Cambridge IGCSE™

GEOGRAPHY 0460/43
Paper 4 Alternative to Coursework May/June 2021
MARK SCHEME
Maximum Mark: 60

Published

This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and candidates, to indicate the requirements of the
examination. It shows the basis on which Examiners were instructed to award marks. It does not indicate the
details of the discussions that took place at an Examiners’ meeting before marking began, which would have
considered the acceptability of alternative answers.

Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the question paper and the Principal Examiner Report for
Teachers.

Cambridge International will not enter into discussions about these mark schemes.

Cambridge International is publishing the mark schemes for the May/June 2021 series for most Cambridge
IGCSE™, Cambridge International A and AS Level components and some Cambridge O Level components.

This document consists of 7 printed pages.

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0460/43 Cambridge IGCSE – Mark Scheme May/June 2021
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Generic Marking Principles

These general marking principles must be applied by all examiners when marking candidate answers.
They should be applied alongside the specific content of the mark scheme or generic level descriptors
for a question. Each question paper and mark scheme will also comply with these marking principles.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 1:

Marks must be awarded in line with:

• the specific content of the mark scheme or the generic level descriptors for the question
• the specific skills defined in the mark scheme or in the generic level descriptors for the question
• the standard of response required by a candidate as exemplified by the standardisation scripts.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 2:

Marks awarded are always whole marks (not half marks, or other fractions).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 3:

Marks must be awarded positively:

• marks are awarded for correct/valid answers, as defined in the mark scheme. However, credit
is given for valid answers which go beyond the scope of the syllabus and mark scheme,
referring to your Team Leader as appropriate
• marks are awarded when candidates clearly demonstrate what they know and can do
• marks are not deducted for errors
• marks are not deducted for omissions
• answers should only be judged on the quality of spelling, punctuation and grammar when these
features are specifically assessed by the question as indicated by the mark scheme. The
meaning, however, should be unambiguous.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 4:

Rules must be applied consistently, e.g. in situations where candidates have not followed
instructions or in the application of generic level descriptors.

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 5:

Marks should be awarded using the full range of marks defined in the mark scheme for the question
(however; the use of the full mark range may be limited according to the quality of the candidate
responses seen).

GENERIC MARKING PRINCIPLE 6:

Marks awarded are based solely on the requirements as defined in the mark scheme. Marks should
not be awarded with grade thresholds or grade descriptors in mind.

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Question Answer Marks

1(a)(i) Stream which joins another stream / river 1

When / where a stream joins the main river

1(a)(ii) Area drained by a river / area from where all water flows into river / 1
catchment area
Area where all the rain goes into the river

1(b) Learn how to use equipment 2

Practise fieldwork techniques
2@1

1(c)(i) Measure 10 metres 4

Put poles or sticks at measured distance / 10 metres along river / at start
and end of measured distance
Put float / orange / ball in river at start
Start stopwatch or timer when float / orange is put in river
Measure time it takes to travel the measured distance / stop stopwatch or
timer when float reaches end of measured distance

1(c)(ii) Floats got stuck / hit obstacles / vegetation in channel 2

Error in calculation / measuring distance / measuring time
Float doesn’t move in straight line
Float affected by wind
2@1

1(d)(i) Put measuring tape across river / channel / from one bank / side to the 4
other
Keep tape measure taut / horizontal / stretched / above water / parallel to
water level
Measure at right angles to bank / straight across channel
Read width / measurement on tape measure

Rest ruler / measuring stick on river bed / bottom of river (NOT into bed)
Make sure ruler is upright / vertical / straight / perpendicular / 90⁰
Measure depth at different places / intervals across channel / every metre /
three points across river
Read off the scale where water level reaches / where ruler is wet / measure
the wet section

1 mark reserve for width and depth

1(d)(ii) 3 plots correct = 2 marks 3

1 or 2 plots correct = 1 mark
Line joining points – must intersect 0 at both banks = 1 mark

Ignore shading

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Question Answer Marks

1(e)(i) 3.45 (width) × 0.31 (depth) 2

1.07 sq m / 1.0695

1(e)(ii) Hypothesis is true – 1 mark reserve (HA) 2

OR Discharge does increase downstream

1 mark for paired data from any two sites to show relationship
e.g. site 1 / upstream = 0.12 cumecs and site 3 / downstream = 0.48
cumecs

No credit if Hypothesis conclusion is incorrect / false

If no hypothesis conclusion credit evidence

1(e)(iii) Tributaries / other rivers join 1

Bring water from other areas of drainage basin
Larger catchment area downstream
Reason for decrease in discharge, e.g. a dam

1(f)(i) Measure certain / equal distance / 10 m (5 m or more) / where the slope 4

breaks
Students hold / put poles at either end of measured distance / at specific
distance / 5–10 m away from each other / at break of slope
Put two poles vertically / perpendicular / upright / 90⁰
Student holds clinometer / protractor next to top / at certain height on pole /
at eye level
Lines up identified position / top on other pole / look along tape to line up
with other pole
Student uses clinometer / protractor to measure / record angle / read off
angle / read off degrees NOT gradient

