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What are superpowers and how have they changed over time?: Edexcel A‑Level Geography questions

Every Edexcel A-Level Geography exam question on What are superpowers and how have they changed over time? (specification points 7.1–7.3), 2017–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

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868 questions

  1. Q2(a)

    June 2025 · Paper 2

    4 marksWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 2, question 2(a): Explain how the Dependency Theory helps explain uneven patterns of global development. (4)

  2. Q3

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    8 marksWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 3: Study Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3 in Section A of the Resource Booklet. Analyse the changing patterns of power in the world since 1945. (8) SECTION A Superp

  3. Q5

    June 2025 · Paper 3

    18 marksWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2025 Paper 3, question 5: Study the resources in Section B of the Resource Booklet. Evaluate the view that China is more likely than India to become a global superpower by the middle of

  4. Q2(b)

    June 2024 · Paper 2

    12 marksWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 2, question 2(b): Assess the strengths and weaknesses of emerging powers in challenging for superpower status. (12)

  5. Q5

    June 2024 · Paper 3

    18 marksWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2024 Paper 3, question 5: Study the resources in Section B of the Resource Booklet. Evaluate the view that Haiti’s colonial past is the main reason for its current level of development.

  6. Q2(b)

    June 2023 · Paper 2

    12 marksWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2023 Paper 2, question 2(b): Assess the importance of hard power in maintaining the status of superpowers. (12)

  7. Q2(a)(i)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    2 marksWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 2(a)(i): Calculate the percentage (%) increase in military spending for the USA between 2000 and 2017. Give your answer to one decimal place. You must show your working.

  8. Q2(a)(ii)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    1 markWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 2(a)(ii): Calculate the ratio of USA to China’s military spending in 2017. (1) 2 Study Figure 1 below. Spending (US$ billion) Country 2000 2017 Brazil 11 29 China 23 205

  9. Q2(a)(iii)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    1 markWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 2(a)(iii): Identify the country that had the fastest rate of growth in military spending between 2000 and 2017. (1) 2 Study Figure 1 below. Spending (US$ billion) Country

  10. Q2(a)(iv)

    November 2021 · Paper 2

    12 marksWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    November 2021 Paper 2, question 2(a)(iv): Assess the view that hard power is essential in achieving superpower status. (12) 2 Study Figure 1 below. Spending (US$ billion) Country 2000 2017 Brazil 11 29

  11. Q1

    October 2020 · Paper 3

    4 marksWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    October 2020 Paper 3, question 1: Explain the differences between colonial and neo-colonial mechanisms of maintaining power.

  12. Q2(a)

    June 2019 · Paper 2

    4 marksWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 2, question 2(a): Explain one reason for the emergence of a multipolar world. (4)

  13. Q1

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    4 marksWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 1: Explain how one theory of development can help an understanding of global patterns of power. (4)

  14. Q2(a)

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    4 marksWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 2(a): The table on the next page shows data for the 12 richest countries (measured using GDP per capita). The formula for Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient is g

  15. Q2(b)

    June 2019 · Paper 3

    4 marksWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2019 Paper 3, question 2(b): Explain why this sample of 12 countries may be an unreliable measure of the relationship between GDP per capita and military spending as a percentage of GDP. (4

  16. Q2(a)(i)

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    4 marksWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 2(a)(i): Complete the table by filling in the four blank boxes in the final two rows. (4) Brazil China India Russia South Africa Population (million) 208 1,371 1,311 144

  17. Q2(a)(ii)

    June 2018 · Paper 2

    12 marksWhat are superpowers and how have they changed over time?
    The whole paper ↗
    June 2018 Paper 2, question 2(a)(ii): Assess the view that Figure 1 gives an accurate summary of the relative strength of these emerging powers. (12)
All 17 questions on What are superpowers and how have they changed over time?, as a list
  1. June 2025, Paper 2, Q2(a) (4 marks): Explain how the Dependency Theory helps explain uneven patterns of global development. (4)
  2. June 2025, Paper 3, Q3 (8 marks): Study Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3 in Section A of the Resource Booklet. Analyse the changing patterns of power in the world since 1945. (8) SECTION A Superp
  3. June 2025, Paper 3, Q5 (18 marks): Study the resources in Section B of the Resource Booklet. Evaluate the view that China is more likely than India to become a global superpower by the middle of
  4. June 2024, Paper 2, Q2(b) (12 marks): Assess the strengths and weaknesses of emerging powers in challenging for superpower status. (12)
  5. June 2024, Paper 3, Q5 (18 marks): Study the resources in Section B of the Resource Booklet. Evaluate the view that Haiti’s colonial past is the main reason for its current level of development.
  6. June 2023, Paper 2, Q2(b) (12 marks): Assess the importance of hard power in maintaining the status of superpowers. (12)
  7. November 2021, Paper 2, Q2(a)(i) (2 marks): Calculate the percentage (%) increase in military spending for the USA between 2000 and 2017. Give your answer to one decimal place. You must show your working.
  8. November 2021, Paper 2, Q2(a)(ii) (1 mark): Calculate the ratio of USA to China’s military spending in 2017. (1) 2 Study Figure 1 below. Spending (US$ billion) Country 2000 2017 Brazil 11 29 China 23 205
  9. November 2021, Paper 2, Q2(a)(iii) (1 mark): Identify the country that had the fastest rate of growth in military spending between 2000 and 2017. (1) 2 Study Figure 1 below. Spending (US$ billion) Country
  10. November 2021, Paper 2, Q2(a)(iv) (12 marks): Assess the view that hard power is essential in achieving superpower status. (12) 2 Study Figure 1 below. Spending (US$ billion) Country 2000 2017 Brazil 11 29
  11. October 2020, Paper 3, Q1 (4 marks): Explain the differences between colonial and neo-colonial mechanisms of maintaining power.
  12. June 2019, Paper 2, Q2(a) (4 marks): Explain one reason for the emergence of a multipolar world. (4)
  13. June 2019, Paper 3, Q1 (4 marks): Explain how one theory of development can help an understanding of global patterns of power. (4)
  14. June 2019, Paper 3, Q2(a) (4 marks): The table on the next page shows data for the 12 richest countries (measured using GDP per capita). The formula for Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient is g
  15. June 2019, Paper 3, Q2(b) (4 marks): Explain why this sample of 12 countries may be an unreliable measure of the relationship between GDP per capita and military spending as a percentage of GDP. (4
  16. June 2018, Paper 2, Q2(a)(i) (4 marks): Complete the table by filling in the four blank boxes in the final two rows. (4) Brazil China India Russia South Africa Population (million) 208 1,371 1,311 144
  17. June 2018, Paper 2, Q2(a)(ii) (12 marks): Assess the view that Figure 1 gives an accurate summary of the relative strength of these emerging powers. (12)

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