2025 VJC prelim P1 SMG

VICTORIA JUNIOR COLLEGE JC2 PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION 2025 H2 GEOGRAPHY PAPER 1 MARK SCHEME Qn Answer Marks 1a Illustrate interconnectedness in the global economy. Award 1 mark for definition of global economy. Award 1 mark for illustration of interconnectedness in the global economy and a maximum of 1 additional mark for further development. Define: The global economy is a set of human activities and institutions linked together in the production, distribution, exchange and consumption of goods and services. [1] Students may choose to illustrate interconnectedness in the global economy in different ways: Interconnectedness in financial markets [1]: Countries implemented lockdowns to control the spread of COVID -19, which led to the shutdown of factories, transport routes and labour shortages, which eventually led to a global economic standstill. [1] Interconnectedness in global supply chains [1]: Manufacturing and assembly are highly interdependent, relying on global suppliers, specialized labour, and precise scheduling. A disruption at any point in the chain can ripple across countries and industries, affecting the global supply of goods. When sup plies of car components are in shortage, this leads to eventual delays in assembly and delivery of the finished vehicle. [1] Interconnectedness in Global Production Networks [1]: TNCs have an extensive GPN, and produce their goods in multiple countries to take advantage of cost advantages. In the manufacturing of a car for instance, raw materials, component parts and assembly take place in different countries. [1] AO1 3 1b Describe the global distribution of rare earth reserves and volume of rare earth metals extracted in 2020 in Resource 1. Award 1 mark for each substantiated observation. • China leads both in production and reserves holding over a third (38%) of the world’s rare earth reserves and extracting more than half the world’s supply. [1] • Other significant players in reserves are Vietnam and Brazil at 19% and 18% respectively [1] though they are very minor in extraction [1]. 5

• There are other countries with rare earth reserves but do not have any extraction e.g. Greenland and Canada. [1] • There are also countries with extraction but unknown reserves of raw earth e.g. Thailand and Burundi. [1] AO2 1c Explain the gap between reserves available and volume of rare earth metals extracted in Resource 1. Award 1 mark for reason and up to a maximum of 2 marks for further development of reason. Economic factors Mining may not be profitable if global prices are low, demand is uncertain, or extraction costs are high. Example: A country like Brazil may have large reserves, but if rare earth prices drop or pro