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GCSE · Statistics

S34 Choropleth Maps

EDEXCEL 1ST0 · Calculator allowed · about 75 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

For each statement about choropleth maps, write down whether it is True or False.

(i)A choropleth map uses different shades or colours to show how a variable (such as a rate or percentage) varies between regions.(1)

(ii)A choropleth map shows the exact value of the variable for every individual place within a region.(1)

(iii)The regions on a choropleth map are usually meaningful real-world areas, such as countries or postcode districts, rather than shapes chosen at random.(1)

(iv)On a choropleth map that uses one colour with different shades, a darker shade conventionally represents a smaller value than a lighter shade.(1)

(Total for Question 1 is 4 marks)

Which of these would be the most suitable use of a choropleth map?

A) Showing how one runner's finishing time changed across 8 different races
B) Showing the percentage of adults who own a car in each region of a country
C) Listing the ingredients needed for a recipe
D) Showing the exact test score of every pupil in a class of 30

(Total for Question 2 is 1 mark)

The choropleth map shows the percentage of households growing vegetables at home in each of the six regions of Wrenmouth.

(a)Write down the band that contains Corfe's percentage.(1)

(b)Write down the name of the region in the highest band.(1)

(c)How many regions have fewer than 16% of households growing vegetables at home?(2)

(d)List all the regions where at least 16% of households grow vegetables at home.(2)

(Total for Question 3 is 6 marks)

The choropleth map shows the average garden size (in square metres) for homes in each region of Wrenmouth.

(a)List all the regions with an average garden size of at least 120 m2.(2)

(b)Write down which region has the smallest average garden size.(1)

(Total for Question 4 is 3 marks)

The map in Question 3 shows that Corfe's percentage of households growing vegetables at home falls in the 16% - under 24% band. Corfe has 3200 households in total.

Using only the band shown on the map (not the exact percentage), write down the smallest possible number and the largest possible number of Corfe households that grow vegetables at home.

(Total for Question 5 is 3 marks)

Using the map in Question 3 (percentage of households growing vegetables at home) as an example, answer the following.

(a)State one advantage of using a choropleth map to show this data.(2)

(b)State one disadvantage (limitation) of using a choropleth map to show this data.(2)

(Total for Question 6 is 4 marks)

The choropleth map shows the average weekly rainfall (in mm) in each region of Wrenmouth.

(a)Write down the band that contains Corfe's average weekly rainfall.(1)

(b)List all the regions in the 70 - under 90 mm band.(2)

(c)Write down which region is in the highest band.(1)

(Total for Question 7 is 4 marks)

A researcher also has a table of the exact average weekly rainfall (mm) for each region, alongside the map in Question 7.

Region	Rainfall (mm)
Ashcombe	62
Bramwell	78
Corfe	95
Dunley	54
Elmsgate	110
Foxmere	88

On the map, Bramwell and Foxmere are shaded the same band (70 - under 90 mm).

(a)Use the table to work out the actual difference in rainfall between Bramwell and Foxmere.(2)

(b)Give one reason why the map on its own would not show you this difference.(1)

(Total for Question 8 is 3 marks)

The rainfall data in Question 7 could instead be shown as a bar chart, with one bar for each region.

(a)Give one advantage of using a bar chart instead of a choropleth map to show this rainfall data.(1)

(b)Give one advantage of using a choropleth map instead of a bar chart to show this rainfall data.(1)

(Total for Question 9 is 2 marks)

The table shows the percentage of adults who cycle to work in each region of Wrenmouth.

Region	Ashcombe	Bramwell	Corfe	Dunley	Elmsgate	Foxmere
% who cycle to work	4	11	19	25	7	15

On the blank map, shade each region to match its band, using the key provided. Give your completed map a suitable title.

(Total for Question 10 is 4 marks)

The average broadband download speed (in Mbps) was measured in each region of Wrenmouth: Ashcombe 24, Bramwell 41, Corfe 55, Dunley 18, Elmsgate 63, Foxmere 37.

The data ranges from 18 Mbps to 63 Mbps.

(a)Choose four equal-width class intervals, with no gaps or overlaps, that would sensibly cover all six values.(2)

(b)Using your class intervals from part (a), state which interval Elmsgate's speed (63 Mbps) falls into.(1)

(Total for Question 11 is 3 marks)

The diagram shows two choropleth maps of the broadband speed data from Question 11 for the same six regions (A = Ashcombe, B = Bramwell, C = Corfe, D = Dunley, E = Elmsgate, F = Foxmere). Version 1 uses only 2 class intervals; Version 2 uses the 4 class intervals from Question 11(a).

(a)Using Version 1, write down which other region is shaded the same band as Corfe (55 Mbps).(1)

(b)Explain how using only 2 bands instead of 4 could give a misleading impression of broadband speed across Wrenmouth.(2)

(Total for Question 12 is 3 marks)

A council in Wrenmouth wants to find out how satisfied residents are with local bus services in each of its six regions, then present the results as a choropleth map.

