IB Economics HL · 2022 to 2025

1.1 What is economics?

7 past paper questions from 6 papers across 4 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.

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HL archive · 2022 to 2026

1.1 What is economics?

Latest exam session: May 2026

questions
7
questions
papers
6
papers
exam sessions
4
exam sessions
micro-topics
3

Micro-topics in 1.1 What is economics?

In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in.

  • 6

    1.1.1

    Scarcity and choice

    2 questions · in 6% of papersAppears in 2 of the 32 Economics HL papers analysed (6%), at least once each.

    Occasional

    last May 25 P2 TZ3

  • 13

    1.1.2

    Opportunity cost and trade-offs

    4 questions · in 13% of papersAppears in 4 of the 32 Economics HL papers analysed (13%), at least once each.

    Rising

    last May 26 P2 TZA

  • 3

    1.1.4

    The three basic economic questions

    1 question · in 3% of papersAppears in 1 of the 32 Economics HL papers analysed (3%), at least once each.

    Less common

    last May 25 P2 TZ2

Exam pattern

How often each micro-topic has been examined, year by year. Each label is explained under the grid.

Does it repeat?

Questions per year for each micro-topic.

fewermore

Micro-topic20222023202420252026
1.1.2Opportunity cost and trade-offsRising · last May 26 P2 TZA
2Opportunity cost and trade-offs, 2022: 2 questions·Opportunity cost and trade-offs, 2023: 0 questions·Opportunity cost and trade-offs, 2024: 0 questions1Opportunity cost and trade-offs, 2025: 1 question1Opportunity cost and trade-offs, 2026: 1 question
1.1.1Scarcity and choiceOccasional
·Scarcity and choice, 2022: 0 questions·Scarcity and choice, 2023: 0 questions·Scarcity and choice, 2024: 0 questions2Scarcity and choice, 2025: 2 questions·Scarcity and choice, 2026: 0 questions
1.1.4The three basic economic questionsLess common
·The three basic economic questions, 2022: 0 questions·The three basic economic questions, 2023: 0 questions·The three basic economic questions, 2024: 0 questions1The three basic economic questions, 2025: 1 question·The three basic economic questions, 2026: 0 questions
  • Risingappearing more often in the last two years than before
  • Occasionalin about one paper in ten
  • Less commonin fewer than one paper in fifteen

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Questions on 1.1 What is economics?, by exam session

Which papers asked about 1.1 What is economics?, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.

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Frequently asked questions

Short answers about this page.

Which Economics HL exam sessions are covered for 1.1 What is economics??

8 exam sessions from 2022 to 2026, the latest May 2026. Every Paper 2 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 6 papers in this archive.

Which 1.1 What is economics? topic comes up most?

Opportunity cost and trade-offs (1.1.2): in 13% of papers, last seen May 26 P2 TZA. Usually "explain / justify", worth about 3.3 marks in a paper that includes it.

Can I see the original question and mark scheme?

No. The wording belongs to the IB. You get the citation, the marks, the command term and the skill tested, plus our own matched practice questions with worked answers and AI marking.

What do "banker", "due" and "rising" mean?

Banker: examined in at least one sitting in four and still appearing. Due: regular before, but absent for the last two exam sessions. Rising: clearly more common in the last two years. Our classification of real papers, not an IB statistic.

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Reading this page and the exam pattern is free. A free account generates three sets of ten questions and launches one practice set. Pro opens every question in any scope, sets of twenty or all, and unlimited practice.

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