IB ESS · 2021 to 2026
Unit 3: Biodiversity and Conservation
157 past paper questions from 46 papers across 18 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
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SL archive · 2017 to 2026
Unit 3: Biodiversity and Conservation
Latest exam session: May 2026
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Topics in Unit 3: Biodiversity and Conservation
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of the marks each one carries.
3.1
Biodiversity and evolution
26% of marks · 44 questions
- FadingNatural selection drives evolution
3.2
Human impact on biodiversity
32% of marks · 60 questions
- RisingInvasive alien species
- RisingThree named species
3.3
Conservation and regeneration
42% of marks · 53 questions
- RisingValues and conservation choices
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 23 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3.2.4The IUCN Red List | 1The IUCN Red List, 2017: 1 question | 2The IUCN Red List, 2018: 2 questions | 1The IUCN Red List, 2019: 1 question | 2The IUCN Red List, 2020: 2 questions | ·The IUCN Red List, 2021: 0 questions | 4The IUCN Red List, 2022: 4 questions | 7The IUCN Red List, 2023: 7 questions | 2The IUCN Red List, 2024: 2 questions | 6The IUCN Red List, 2025: 6 questions | 1The IUCN Red List, 2026: 1 question |
| ·Threats to biodiversity, 2017: 0 questions | ·Threats to biodiversity, 2018: 0 questions | 2Threats to biodiversity, 2019: 2 questions | ·Threats to biodiversity, 2020: 0 questions | 1Threats to biodiversity, 2021: 1 question | 1Threats to biodiversity, 2022: 1 question | 5Threats to biodiversity, 2023: 5 questions | 2Threats to biodiversity, 2024: 2 questions | 2Threats to biodiversity, 2025: 2 questions | 5Threats to biodiversity, 2026: 5 questions | |
| ·Invasive alien species, 2017: 0 questions | ·Invasive alien species, 2018: 0 questions | 2Invasive alien species, 2019: 2 questions | ·Invasive alien species, 2020: 0 questions | ·Invasive alien species, 2021: 0 questions | ·Invasive alien species, 2022: 0 questions | ·Invasive alien species, 2023: 0 questions | 2Invasive alien species, 2024: 2 questions | ·Invasive alien species, 2025: 0 questions | 3Invasive alien species, 2026: 3 questions | |
| 1Values and conservation choices, 2017: 1 question | ·Values and conservation choices, 2018: 0 questions | ·Values and conservation choices, 2019: 0 questions | ·Values and conservation choices, 2020: 0 questions | ·Values and conservation choices, 2021: 0 questions | ·Values and conservation choices, 2022: 0 questions | 1Values and conservation choices, 2023: 1 question | 2Values and conservation choices, 2024: 2 questions | 2Values and conservation choices, 2025: 2 questions | 1Values and conservation choices, 2026: 1 question |
4 more micro-topics with a free account
- RisingThree named species· last May 25 P1 TZ3
- Risingappearing more often in the last two years than before
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Questions on Unit 3: Biodiversity and Conservation, by exam session
Which papers asked about Unit 3: Biodiversity and Conservation, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2026
10 questions across 6 papers
Specimen 2026
2 questions across 1 paper
May 2025
10 questions across 6 papers
November 2024
6 questions across 4 papers
May 2024
12 questions across 4 papers
November 2023
3 questions across 3 papers
May 2023
5 questions across 3 papers
November 2022
5 questions across 2 papers
May 2022
7 questions across 2 papers
November 2021
4 questions across 1 paper
May 2021
4 questions across 2 papers
November 2020
1 question across 1 paper
November 2019
3 questions across 2 papers
May 2019
7 questions across 2 papers
November 2018
4 questions across 2 papers
May 2018
6 questions across 1 paper
November 2017
3 questions across 2 papers
May 2017
4 questions across 2 papers
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which ESS exam sessions are covered for Unit 3: Biodiversity and Conservation?
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 46 papers in this archive.
Which Unit 3: Biodiversity and Conservation topic comes up most?
The IUCN Red List (3.2.4): in 30% of papers, last seen May 26 P2 TZ3. Usually "State", worth about 1.9 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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