(a)Plan: Write down one suitable question the council could ask residents to measure their satisfaction with bus services.(1)

(b)Collect: The council cannot survey every resident. Suggest a suitable method it could use to select who to survey in each region.(1)

(c)Process: Explain why the satisfaction scores collected for each region would need to be grouped into class intervals (bands) before the results are shown as a choropleth map.(2)

(d)Interpret: State one conclusion the council could draw from the finished choropleth map, and one thing the map alone could NOT tell them about bus satisfaction.(2)

(Total for Question 13 is 6 marks)

The choropleth map shows the unemployment rate (%) in each region of Wrenmouth: Ashcombe 4%, Bramwell 5%, Corfe 6%, Dunley 4%, Elmsgate 5%, Foxmere 32%. A factory closure means Foxmere's rate is far higher than the other five regions.

(a)Write down the band that contains Foxmere's unemployment rate.(1)

(b)All five other regions fall into the lowest band (0% - under 8%). Explain one reason why a choropleth map using these equally-spaced bands might not make it clear just how much higher Foxmere's unemployment rate is compared with the rest of Wrenmouth.(2)

(Total for Question 14 is 3 marks)

A national newspaper is preparing a short online article about differences in household recycling rates across Wrenmouth's six regions, for a general public readership. The journalist has the exact recycling rate for each region, shown in the table.

Region	Ashcombe	Bramwell	Corfe	Dunley	Elmsgate	Foxmere
Recycling rate (%)	38	51	44	29	60	47

The journalist must decide whether to publish this information as a choropleth map or as a table of the exact percentages.

Evaluate which representation would be more appropriate for this article, referring to the audience and the purpose of the article in your answer.

(Total for Question 15 is 6 marks)

Mark scheme · S34 Choropleth Maps

Question 1

(i) B1 True cao
(i) Answer: True
(ii) B1 False cao
(ii) Answer: False
(iii) B1 True cao
(iii) Answer: True
(iv) B1 False cao
(iv) Answer: False

Question 2

B1 B cao
Answer: B) Showing the percentage of adults who own a car in each region of a country

Question 3

(a) B1 16% - under 24% cao
(a) Answer: 16% - under 24%
(b) B1 Elmsgate cao
(b) Answer: Elmsgate
(c) M1 identifies Dunley (5%), Ashcombe (8%) and Bramwell (14%) as being below 16%
(c) A1 3 cao
(c) Answer: 3
(d) M1 identifies Foxmere (16%), Corfe (22%) and Elmsgate (27%) as being at least 16%
(d) A1 Foxmere, Corfe and Elmsgate, all three cao
(d) Answer: Foxmere, Corfe, Elmsgate

Question 4

(a) M1 identifies Ashcombe (140), Foxmere (120), Elmsgate (175) and Corfe (210) as at least 120
(a) A1 Ashcombe, Corfe, Elmsgate and Foxmere, all four cao
(a) Answer: Ashcombe, Corfe, Elmsgate, Foxmere
(b) B1 Dunley cao
(b) Answer: Dunley

Question 5

M1 16% of 3200 = 512, oe
M1 24% of 3200 = 768, oe
A1 at least 512 households but fewer than 768 households, cao (accept 512 ≤ n < 768)
Answer: At least 512 households, but fewer than 768 households

Question 6

(a) B2 a valid advantage with some explanation, e.g. it shows the geographical pattern across all six regions at a glance, making it easy to see which parts of Wrenmouth have higher or lower rates (B1 for a bare, unexplained advantage)
(a) Answer: It shows the geographical pattern across Wrenmouth at a glance, so you can quickly see which regions have higher or lower rates.
(b) B2 a valid disadvantage with some explanation, e.g. it does not show the exact percentage for each region, only which band it falls into, so two regions in the same band could actually have quite different percentages (B1 for a bare, unexplained disadvantage)
(b) Answer: It does not show the exact percentage for each region, only the band it falls into, so regions in the same band could have different true values.

Question 7

(a) B1 90 - under 110 mm cao
(a) Answer: 90 - under 110 mm
(b) M1 identifies Bramwell (78) and Foxmere (88) as being in this band
(b) A1 Bramwell and Foxmere, both cao
(b) Answer: Bramwell, Foxmere
(c) B1 Elmsgate cao
(c) Answer: Elmsgate

Question 8

(a) M1 88 - 78, oe
(a) A1 10 mm cao
(a) Answer: 10 mm
(b) B1 the map only shows which band a region falls into, not its exact value, so two regions in the same band (like Bramwell and Foxmere) look identical on the map even though their true values differ
(b) Answer: The map only shows which band a region is in, not the exact figure, so regions sharing a band look identical even if their true values differ.

Question 9

(a) B1 a bar chart lets you read off (and compare) the exact rainfall figure for each region directly from the height of its bar
(a) Answer: A bar chart shows the exact rainfall figure for every region, so exact values can be read and compared directly.
(b) B1 a choropleth map shows the geographical/spatial pattern of rainfall across Wrenmouth (which regions are near each other and how rainfall varies across the country), which a bar chart's arbitrary bar order cannot show
(b) Answer: A choropleth map shows the geographical pattern of rainfall across the regions, which a bar chart cannot show.

