Mock exams · ESS
IB ESS HL Mock Exams
Higher Level Paper 1 and Paper 2 mocks for IB Environmental Systems and Societies. The extended HL papers (2 hours + 2.5 hours) with two Section B essays and the deeper HL synthesis demands, graded instantly against the HL mark scheme — plus a personalised study plan.
160+
Full mock exam papers
80,000+
Original practice questions
24,000+
Answers practised by students
14-day
Money-back guarantee
02—The format
ESS Paper Breakdown
Know the format inside-out so you can allocate your time and tailor your revision to each paper type.
Paper 1
SL + HL1 hour (SL) / 2 hours (HL) · 25% SL / 30% HL
Short-answer and data-based questions covering the entire syllabus. Answer all questions. A resource booklet with source material is provided.
Paper 2
SL + HL2 hours (SL) / 2 hours 30 minutes (HL) · 50% SL and HL
Section A: compulsory short-answer and data-based questions. Section B: extended-response essays — SL chooses 1, HL chooses 2.
03—The papers
Available ESS HL Mock Exams
22 HL mock exams ready to practice. Browse for free, then start a timed session with a subscription.
Paper 1
11ESS HL — Full Mock 1: Paper 1 (Kenya)
Full-syllabus Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 70 marks, 120 minutes, a Kenya case study with a 25-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data, testing every unit of the course.
2h · 70 marks · Kenya
ESS HL — Full Mock 2: Paper 1 (Vietnam)
Full-syllabus Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 70 marks, 120 minutes, a Vietnam case study across all eight units with a 27-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
2h · 70 marks · Vietnam
ESS HL — Unit 1 Mock: Paper 1 (Foundation)
Unit 1 Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 70 marks, 120 minutes, an Ecuador (Yasuní) case study with a 28-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
2h · 70 marks · Ecuador
ESS HL — Unit 2 Mock: Paper 1 (Ecology — Yellowstone)
Unit 2 Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 70 marks, 120 minutes, a Yellowstone National Park case study with a 22-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
2h · 70 marks · United States
ESS HL — Unit 3 Mock: Paper 1 (Biodiversity — Borneo)
Unit 3 Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 70 marks, 120 minutes, a Borneo case study with a 26-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
2h · 70 marks · Borneo (Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei)
ESS HL — Unit 4 Mock: Paper 1 (Water — Lake Erie)
Unit 4 Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 70 marks, 120 minutes, a Lake Erie case study with a 18-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
2h · 70 marks · Lake Erie (Canada and the United States)
ESS HL — Unit 5 Mock: Paper 1 (Soil and Food — the Loess Plateau)
Unit 5 Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 70 marks, 120 minutes, a Loess Plateau case study with a 15-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
2h · 70 marks · China (the Loess Plateau)
ESS HL — Unit 6 Mock: Paper 1 (Atmosphere and Climate Change — Australia)
Unit 6 Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 70 marks, 120 minutes, an Australia case study with a 16-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
2h · 70 marks · Australia
ESS HL — Unit 7 Mock: Paper 1 (Natural Resources — Norway)
Unit 7 Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 70 marks, 120 minutes, a Norway case study with a 20-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
2h · 70 marks · Norway
ESS HL — Unit 8 Mock: Paper 1 (Human Populations and Urban Systems — India)
Unit 8 Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 70 marks, 120 minutes, an India case study with a 17-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
2h · 70 marks · India
ESS HL Paper 1 - Madagascar: Biodiversity and Sustainable Development
IB ESS Higher Level Paper 1 Practice Exam based on Madagascar case study. Topics: Climate/biomes (2.4), Human populations (8.1-8.2), Energy (7.1-7.2), Pollution (6.1-6.2), Water (4.1-4.2), Biodiversity/Conservation (3.1-3.4), Carbon cycle/climate change (5.2-5.3), Sustainability (1.3-1.4). All questions compulsory. Total: 70 marks. Duration: 1 hour.
2h · 70 marks · Madagascar
Paper 2
11ESS HL — Full Mock 1: Paper 2
Full-syllabus Paper 2 in the May 2026 shape. Section A (40 marks, answer all): four data questions on real published data (the low-oxygen zone in the Gulf of Mexico, methane, the Living Planet Index, the Aral Sea). Section B (40 marks): three essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9], each (c) through an HL lens; answer two.
2h 30min · 80 marks
ESS HL — Full Mock 2: Paper 2
Full-syllabus Paper 2 in the May 2026 shape. Section A (40 marks, answer all): four data questions on real published data (the Antarctic ozone hole, the world's forests, the Living Planet Index, municipal solid waste). Section B (40 marks): three essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer two.
2h 30min · 80 marks
ESS HL — Unit 1 Mock: Paper 2 (Foundation)
Unit 1 Paper 2 in the May 2026 shape. Section A (40 marks, answer all): four data questions on real published data. Section B (40 marks): three essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer two.
