Every paper and piece of coursework for Environmental Systems and Societies, with its time, marks and share of the grade at each level, then the grade boundaries the IB set for recent sessions.
2 exams, 3 h in total, internal assessment 25% of the grade. The weight is each part’s share of your final grade.
| Component | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
Paper 1Calculator 1 h · 35 marks Compulsory questions analysing and evaluating data from an unseen case study. | 1 h | 35 | 25% |
Paper 2Calculator 2 h · 60 marks Section A: short-answer and data-based questions (40 marks). Section B: one structured essay from a choice of two (20 marks). | 2 h | 60 | 50% |
Individual investigationInternal Coursework · 30 marks An investigation of an environmental question, from fieldwork or secondary data, written up in up to 3,000 words. About 10 hours of work, marked by your teacher and moderated by the IB. | Coursework | 30 | 25% |
Individual investigation, 25% of the grade, marked out of 30. An investigation of an environmental question, from fieldwork or secondary data, written up in up to 3,000 words. About 10 hours of work, marked by your teacher and moderated by the IB.
The lowest overall percentage for each grade. The IB sets them after every session, sometimes per timezone, so treat them as a guide to the standard, not a promise.
| Grade | May 2025 | November 2025 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TZ1 | TZ2 | TZ3 | TZ1 | TZ3 | |
| 7 | 67–100% | 66–100% | 67–100% | 71–100% | 68–100% |
| 6 | 56–66% | 56–65% | 57–66% | 60–70% | 57–67% |
| 5 | 45–55% | 45–55% | 46–56% | 47–59% | 45–56% |
| 4 | 34–44% | 35–44% | 36–45% | 35–46% | 33–44% |
| 3 | 22–33% | 23–34% | 23–35% | 25–34% | 23–32% |
| 2 | 11–21% | 12–22% | 12–22% | 13–24% | 11–22% |
| 1 | 0–10% | 0–11% | 0–11% | 0–12% | 0–10% |
2 exams, 4 h 30 min in total, internal assessment 20% of the grade. The weight is each part’s share of your final grade.
| Component | Time | Marks | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
Paper 1Calculator 2 h · 70 marks Compulsory questions analysing and evaluating data from an unseen case study. | 2 h | 70 | 30% |
Paper 2Calculator 2 h 30 min · 80 marks Section A: short-answer and data-based questions (40 marks). Section B: two structured essays from a choice of three (40 marks). | 2 h 30 min | 80 | 50% |
Individual investigationInternal Coursework · 30 marks An investigation of an environmental question, from fieldwork or secondary data, written up in up to 3,000 words. About 10 hours of work, marked by your teacher and moderated by the IB. | Coursework | 30 | 20% |
Individual investigation, 20% of the grade, marked out of 30. An investigation of an environmental question, from fieldwork or secondary data, written up in up to 3,000 words. About 10 hours of work, marked by your teacher and moderated by the IB.
We don’t have grade boundaries for ESS at HL yet.
Each paper rewards practice under its own conditions: its length, its calculator rule, the kind of answer it wants. Read the paper descriptions above, then practice with the clock running.
The notes for ESS end with exam skills pages on how each paper is marked. There are no exam-style questions for ESS yet, so practice from your school’s past papers and use the notes to fill the gaps.
A free account keeps your six subjects and levels in one place.