Question 10

M1 correct band worked out from the table for all six regions (working/list shown): Ashcombe and Elmsgate in 0-under 8%; Bramwell and Foxmere in 8-under 16%; Corfe in 16-under 24%; Dunley in 24-under 32%
B1 four visibly different shades used, in the correct order (darker shade for a higher band), matching the key
B1 all six regions shaded to match the bands found in the working
B1 map given a suitable title
Answer: Ashcombe and Elmsgate shaded the lightest band (0-under 8%); Bramwell and Foxmere the second band (8-under 16%); Corfe the third band (16-under 24%); Dunley the darkest band (24-under 32%).

Question 11

(a) M1 an equal class width chosen that covers the full range 18 to 63 with no gaps or overlaps, oe
(a) A1 correct intervals stated, e.g. 15 - under 30, 30 - under 45, 45 - under 60, 60 - under 75 (ft any sensible equal-width choice)
(a) Answer: 15 - under 30, 30 - under 45, 45 - under 60, 60 - under 75 (Mbps)
(b) B1 60 - under 75, ft from candidate's own class intervals in (a)
(b) Answer: 60 - under 75 (Mbps)

Question 12

(a) B1 Elmsgate cao
(a) Answer: Elmsgate
(b) M1 identifies that Bramwell (41) and Foxmere (37) are grouped in the same band as the much slower Ashcombe (24) and Dunley (18), all shown as 'under 45 Mbps'
(b) A1 explains that fewer, wider bands hide the real variation within a band, so regions can look more similar than they truly are (e.g. Bramwell and Foxmere look no different from Ashcombe and Dunley in Version 1, even though their speeds are notably higher)
(b) Answer: Version 1 groups Bramwell (41) and Foxmere (37) with the much slower Ashcombe (24) and Dunley (18), all shaded as 'under 45 Mbps'. Wide bands hide the real variation within them, making regions look more similar than they truly are.

Question 13

(a) B1 a clear, non-leading, closed/scaled question, e.g. 'On a scale of 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied), how satisfied are you with local bus services?'
(a) Answer: e.g. 'On a scale of 1 to 5, how satisfied are you with local bus services?'
(b) B1 a valid sampling method, e.g. a stratified sample (proportional numbers surveyed in each region) or a simple random sample within each region
(b) Answer: e.g. a stratified sample, surveying a number of residents from each region in proportion to its population.
(c) M1 recognises that each region's average score is likely to be a different individual value
(c) A1 explains that grouping into a small number of bands gives a manageable key, so the overall pattern across regions can be read at a glance rather than needing a different shade for every region
(c) Answer: Each region's average satisfaction score is likely to be different, so without grouping every region could need its own shade; grouping into a few bands keeps the key manageable so patterns across regions can be seen at a glance.
(d) B1 a valid conclusion, e.g. the regions in the lowest satisfaction band could be prioritised for improving bus services
(d) B1 a valid limitation, e.g. the map cannot show the exact average satisfaction score for each region, only which band it falls into
(d) Answer: Conclusion: regions in the lowest band could be prioritised for improvement. Limitation: the map does not show the exact average score for each region, only its band.

Question 14

(a) B1 32% - under 40% cao
(a) Answer: 32% - under 40%
(b) M1 recognises the shading only shows which band a region is in, not by how much its value exceeds another region's
(b) A1 explains that Foxmere's band looks like just 'the next shade up' from the rest, in the same way any two neighbouring bands would, even though the true gap (32% vs 4-6%) is far larger than the gap between any other two regions
(b) Answer: The shading only shows which band a region falls into, not by how much. Foxmere's darker shade looks like just one step up from the rest, even though its true rate (32%) is far more than five times theirs (4-6%).

Question 15

Level 1 (1-2): Makes a simple, largely unsupported choice, e.g. states one feature of a map or a table with little or no link to the audience or purpose of the article.
Level 2 (3-4): Gives a reasoned comparison referring to at least one relevant factor (e.g. the general readership, wanting a quick visual impression, or wanting precise figures), but the argument is one-sided or not fully developed.
Level 3 (5-6): Gives a sustained, balanced evaluation that weighs the needs of a general public audience against the purpose of a short online article, reaching a justified overall recommendation while acknowledging a limitation of the chosen representation.
Indicative content:
- A choropleth map lets a general reader see at a glance which regions recycle more or less, without needing to compare numbers.
- A table gives the exact recycling rate for every region, which is more precise but requires more effort from a casual reader to interpret.
- A short newspaper article is aimed at a general audience who are unlikely to want to study exact figures; a quick visual summary better suits the purpose.
- A choropleth map could still be supported by quoting a few key figures in the text (e.g. the highest and lowest region), without needing a full table.
- A disadvantage of the map is that within-band differences (e.g. Bramwell 51% and Foxmere 47%, if shaded the same band) would not be visible to the reader.
- A well-justified conclusion in either direction should be credited, provided it is supported by reference to the audience and/or the purpose of the article.

Choropleth Maps - Worksheets, Questions and Revision