 rated +2, compared to 8 at −1 and 2 at −2 [1 additional mark]. However majority felt that there were insufficient resting spots. [1 mark] This can be seen where 7 rated -2 while 9 rated -1 compared to the positive which only had 12 residents responding positively. [1 additional mark] (e) Sketch a graph to present the data in Resource 4. [4]

5 © ACJC 2025 8834/01/JC2 Preliminary Examination (f) Evaluate the usefulness of the investigation in helping students understand factors affecting liveability for the elderly living in Toa Payoh. [10] Possible Approaches Candidates could first point out that the investigation is useful because it collects quantitative data from Resources 3 and 4. The survey on pathways and markets provides measurable evidence of elderly residents’ perceptions, which can be tabulated and compared to show trends. In addition, photographs from Resource 2 are useful as they provide visual context on the condition of the pathways and market environment, helping to verify or illustrate the survey responses. The investigation also has strengths that increase its usefulness. The focus on two key sites – a pathway and a market – is directly aligned with the hypothesis, and the sample size of 40 elderly respondents is adequate for small -scale fieldwork. Triangulation between survey data and photographs strengthens conclusions, while the use of simple Likert-style scales allows comparisons across different aspects of liveability, such as safety, shelter, and resting spots. On the other hand, the reliability and accuracy of the data may be questioned. Some elderly respondents may not fully understand the survey questions if these were conducted in English, which could reduce the accuracy of their answers. The presence of a neutral option may also have affected reliability, as