IB Economics SL · 2022 to 2025
Unit 4: The global economy
170 past paper questions from 35 papers across 10 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
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SL archive · 2022 to 2026
Unit 4: The global economy
Latest exam session: May 2026
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Topics in Unit 4: The global economy
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of the marks each one carries.
4.1
Benefits of international trade
3% of marks · 5 questions
4.2
Types of trade protection
7% of marks · 18 questions
4.3
Arguments for and against trade control/protection
7% of marks · 7 questions
4.4
Economic integration
5% of marks · 5 questions
4.5
Exchange rates
24% of marks · 53 questions
4.6
Balance of payments
4% of marks · 23 questions
- DueCalculating the balance of payments
4.7
Sustainable development
11% of marks · 10 questions
4.8
Measuring development
2% of marks · 5 questions
4.9
Barriers to economic growth and/or economic development
11% of marks · 18 questions
4.10
Economic growth and/or economic development strategies
25% of marks · 26 questions
- DueEvaluating development strategies
Exam pattern
How often each micro-topic has been examined, year by year. Each label is explained under the grid.
Does it repeat?
Top 4 of 31 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5What changes an exchange rate, 2022: 5 questions | 3What changes an exchange rate, 2023: 3 questions | 4What changes an exchange rate, 2024: 4 questions | 3What changes an exchange rate, 2025: 3 questions | 4What changes an exchange rate, 2026: 4 questions | |
| 3Fixed and managed exchange rates, 2022: 3 questions | 1Fixed and managed exchange rates, 2023: 1 question | ·Fixed and managed exchange rates, 2024: 0 questions | 5Fixed and managed exchange rates, 2025: 5 questions | 2Fixed and managed exchange rates, 2026: 2 questions | |
4.2.1Tariffs | 1Tariffs, 2022: 1 question | 3Tariffs, 2023: 3 questions | 2Tariffs, 2024: 2 questions | 4Tariffs, 2025: 4 questions | 2Tariffs, 2026: 2 questions |
| 3Consequences of exchange rate changes, 2022: 3 questions | ·Consequences of exchange rate changes, 2023: 0 questions | 2Consequences of exchange rate changes, 2024: 2 questions | 2Consequences of exchange rate changes, 2025: 2 questions | 4Consequences of exchange rate changes, 2026: 4 questions |
4 more micro-topics with a free account
- DueEvaluating development strategies· last May 25 P2 TZ3
- Dueusually examined, but missing from the last two exam sessions
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Questions on Unit 4: The global economy, by exam session
Which papers asked about Unit 4: The global economy, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2026
9 questions across 6 papers
November 2025
6 questions across 4 papers
May 2025
9 questions across 6 papers
November 2024
4 questions across 3 papers
May 2024
6 questions across 4 papers
November 2023
4 questions across 3 papers
May 2023
4 questions across 3 papers
November 2022
3 questions across 2 papers
May 2022
3 questions across 2 papers
Specimen 2022
3 questions across 2 papers
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which Economics SL exam sessions are covered for Unit 4: The global economy?
10 exam sessions from 2022 to 2026, the latest May 2026. Every Paper 1 and 2 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 35 papers in this archive.
Which Unit 4: The global economy topic comes up most?
What changes an exchange rate (4.5.2): in 46% of papers, last seen May 26 P2 TZ3. Usually "Explain", worth about 5.5 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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