IB ESS · 2021 to 2026

3.2 Human impact on biodiversity

60 past paper questions from 31 papers across 17 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.

Starter set across the most-tested skills, with AI marking and model answers.

Generate a custom set

SL archive · 2017 to 2026

3.2 Human impact on biodiversity

Latest exam session: May 2026

questions
questions
papers
papers
exam sessions
exam sessions
By year6micro-topics

Micro-topics in 3.2 Human impact on biodiversity

In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in. 1 of them has no matching questions in this archive.

  • 26

    3.2.1

    Threats to biodiversity

    18 questions · in 26% of papers

    Frequently tested

    last May 26 P1 TZ1

  • 4

    3.2.2

    Multiple human impacts

    2 questions · in 4% of papers

    Less common

    last Nov 21 P2

  • 14

    3.2.3

    Invasive alien species

    7 questions · in 14% of papers

    Rising

    last May 26 P2 TZ1

  • 30

    3.2.4

    The IUCN Red List

    26 questions · in 30% of papers

    Frequently tested

    last May 26 P2 TZ3

  • 2

    3.2.5

    Why conservation status matters

    1 question · in 2% of papers

    Less common

    last Nov 22 P1

  • 12

    3.2.6

    Three named species

    6 questions · in 12% of papers

    Rising

    last May 25 P1 TZ3

  • 0

    3.2.7

    The tragedy of the commons

    No question tagged to this topic in the 50 ESS papers analysed

    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 6 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.

fewermore

Micro-topic2017201820192020202120222023202420252026
3.2.4The IUCN Red ListFrequently tested
1The IUCN Red List, 2017: 1 question2The IUCN Red List, 2018: 2 questions1The IUCN Red List, 2019: 1 question2The IUCN Red List, 2020: 2 questions·The IUCN Red List, 2021: 0 questions4The IUCN Red List, 2022: 4 questions7The IUCN Red List, 2023: 7 questions2The IUCN Red List, 2024: 2 questions6The IUCN Red List, 2025: 6 questions1The IUCN Red List, 2026: 1 question
3.2.1Threats to biodiversityFrequently tested
·Threats to biodiversity, 2017: 0 questions·Threats to biodiversity, 2018: 0 questions2Threats to biodiversity, 2019: 2 questions·Threats to biodiversity, 2020: 0 questions1Threats to biodiversity, 2021: 1 question1Threats to biodiversity, 2022: 1 question5Threats to biodiversity, 2023: 5 questions2Threats to biodiversity, 2024: 2 questions2Threats to biodiversity, 2025: 2 questions5Threats to biodiversity, 2026: 5 questions
3.2.3Invasive alien speciesRising · last May 26 P2 TZ1
·Invasive alien species, 2017: 0 questions·Invasive alien species, 2018: 0 questions2Invasive 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 questions2Invasive alien species, 2024: 2 questions·Invasive alien species, 2025: 0 questions3Invasive alien species, 2026: 3 questions
3.2.6Three named speciesRising · last May 25 P1 TZ3
·Three named species, 2017: 0 questions1Three named species, 2018: 1 question·Three named species, 2019: 0 questions·Three named species, 2020: 0 questions·Three named species, 2021: 0 questions·Three named species, 2022: 0 questions·Three named species, 2023: 0 questions2Three named species, 2024: 2 questions3Three named species, 2025: 3 questions·Three named species, 2026: 0 questions

2 more micro-topics with a free account

  • Frequently testedin at least a quarter of all papers, and still appearing in the last two years
  • Risingappearing more often in the last two years than before

Free account · no card needed

See the full exam pattern

Every micro-topic in the heatmap and the complete watch list, free with an account.

Create a free accountSign in

You come straight back to this page with your set built.

  • With a free account
  • 3 generated sets of 10 past-paper questions, any scope
  • One AI-marked practice set with step-by-step feedback
  • The full exam pattern: every micro-topic and the watch list

Past paper generator

Generate ESS past paper questions

Choose what to revise and build a set in one click. Every question stays whole, so multi-part questions come as they appeared in the exam.

  1. 1Pick any unit, topic or micro-topic
  2. 2Generate whole exam questions from the archive
  3. 3Practise the same skills with AI marking
Loading the generator

Questions on 3.2 Human impact on biodiversity, by exam session

Which papers asked about 3.2 Human impact on biodiversity, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.

Past Paper Generator · Pro

Every 3.2 Human impact on biodiversity question, unlocked

Generate all 60 questions in this topic at once, practise every one with AI marking, and see how each mark is awarded.

  • Every past-paper question in any unit, topic or micro-topic
  • Generate sets of 20 or all questions, as often as you like
  • Unlimited practice with AI marking and worked answers
  • See how every mark is awarded for each question
  • Predicted papers and crash courses built from the same data
Unlock all ESS past paper questions

Used by IB students preparing for Nov 2026, May 2027 and May 2028

From €8.29/mo. 14-day money-back guarantee. Cancel anytime.

Frequently asked questions

Short answers about this page.

Which ESS exam sessions are covered for 3.2 Human impact on biodiversity?

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 3.2 Human impact on biodiversity 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.

What is free and what needs Pro?

Reading this page and the exam pattern is free. A free account generates three sets of ten questions and launches one practice set. Pro opens every question in any scope, sets of twenty or all, and unlimited practice.

Keep going

More ESS exam preparation

  • Every question, by paper

    What each ESS paper tests across all its sittings: the marks by unit and the micro-topics it keeps coming back to.

    Open the paper analysis

  • What comes up most

    Which ESS topics recur in this archive, and which have no matching questions in it.

    See the pattern

  • Mock exams

    Full ESS papers under timed conditions, marked by AI against IB criteria.

    Sit a mock

  • All IB past papers

    Every subject we have classified by topic, with the same exam-pattern analysis.

    Browse subjects

Practise 3.2 Human impact on biodiversity the way it is examined.

Pick any unit, topic or micro-topic, see what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.

Generate a setAll IB past papers