IB ESS · 2021 to 2026
2.2 Energy and biomass in ecosystems
68 past paper questions from 31 papers across 17 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
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SL archive · 2017 to 2026
2.2 Energy and biomass in ecosystems
Latest exam session: May 2026
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Micro-topics in 2.2 Energy and biomass in ecosystems
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 Nov 23 P2 TZ2
- Less common
last Nov 23 P2 TZ1
- Less common
last May 23 P2 TZ2
- Less common
last May 26 P2 TZ1
- Occasional
last May 26 P2 TZ1
2.2.6
Cellular respiration: releasing energy
No question tagged to this topic in the 50 ESS papers analysed
No matches in this archiveRevise it- No matches in this archiveRevise it
- Less common
last Nov 21 P2
- Less common
last May 25 P2 TZ3
- Occasional
last May 26 P1 TZ3
- Occasional
last May 26 P2 TZ2
- Less common
last May 26 P2 TZ2
- Regular
last May 26 P2 TZ2
- Less common
last May 26 P2 TZ1
- Regular
last May 26 P2 TZ2
- Less common
last May 21 P2
- Occasional
last May 26 P2 TZ2
- Occasional
last May 26 P2 TZ3
- Less common
last May 26 P2 TZ1
- Less common
last May 23 P2 TZ1
- No matches in this archiveRevise it
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 18 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2Bioaccumulation and biomagnification, 2017: 2 questions | ·Bioaccumulation and biomagnification, 2018: 0 questions | 1Bioaccumulation and biomagnification, 2019: 1 question | ·Bioaccumulation and biomagnification, 2020: 0 questions | 1Bioaccumulation and biomagnification, 2021: 1 question | ·Bioaccumulation and biomagnification, 2022: 0 questions | 4Bioaccumulation and biomagnification, 2023: 4 questions | ·Bioaccumulation and biomagnification, 2024: 0 questions | ·Bioaccumulation and biomagnification, 2025: 0 questions | 3Bioaccumulation and biomagnification, 2026: 3 questions | |
2.2.17Ecological pyramids | ·Ecological pyramids, 2017: 0 questions | ·Ecological pyramids, 2018: 0 questions | ·Ecological pyramids, 2019: 0 questions | ·Ecological pyramids, 2020: 0 questions | ·Ecological pyramids, 2021: 0 questions | ·Ecological pyramids, 2022: 0 questions | 2Ecological pyramids, 2023: 2 questions | 2Ecological pyramids, 2024: 2 questions | ·Ecological pyramids, 2025: 0 questions | 2Ecological pyramids, 2026: 2 questions |
| 1Producers and consumers in food chains, 2017: 1 question | 1Producers and consumers in food chains, 2018: 1 question | ·Producers and consumers in food chains, 2019: 0 questions | ·Producers and consumers in food chains, 2020: 0 questions | ·Producers and consumers in food chains, 2021: 0 questions | ·Producers and consumers in food chains, 2022: 0 questions | ·Producers and consumers in food chains, 2023: 0 questions | ·Producers and consumers in food chains, 2024: 0 questions | ·Producers and consumers in food chains, 2025: 0 questions | 2Producers and consumers in food chains, 2026: 2 questions | |
| 2Gross and net productivity, 2017: 2 questions | ·Gross and net productivity, 2018: 0 questions | 3Gross and net productivity, 2019: 3 questions | 2Gross and net productivity, 2020: 2 questions | 2Gross and net productivity, 2021: 2 questions | ·Gross and net productivity, 2022: 0 questions | ·Gross and net productivity, 2023: 0 questions | 2Gross and net productivity, 2024: 2 questions | ·Gross and net productivity, 2025: 0 questions | 1Gross and net productivity, 2026: 1 question |
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Questions on 2.2 Energy and biomass in ecosystems, by exam session
Which papers asked about 2.2 Energy and biomass in ecosystems, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2026
6 questions across 5 papers
Specimen 2026
3 questions across 2 papers
May 2025
1 question across 1 paper
November 2024
1 question across 1 paper
May 2024
6 questions across 4 papers
November 2023
4 questions across 2 papers
May 2023
2 questions across 2 papers
November 2022
2 questions across 2 papers
November 2021
2 questions across 1 paper
May 2021
3 questions across 2 papers
November 2020
2 questions across 2 papers
November 2019
2 questions across 1 paper
May 2019
2 questions across 2 papers
November 2018
1 question across 1 paper
May 2018
1 question across 1 paper
November 2017
1 question across 1 paper
May 2017
2 questions across 1 paper
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which ESS exam sessions are covered for 2.2 Energy and biomass in ecosystems?
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 31 papers in this archive.
Which 2.2 Energy and biomass in ecosystems topic comes up most?
Bioaccumulation and biomagnification (2.2.18): in 14% of papers, last seen May 26 P2 TZ3. Usually "Explain", worth about 3.7 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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