IB Environmental Systems and Societies SL - 2026
Questionbank
The IB Environmental Systems and Societies SL (Standard Level) 2026 Questionbank is a great source of practice questions, coming from the entire syllabus! Each question comes with a clear markscheme and solution video, with an experienced IB teacher going through the question step-by-step. The questions are organized by topic and arranged by difficulty, making it the perfect resource for studying a particular concept.
Topic 1
Foundation
1.2 - Systems
System Diagrams, Open & Closed Systems, Gaia, Feedback Loops, Equilibrium, Tipping Point, Model, Emergent, Resilience
1.3 - Sustainability
Development, Justice, Inequalities, Indicators, Footprint, Biocapacity, SDGs, Planetary Boundaries, Doughnut, Circular
Topic 2
Ecology
Topic 2 All
All Questions in Topic 2 Ecology
RV Free
2.1 - Species to Ecosystems
Classification, (A)biotic, Carrying Capacity, Limiting Factors, Population Growth, Sampling, Lincoln, Habitat, Keystone
RV Free
2.2 - Energy & Biomass
Photosynthesis, Respiration, Thermodynamics, Food Chain & Web, Trophic Level, Productivity, Pyramids, Non-Biodegradeable
RV Free
2.3 - Biogeochemical Cycles
Stores, Sinks, Sources, Carbon Cycle, Carbon Sequestration, Fossil Fuels, Ocean Acidification
RV Free
2.4 - Climate & Biomes
Weather, Tricellular Model of Atmospheric Circulation, Ocean Currents, Global Warming, Biome Shift
RV Free
2.5 - Zonation & Succession
Transects, Environmental Gradient, Sere, Climax Community, Primary & Secondary Succession
RV Free
Topic 3
Biodiversity & Conservation
Topic 3 All
All Questions in Topic 3 Biodiversity & Conservation
RV Gold
3.1 - Biodiversity & Evolution
Natural Selection, Speciation, Richness & Evenness, Simpson's Reciprocal Index, Habitat, Species and Genetic Diversity
RV Gold
3.2 - Human Impact on Biodiversity
Direct & Indirect Threats, Invasive Species, IUCN Red List, Tragedy of the Commons
RV Gold
3.3 - Conservation & Regeneration
Species- & Habitat-based, ex & in situ, CITES, CBD, Flagship & Keystone Species, Edge Effect, Corridor, Rewilding
RV Gold
Topic 4
Water
Topic 4 All
All Questions in Topic 4 Water
RV Gold
4.2 - Water Access & Use
Water Security, Scarcity and Conservation, Dams, Rainwater, Desalination, Wetlands
RV Gold
4.1 - Water Systems
Hydrological Cycle, Glaciers, Groundwater, Evapotranspiration, Precipitation, Run-off, Infiltration, Steady State
RV Gold
4.3 - Aquatic Food Systems
Phytoplankton, Macrophytes, Trawling, Ghost Fishing, Maximum Sustainable Yield, Collapse, MPAs, Aquaculture
RV Gold
4.4 - Water Pollution
Sewage, Run-off, Oil Spills, Plastic, Water Quality Index, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Eutrophication
RV Gold
Topic 5
Land
Topic 5 All
All Questions in Topic 5 Land
RV Gold
5.1 - Soil
Soil Profile, Horizon, Texture, Weathering, Erosion, Leaching, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sand, Silt, Clay, Humus
RV Gold
5.2 - Agriculture & Food
Farming, Crops, Livestock, Food Waste, Distribution and Security, Green Revolution, Fertilisers, Soil Conservation, Diet
RV Gold
Topic 6
Atmosphere & Climate Change
Topic 6 All
All Questions in Topic 6 Atmosphere & Climate Change
RV Gold
6.1 - The Atmosphere
Tricellular Model, Greenhouse Effect, GHGs, Solar Radiation
RV Gold
6.2 - Climate Change - Causes & Impacts
Carbon Dioxide, Enhanced Greenhouse Effect, Global Warming, Biome Shift, Resilience, Albedo, Methane, Planetary Boundary
RV Gold
6.3 - Climate Change - Mitigation & Adaptation
Global Action, Decarbonisation, National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPA)
RV Gold
6.4 - Stratospheric Ozone
UV Radiation, Mutation, Cancer, Sunburn, Cataracts, ODSs, CFCs, Ozone Holes, Montreal Protocol, Planetary Boundary
