HKDSE Geography Paper 1 Practice Paper (12 Questions, 50 Marks, 75 Minutes)

2026-11-02

HKDSE Geography Paper 1 Practice

HKDSE Geography Paper 1 practice paper: 12 original questions in 75 minutes for 50 marks, covering seismic wave travel time, river gradient and runoff, cliff retreat, populati

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Paper details　Level: S6 (HKDSE) | Subject: Geography | Time: 75 minutes | Marks: 50 | Questions: 12

Section A (Short Questions, 2 marks each, 12 marks in total)

Answer briefly; always state the units.

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
1	The P-wave speed at a location is 6 km/s and the S-wave speed is 3.5 km/s. The two waves reach the same station 12 seconds apart. Find the distance from the focus to the station (km, 1 decimal place).	Distance = 12 divided by (1/3.5 – 1/6) = 12 divided by (2/7 – 1/6) = 12 divided by (5/42) = 100.8 km.
2	A river falls from 320 m to 80 m above sea level over a channel length of 60 km. Find the average gradient (m/km).	Average gradient = (320 – 80) divided by 60 = 4 m/km.
3	Along a 2.4 km stretch of coastline the sea cliff retreats by 0.15 m per year on average. Find the land area lost in 30 years (m2).	Retreat in 30 years = 0.15 x 30 = 4.5 m; area lost = 2,400 x 4.5 = 10,800 m2.
4	A district has a population of 168,000 and an area of 4.2 km2. Find its population density (persons per km2).	Population density = 168,000 divided by 4.2 = 40,000 persons per km2.
5	A farm has 12 hectares of paddy field yielding 6.5 tonnes per hectare, sold at 4,200 dollars per tonne. Find the total revenue (dollars).	Output = 12 x 6.5 = 78 tonnes; revenue = 78 x 4,200 = 327,600 dollars.
6	A factory uses 8 tonnes of raw material to make 2 tonnes of product. Find the material index and state whether the plant is raw-material oriented or market oriented.	Material index = 8 divided by 2 = 4; it is greater than 1, so the plant is raw-material oriented.

Section B (Data Response, 4 marks each, 12 marks in total)

Show your workings; an answer without workings earns at most half the marks.

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
7	A place receives 2,400 mm of rainfall and loses 1,100 mm to evaporation each year. (a) Find the annual runoff (mm). (b) Explain how runoff is related to flood risk.	(a) Annual runoff = 2,400 – 1,100 = 1,300 mm. (b) A runoff of 1,300 mm means about 1.3 m depth of rain becomes surface runoff each year; the higher the runoff, the higher the river discharge and the greater the flood risk.
8	The age structure of a city is 18% aged 0-14, 70% aged 15-64 and 12% aged 65 or above. (a) Find the total dependency ratio (%). (b) Explain the pressure this structure places on public health care.	(a) Total dependency ratio = (18 + 12) divided by 70 x 100 = 42.9%. (b) With 12% aged 65 or above, demand for medical and long-term care rises while the working population carries a heavier burden.
9	A factory uses 5 tonnes of raw material with a transport cost of 2 dollars per tonne-kilometre, and produces 1 tonne of product at 3 dollars per tonne-kilometre. (a) Find the material index. (b) State whether the plant should locate near the raw material or the market.	(a) Material index = (5 x 2) divided by (1 x 3) = 3.33. (b) It exceeds 1, so the plant is raw-material oriented and should locate near the source of raw material.

Section C (Extended Questions, 26 marks in total)

State formulae and units clearly and explain in full sentences.

#	Question	Answer and marking notes
10	A catchment of 180 km2 receives 260 mm of rain in 24 hours. (a) Find the total volume of that storm rainfall (m3). (b) Compare channel improvement and flood storage reservoirs as flood management strategies, in terms of effectiveness and limitations.	(a) 180 km2 = 180,000,000 m2; volume = 0.260 x 180,000,000 = 46,800,000 m3. (b) Channel improvement speeds up discharge and lowers water levels quickly, but the peak downstream may be higher; a flood storage reservoir holds part of the peak and cuts the discharge, but needs large land area and high capital cost, and must fit land-use planning.
11	A city of 5,200,000 people generates 1.4 kg of solid waste per person per day. The remaining landfill capacity is 31,000,000 tonnes. (a) Find the annual quantity of solid waste (tonnes). (b) Find the number of years the landfill can last (1 decimal place). (c) Suggest two urban planning measures to reduce solid waste.	(a) 5,200,000 x 1.4 x 365 = 2,657,200,000 kg, that is 2,657,200 tonnes. (b) 31,000,000 divided by 2,657,200 = 11.7 years. (c) Set up district recycling centres with source separation; integrate recycling and treatment facilities into community planning to shorten haulage and cut landfill input.
12	An electronics factory in the Pearl River Delta employs 1,200 workers at 4,800 dollars per month each. After moving inland the wage falls to 3,200 dollars, but annual transport cost rises by 1,900,000 dollars. (a) Find the annual saving in wages (dollars). (b) Find the annual net saving (dollars). (c) Evaluate other effects of the relocation on the firm.	(a) 1,200 x (4,800 – 3,200) x 12 = 23,040,000 dollars. (b) 23,040,000 – 1,900,000 = 21,140,000 dollars. (c) Wages and rents are lower inland, but skilled labour and supplier networks are weaker and lead times lengthen, so the firm must invest in management and logistics.

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