Differences in development
External 4 credits Development indicators HDI Causes of difference Strategies Case studiesThree sub-topics rotate — one per year — so all three have to be prepared: indicators and their limitations (2023), factors causing differences, natural and cultural (2024), and strategies by governments and NGOs to reduce them (2025). Every year: case study evidence from named communities, areas or countries.
Practice
Recall it first, then use it — testing yourself builds the memory, where rereading the notes above only feels easier.
Recall and application shuffled together — you have to work out what each item wants before you can answer it, which is the part the exam actually tests. Both kinds feed the same spacing schedule, so anything you miss comes back sooner.
Say the answer out loud before flipping — that attempt is where the learning happens, even when you get it wrong.
Exam-style only. Instant feedback, shuffled each attempt, best score saved on this device.
What actually comes up
A genuinely open task — you supply your own case study communities, areas or countries, so nothing below is content to memorise. What varies year to year, and is worth knowing in advance, is WHICH of the three sub-topics is asked: indicators (2023), factors (2024), or strategies (2025) — and whether the task is one question or two. Read the current year's wording before planning.
Across 4 years
4 questions · 9 parts 1 Achieved 4 Merit 4 ExcellenceThe pattern — what to prepare
| Topic | Appears in | Grade level | What to practise |
|---|---|---|---|
| A single holistic question or pair of questions, graded on one A/M/E scale — you supply your own case study communities/areas/countries | 4/4 years | — | Prepare TWO or more indicators, ONE natural and ONE cultural factor, and ONE top-down plus ONE bottom-up strategy in real depth — any of the three sub-topics can be asked. |
| The specific sub-topic rotates: indicators (2022, 2023), factors (2024), strategies (2022, 2025) | Confirmed across all 4 years, indicators and strategies each appearing twice | — | All three sections on this page — indicators and strategies have appeared more than once, so prepare them especially thoroughly. |
| "Name ONE [indicator/factor/strategy] and explain" is the exact command every year, however many parts the task has | 4/4 years | A–E | "Indicators and their limitations", "Factors causing differences" — factor/strategy → mechanism → consequence → named case study evidence, every time. |
| Case study evidence — named places and figures — is a printed requirement in every paper's instructions | 4/4 years | A–E | Integrate evidence INTO the explanation, not as a list at the end — the instruction is printed on page 2 of every paper. |
| A question can ask for ADVANTAGES of an indicator, not only disadvantages — a genuinely different task requiring different content | 2022 confirmed | M | "Arguing FOR an indicator, not just against it" — read the command word carefully; do not default to a memorised disadvantages answer. |
| A comparison between two factors, strategies, or indicators (which is more significant/effective, and why) rewarded above describing just one in isolation | Recurring on the wider question index for this standard | E | "Comparing factors, strategies, or indicators against each other" — state which is more significant with a reason, not just two separate descriptions. |
| The same case study communities/areas/countries reused across indicators, factors and strategies, rather than a fresh case study for each | Implicit in the instructions every year ("you may use the same or different case study(ies)") | — | "Preparing case studies across all three sub-topics" — one or two case studies known in genuine depth beats several known shallowly. |
| A factor/strategy question naming EXAMPLE categories in the task itself (e.g. "climate, location, or natural resources") that are options, not a checklist to cover all of | 4/4 years, printed directly in the task wording | — | Choose ONE specific factor or strategy from the examples (or your own), and explain it in depth — do not try to cover every listed example briefly. |
The 2025 paper ↗ Marking schedule ↗
The Task
A single question, planned as two actions/strategies within one answer — no separate resource booklet: "Explain how government and/or non-governmental organisations have taken or may take TWO actions or strategies to reduce differences in development in your case study communities, areas, or countries."
- achieved Explains aspects of development, including supporting case study evidence. Achieved
- merit Explains, in detail, aspects of development, including detailed supporting case study evidence. Merit
- excellence Fully explains aspects of development, including the use of geographic terminology and concepts, showing insight, and supporting case study evidence. Excellence
The 2024 paper ↗ Marking schedule ↗
The Task
Two separate questions on the same standard; case studies may be the same or different in each.
- a Name ONE factor and explain how it contributes to differences in development in named case study areas/regions. Factors may include natural factors (e.g. climate, location, or natural resources) or cultural factors (e.g. colonisation, trade, or political systems). Merit
- b Name ONE strategy and explain how it has reduced (or could reduce) differences in development in named case study areas/regions. Excellence
The 2023 paper ↗ Marking schedule ↗
The Task
Two separate questions; case studies may be the same or different in each.
- a With reference to ONE named indicator, explain the disadvantages of using this indicator to measure differences in development in case study areas. Examples given: HDI, GDP, Happiness Index, life expectancy, GNI, HALE, or any other indicator studied. Merit
- b Name ONE factor (for example, rainfall, climate, location, laws, beliefs, trade, globalisation) and explain how it contributes to differences in development in case study areas. Excellence
The 2022 paper ↗ Marking schedule ↗
The Task
Two separate questions; the same or different case studies may be used in each. Concepts offered: environments, location, perspectives, change, interaction.
- a With reference to ONE named indicator, explain the advantages of using this indicator to measure differences in development in case study areas. Examples given: HDI, GDP, Happiness Index, life expectancy, GNI, HALE, or any other indicator studied. Merit
- b With reference to ONE named strategy, explain its effects on reducing differences in development in case study areas. A strategy is an action taken or that may be taken by governments and/or NGOs to reduce differences in development. Excellence
Grades above are the schedule's own Achieved/Merit/Excellence descriptors condensed to their essentials, for a standard graded holistically — there is no separate mark per bullet point.
Past exams & resources
| Year | Exam paper | Marking schedule | Practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Exam paper | Marking schedule | |
| 2024 | Exam paper | Marking schedule | |
| 2023 | Exam paper | Marking schedule | |
| 2022 | Exam paper | Marking schedule | |
| 2021 | Exam paper | Marking schedule |
⏱ Timed opens the paper and starts a countdown matching the exam length. Official NZQA PDFs. If a link 404s, that year’s paper may sit under a slightly different code: browse the NZQA subject page.
NZQA 91242 exams, schedules & exemplars Indicators (2023), factors (2024), strategies (2025) — all three rotate