RV Gold
Topic 7
Natural Resources
Topic 7 All
All Questions in Topic 7 Natural Resources
RV Gold
7.1 - Natural Resources
Natural Capital & Income, Goods, Services, Ecosystem Services, Renewable, Value, Dynamic, Resource Security
RV Gold
7.2 - Energy Sources
Renewable, Fossil Fuels, Nuclear, Intermittency, Storage, Consumption, Choices, Conservation, Efficiency
RV Gold
7.3 - Solid Waste
SDW, E-Waste, Food, Biohazardous, Pollution, Prevent, Restore, Landfill, Incineration, Recycle, Export, Energy, Compost
RV Gold
Topic 8
Human Populations & Urban Systems
Topic 8 All
All Questions in Topic 8 Human Populations & Urban Systems
RV Gold
8.1 - Human Populations
Births, Deaths, Migration, TFR, DT, NIR, Life Expectancy, Growth, Age-Sex Pyramids, Demographic Transition Model (DTM)
RV Gold
8.2 - Urban Systems & Urban Planning
Urbanisation, Population Density, Buildings, Infrastructure, Rural-Urban Migration, Suburbanisation, Urban Land Use
RV Gold
8.3 - Urban Air Pollution
Primary Pollutants, Nitrogen Oxides, Sulfur Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, Particulate Matter, Fossil Fuels, Acid Rain
RV Gold
Tools & Inquiry
All
All Questions in Tools & Inquiry
RV Gold
T1 - Experimental Techniques
Dichotomous Keys, Quadrats, Transects, Lincoln, Abiotic Factors, Surveys, Sampling, Diversity, Populations, Biomass
RV Gold
T3 - Mathematical Tools
Calculations, Interpretation of Data, Statistics, Simpson's, Lincoln, NIR, Doubling Time
RV Gold
T4 - Systems & Models
Systems Diagrams, Flow Diagrams, Models
RV Gold
I - Investigations
Designing Investigations, Processing Data, Concluding and Evaluating
RV Gold
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More IB Environmental Systems and Societies SL - 2026 Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IB Environmental Systems and Societies Standard Level Questionbank?
The Revision Village Questionbank for ESS SL is a comprehensive collection of IB exam-style questions from Paper 1 and Paper 2, designed to help you practice for your exams and tests. The questions are organised by subtopic and arranged by difficulty, allowing you to tailor your revision to your level and progressively tackle more challenging concepts. Each question includes a mark scheme and a sample answer, outlining possible marking points and showing how to construct an answer. Additionally, video solutions made by experienced ESS teachers help you understand the details.
How should I use the ESS SL Questionbank?
You can use the Questionbank when you have an Environmental Systems & Societies test or exam coming up. The questions cover the relevant concepts for each subtopic and include data-based questions, short-answer questions and essays from ESS Paper 2 along with short-answer questions from Paper 1. You can also reinforce your learning by attempting the Popular Quiz for each subtopic or the Case Study tailored to each topic.
What if I complete all the questions in the Questionbank?
If you have worked through all the questions in the Questionbank for ESS SL for a particular topic, you will be well-prepared for your assessment. To further consolidate your knowledge, you can take the Popular Quizzes for each subtopic and complete the Case Study specifically designed for that topic. Keep in mind that new questions are regularly added to the Questionbank.
Where can I find ESS SL Paper 1 questions?
The Questionbank for Environmental Systems & Societies includes short-answer questions in the style of Paper 1. However, for comprehensive ESS Paper 1 practice, you can try the Case Studies. Each Case Study is essentially a Paper 1, allowing you to practice all question types.