IB ESS · 2021 to 2026
2.3 Biogeochemical cycles
27 past paper questions from 13 papers across 9 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
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SL archive · 2017 to 2026
2.3 Biogeochemical cycles
Latest exam session: May 2026
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Micro-topics in 2.3 Biogeochemical cycles
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in. 3 of them have no matching questions in this archive.
- Less common
last May 25 P2 TZ1
- No matches in this archiveRevise it
- Less common
last May 24 P2 TZ2
- Rising
last May 26 P2 TZ1
- Less common
last May 18 P2
- Rising
last May 26 P2 TZ3
- No matches in this archiveRevise it
- No matches in this archiveRevise it
- Less common
last May 24 P2 TZ2
- Occasional
last May 23 P2 TZ2
- Occasional
last May 26 P2 TZ3
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 8 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ·Carbon flows between stores, 2017: 0 questions | ·Carbon flows between stores, 2018: 0 questions | ·Carbon flows between stores, 2019: 0 questions | ·Carbon flows between stores, 2020: 0 questions | ·Carbon flows between stores, 2021: 0 questions | ·Carbon flows between stores, 2022: 0 questions | ·Carbon flows between stores, 2023: 0 questions | 3Carbon flows between stores, 2024: 3 questions | 1Carbon flows between stores, 2025: 1 question | 3Carbon flows between stores, 2026: 3 questions | |
| ·Ecosystems as stores, sinks or sources, 2017: 0 questions | ·Ecosystems as stores, sinks or sources, 2018: 0 questions | ·Ecosystems as stores, sinks or sources, 2019: 0 questions | ·Ecosystems as stores, sinks or sources, 2020: 0 questions | ·Ecosystems as stores, sinks or sources, 2021: 0 questions | ·Ecosystems as stores, sinks or sources, 2022: 0 questions | ·Ecosystems as stores, sinks or sources, 2023: 0 questions | 1Ecosystems as stores, sinks or sources, 2024: 1 question | ·Ecosystems as stores, sinks or sources, 2025: 0 questions | 4Ecosystems as stores, sinks or sources, 2026: 4 questions | |
| ·Reducing human impacts on the carbon cycle, 2017: 0 questions | ·Reducing human impacts on the carbon cycle, 2018: 0 questions | ·Reducing human impacts on the carbon cycle, 2019: 0 questions | ·Reducing human impacts on the carbon cycle, 2020: 0 questions | ·Reducing human impacts on the carbon cycle, 2021: 0 questions | ·Reducing human impacts on the carbon cycle, 2022: 0 questions | ·Reducing human impacts on the carbon cycle, 2023: 0 questions | 2Reducing human impacts on the carbon cycle, 2024: 2 questions | ·Reducing human impacts on the carbon cycle, 2025: 0 questions | 2Reducing human impacts on the carbon cycle, 2026: 2 questions | |
| 1Ocean acidification, 2017: 1 question | ·Ocean acidification, 2018: 0 questions | ·Ocean acidification, 2019: 0 questions | ·Ocean acidification, 2020: 0 questions | 1Ocean acidification, 2021: 1 question | ·Ocean acidification, 2022: 0 questions | 1Ocean acidification, 2023: 1 question | ·Ocean acidification, 2024: 0 questions | ·Ocean acidification, 2025: 0 questions | 1Ocean acidification, 2026: 1 question |
4 more micro-topics with a free account
- Risingappearing more often in the last two years than before
- Occasionalin about one paper in ten
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Questions on 2.3 Biogeochemical cycles, by exam session
Which papers asked about 2.3 Biogeochemical cycles, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2026
4 questions across 4 papers
Specimen 2026
1 question across 1 paper
May 2025
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2024
1 question across 1 paper
May 2024
2 questions across 2 papers
May 2023
1 question across 1 paper
May 2021
1 question across 1 paper
May 2018
1 question across 1 paper
November 2017
1 question across 1 paper
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which ESS exam sessions are covered for 2.3 Biogeochemical cycles?
18 exam sessions from 2017 to 2026, the latest May 2026. Every Paper 1 and 2 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 13 papers in this archive.
Which 2.3 Biogeochemical cycles topic comes up most?
Carbon flows between stores (2.3.4): in 12% of papers, last seen May 26 P2 TZ1. Usually "Draw", 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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