1(f)(ii) Plot 6.3 (⁰) at site 3 1

(6.2 – 6.3)

1(f)(iii) Hypothesis is true / support hypothesis / Yes – 1 mark reserve (HA) 3

Credit paired average data from different sites to 2 marks max

3 sites + data = 2 marks, 2 sites + data = 1 mark
e.g. 16.3o at site 1, 10.7o at site 2, 6.3o at site 3

OR 4.6o decrease between sites 1 and 2, 5.4o decrease between sites 2 and
3, 11.4o decrease between sites 1 and 3 – 1 mark each

No credit if Hypothesis conclusion is incorrect / false

If no hypothesis conclusion credit evidence

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Question Answer Marks

2(a)(i) Climate data is secondary OR 2

Climate data is average OR
Climate data is long-term / seasons / months / year / annual

Weather data is primary OR

Weather is individual figures OR
Weather is short-term / varies daily / changes every day

2(a)(ii) Soil (type) 1

Altitude / height
Gradient

2(b)(i) Land use: Rough grazing above 200 m and grassland / woodland below 2
200 m
Field size: Smaller fields below 200 m

2(b)(ii) 6 1

2(b)(iii) Rectangular / square / oblong / trapezium / rhombus / parallelogram 1

2(b)(iv) 2
Bryn Du farm Home Park farm

arable 

pastoral 

lowland 

upland 

4 ticks correct = 2 marks

2 or 3 ticks correct = 1 mark

2(c)(i) Completing pie graph – grassland and rough grazing 2

1 mark for dividing line at 65%
1 mark for shading (horizontal lines)

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Question Answer Marks

2(c)(ii) NO hypothesis mark 4

Arable farming or crops with low(er) rainfall / pasture or grassland or rough

grazing / or animals with high(er) rainfall

Arable farming or crops with high(er) temperature / pasture or grassland or

rough grazing or animals with low(er) temperature

Arable farming or crops on low(er) land / pasture or grassland or rough

grazing or animals on high(er) land

Arable farming or crops on flat(ter) land / pasture or grassland or rough

grazing or animals on steep(er) land

Arable farming or crops with peat or organic soil / pastoral farming or

grassland or rough grazing or animals on loam or clay soil

Credit comparable data which supports a statement to 2 marks maximum

but not reserve
e.g. January temperature at Home Park = 5⁰ and at Bryn Du = 4⁰
July temperature at Home Park = 19⁰ and at Bryn Du = 16⁰
rainfall at Home Park = 550 mm and at Bryn Du = 1350 mm
height at Home Park = 4 m (2–8) and at Bryn Du = 200 m (180–240)

2(c)(iii) (Looking for a reason) 3

Climate
Crops need warm(er) temperatures to grow (Accept plants)
High rainfall results in soil being too wet to grow crops
Crops cannot grow at low temperatures

Relief
Steep(er) slope – too steep for machinery / sheep are agile
Gentle slope suits mechanisation
Steep(er) slope – runoff removes soil nutrients / soil is thinner

Soils
fertile / rich / deep soils help crop to grow / arable
infertile / poor / thin more suited to grassland / animals / pasture
3@1

2(d)(i) Plotting labour and machinery costs on bar graph 2

Labour = £20 000, machinery = £68 000

Ignore shading
2@1

2(d)(ii) Different units (of measurement) 1

Includes number / kg / tonnes (need 2)
Bar graph only shows one unit of measurement

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Question Answer Marks

2(d)(iii) Hypothesis is false – 1 mark reserve 3

(Input) Costs are higher on Home Park / lower on Bryn Du

Costs are twice as much on Home Park
Accept ‘only’ for comparison if using the two total amounts

Example of different outputs such as wheat from Home Park and lambs from
Bryn Du OR
Crops from Home Park and animals from Bryn Du

No credit for statistics

No credit if Hypothesis conclusion is true

If no hypothesis conclusion credit evidence

2(e) Interview 3
Use a questionnaire
Credit example of questions for 1 mark
Make more visits / visit in different seasons / visit again
Stay on the farm for a few days / work-experience
Watch / observe the farmer / worker
Search online / books / secondary data

3@1

2(f) If crops fail the farmer can depend on animals / if animals die farmer can 3
rely on crops / spread the risk / if one fails can stay in business
Animal manure can be used for crops / as fertiliser
Crops / crop waste can be used to feed animals
Farmer can use all types of land / e.g. use fertile soil for crops and infertile
soil for grazing
Work will be spread throughout the year
Income will come into the farm at different times of year / different sources
of income / access to different markets / sell crops and livestock

Farmer can adapt to changes in demand

3@1

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