2h 30min · 80 marks
ESS HL — Unit 2 Mock: Paper 2 (Ecology)
Unit 2 Paper 2 in the May 2026 shape. Section A (40 marks, answer all): four data questions on real published data (El Niño, energy flow, wolves and moose, the nitrogen cycle). Section B (40 marks): three essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer two.
2h 30min · 80 marks
ESS HL — Unit 3 Mock: Paper 2 (Biodiversity & conservation)
Unit 3 Paper 2 in the May 2026 shape. Section A (40 marks, answer all): four data questions on real published data (mass extinctions, dung beetles in forest and oil palm, the IUCN Red List, biodiversity hotspots). Section B (40 marks): three essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer two.
2h 30min · 80 marks
ESS HL — Unit 4 Mock: Paper 2 (Water)
Unit 4 Paper 2 in the May 2026 shape. Section A (40 marks, answer all): four data questions on real published data (ocean acidification, world aquaculture and capture fisheries, freshwater use and safe drinking water, sharing the Nile). Section B (40 marks): three essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer two.
2h 30min · 80 marks
ESS HL — Unit 5 Mock: Paper 2 (Soil and Food)
Unit 5 Paper 2 in the May 2026 shape. Section A (40 marks, answer all): four data questions on real published data (emissions by stage of the food supply chain, food waste, the causes of soil degradation, hunger and malnutrition). Section B (40 marks): three essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer two.
2h 30min · 80 marks
ESS HL — Unit 6 Mock: Paper 2 (Atmosphere and Climate Change)
Unit 6 Paper 2 in the May 2026 shape. Section A (40 marks, answer all): four data questions on real published data (IPCC scenarios, responsibility by country, carbon dioxide and temperature by decade, ozone, UV and cooling). Section B (40 marks): three essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer two.
2h 30min · 80 marks
ESS HL — Unit 7 Mock: Paper 2 (Natural Resources)
Unit 7 Paper 2 in the May 2026 shape. Section A (40 marks, answer all): four data questions on real published data (battery minerals, fossil fuel reserves and gas supply, world energy by source, plastic waste). Section B (40 marks): three essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer two.
2h 30min · 80 marks
ESS HL — Unit 8 Mock: Paper 2 (Human Populations and Urban Systems)
Unit 8 Paper 2 in the May 2026 shape. Section A (40 marks, answer all): four data questions on real published data (dependency and population momentum, environmental migration and Earth's limits, world population and UN projections, sulfur dioxide in the United Kingdom). Section B (40 marks): three essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer two.
2h 30min · 80 marks
ESS HL Paper 2 Mock Exam
IB ESS Higher Level Paper 2 Practice Exam. Section A: 4 compulsory data-based questions (40 marks). Section B: Choose 2 from 3 extended-response questions (40 marks). Each Section B question: (a) [4], (b) [7], (c) [9] using markbands. Total: 80 marks. Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes.
2h 30min · 80 marks
04—Why
Why Practice ESS Mock Exams?
- Build familiarity with IB ESS question formats before the real exam
- Master the 1-mark-per-minute pacing that IB examiners expect
- Identify weak ESS topics so you can target your revision effectively
- Learn what IB examiners look for in top-scoring environmental responses
- Practice data analysis and graph interpretation under timed conditions
- Reduce ESS exam anxiety through repeated realistic practice
05—Tips
ESS Exam Tips from Top Scorers
Use the 1-min-per-mark rule
A 6-mark question deserves 6 minutes. This prevents spending too long on Section A and running out of time for the essay.
Name real examples
IB ESS examiners reward specific, named case studies (e.g., "Costa Rica's Payment for Ecosystem Services") rather than generic statements.
Define before you explain
Start every extended response by defining the key environmental concept. This picks up easy marks and structures your answer.
Quote data with units
In data-response questions, always cite figures from the source: "CO₂ emissions rose from 350 to 410 ppm between 1990 and 2020."
Compared
Aimnova Mock Exams vs IB Past Papers
Keep going
More ESS Study Resources
FAQ
ESS Mock Exams — FAQ
- How many IB ESS mock exams are available?
- We have multiple ESS mock exams covering Paper 1 and Paper 2, with new papers added regularly. Each exam uses a different case study and topic focus.
- Are your ESS mock exams aligned with the latest syllabus?
- Yes — all ESS mock papers are written to match the current IB ESS syllabus, including the 2026 first-assessment changes. Questions cover all 8 topics and use authentic IB command terms.
- Can I practice just ESS Paper 1 or Paper 2 separately?
- Absolutely. Each paper type is offered as a separate mock exam so you can focus on data response and short-answer questions (Paper 1) or extended essays (Paper 2) independently.
- What feedback do I get after completing an ESS mock?
- You receive instant AI grading with marks per question, examiner-style feedback explaining what you did well and what to improve, plus an automatic study plan targeting your weakest ESS topics.
Ready to ace your ESS exam?
Start with a free mock exam. Get instant AI grading, detailed feedback, and a personalised study plan, all in one session.