Mock exams · ESS
IB ESS SL Mock Exams
Standard Level Paper 1 and Paper 2 mocks for IB Environmental Systems and Societies. SL-length papers (1 hour + 2 hours) with one Section B essay in Paper 2, graded instantly against the SL mark scheme — plus a personalised study plan after every attempt.
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 SL Mock Exams
22 SL mock exams ready to practice. Browse for free, then start a timed session with a subscription.
Paper 1
11Case Study Costa Rica: Sustainable Development
IB ESS Standard Level Paper 1 Practice Exam based on Costa Rica case study. Topics: Climate/biomes (2.4), Human populations (8.1), Energy (7.2), Conservation (3.3), Ecosystems (2.2), Sustainability (1.3). All questions compulsory. Total: 37 marks. Duration: 1 hour.
1h · 37 marks · Costa Rica
ESS SL — Full Mock 1: Paper 1 (Kenya)
Full-syllabus Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 35 marks, 60 minutes, a Kenya case study with a 21-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data, testing every unit of the course.
1h · 35 marks · Kenya
ESS SL — Full Mock 2: Paper 1 (Vietnam)
Full-syllabus Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 35 marks, 60 minutes, a Vietnam case study across all eight units with a 24-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
1h · 35 marks · Vietnam
ESS SL — Unit 1 Mock: Paper 1 (Foundation)
Unit 1 Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 35 marks, 60 minutes, an Ecuador (Yasuní) case study with a 21-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
1h · 35 marks · Ecuador
ESS SL — Unit 2 Mock: Paper 1 (Ecology — Yellowstone)
Unit 2 Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 35 marks, 60 minutes, a Yellowstone National Park case study with a 20-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
1h · 35 marks · United States
ESS SL — Unit 3 Mock: Paper 1 (Biodiversity — Borneo)
Unit 3 Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 35 marks, 60 minutes, a Borneo case study with a 21-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
1h · 35 marks · Borneo (Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei)
ESS SL — Unit 4 Mock: Paper 1 (Water — Lake Erie)
Unit 4 Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 35 marks, 60 minutes, a Lake Erie case study with a 15-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
1h · 35 marks · Lake Erie (Canada and the United States)
ESS SL — Unit 5 Mock: Paper 1 (Soil and Food — the Loess Plateau)
Unit 5 Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 35 marks, 60 minutes, a Loess Plateau case study with a 14-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
1h · 35 marks · China (the Loess Plateau)
ESS SL — Unit 6 Mock: Paper 1 (Atmosphere and Climate Change — Australia)
Unit 6 Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 35 marks, 60 minutes, an Australia case study with a 13-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
1h · 35 marks · Australia
ESS SL — Unit 7 Mock: Paper 1 (Natural Resources — Norway)
Unit 7 Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 35 marks, 60 minutes, a Norway case study with a 16-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
1h · 35 marks · Norway
ESS SL — Unit 8 Mock: Paper 1 (Human Populations and Urban Systems — India)
Unit 8 Paper 1 in the May 2026 shape: 35 marks, 60 minutes, an India case study with a 14-figure resource booklet of real, sourced data.
1h · 35 marks · India
Paper 2
11ESS SL — 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 (reindeer on St Matthew Island, the Living Planet Index, the Aral Sea, the world's waste). Section B (20 marks): two essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer one.
2h · 60 marks
ESS SL — 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 Living Planet Index, the Antarctic ozone hole, municipal solid waste, the world's forests). Section B (20 marks): two essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer one.
2h · 60 marks
ESS SL — 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 (20 marks): two essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer one.
2h · 60 marks
ESS SL — Unit 2 Mock: Paper 2 (Ecology)
Unit 2 Paper 2 in the May 2026 shape. Section A (40 marks, answer all): five data questions on real published data (biomes, energy flow, wolves and moose, the carbon cycle, succession on Surtsey). Section B (20 marks): two essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer one.
2h · 60 marks
ESS SL — Unit 3 Mock: Paper 2 (Biodiversity & conservation)
Unit 3 Paper 2 in the May 2026 shape. Section A (40 marks, answer all): five data questions on real published data (dung beetles in forest and oil palm, the IUCN Red List, invasive species and Guam, the bald eagle, rewilding at Knepp). Section B (20 marks): two essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer one.
2h · 60 marks
ESS SL — Unit 4 Mock: Paper 2 (Water)
Unit 4 Paper 2 in the May 2026 shape. Section A (40 marks, answer all): five data questions on real published data (world aquaculture and capture fisheries, freshwater use and safe drinking water, urban runoff, the collapse of the northern cod, plastic in the ocean). Section B (20 marks): two essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer one.
2h · 60 marks
ESS SL — Unit 5 Mock: Paper 2 (Soil and Food)
Unit 5 Paper 2 in the May 2026 shape. Section A (40 marks, answer all): five data questions on real published data (land and emissions per 100 g of protein, food waste, wheat in India, the causes of soil degradation, a soil profile). Section B (20 marks): two essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer one.
2h · 60 marks
ESS SL — Unit 6 Mock: Paper 2 (Atmosphere and Climate Change)
Unit 6 Paper 2 in the May 2026 shape. Section A (40 marks, answer all): five data questions on real published data (carbon dioxide and temperature by decade, world greenhouse gas emissions by sector, ozone and UV, fossil carbon dioxide by country, Arctic sea ice). Section B (20 marks): two essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer one.
2h · 60 marks
ESS SL — 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 (world energy by source, the world's use of materials, plastic waste, wind, solar and battery prices). Section B (20 marks): two essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer one.
2h · 60 marks
ESS SL — 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 (world population and UN projections, births, deaths and pyramids of Niger and Japan, urbanization, sulfur dioxide in the United Kingdom). Section B (20 marks): two essays of (a) [4], (b) [7] and (c) [9]; answer one.
2h · 60 marks
ESS SL Paper 2 - Data Analysis & Extended Response
IB ESS SL Paper 2. Section A: Compulsory data-based (40 marks). Section B: Answer ONE of TWO extended response questions (each 20 marks: a=4, b=7, c=9). Topics: Carbon cycle, Microplastics, Urban systems, Soil/agriculture. Total: 60 marks. Duration: 2 hours.
2h · 60 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.