IB ESS · 2021 to 2026

4.4 Water pollution

42 past paper questions from 23 papers across 10 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.

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SL archive · 2021 to 2026

4.4 Water pollution

Latest exam session: Specimen 2026

questions
42
questions
papers
23
papers
exam sessions
10
exam sessions
micro-topics
5

Micro-topics in 4.4 Water pollution

In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in.

  • 32

    4.4.1

    Types and sources of water pollution

    13 questions · in 32% of papersAppears in 10 of the 31 ESS papers analysed (32%), at least once each.

    Frequently tested

    last Spec 26 P1

  • 23

    4.4.2

    Eutrophication

    7 questions · in 23% of papersAppears in 7 of the 31 ESS papers analysed (23%), at least once each.

    Regular

    last May 25 P2 TZ3

  • 3

    4.4.3

    Ocean acidification

    1 question · in 3% of papersAppears in 1 of the 31 ESS papers analysed (3%), at least once each.

    Less common

    last May 23 P2 TZ2

  • 29

    4.4.4

    Impacts of water pollution

    13 questions · in 29% of papersAppears in 9 of the 31 ESS papers analysed (29%), at least once each.

    Frequently tested

    last May 25 P2 TZ2

  • 19

    4.4.5

    Water pollution management

    8 questions · in 19% of papersAppears in 6 of the 31 ESS papers analysed (19%), at least once each.

    Regular

    last May 25 P1 TZ2

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

fewermore

Micro-topic202120222023202420252026
4.4.1Types and sources of water pollutionFrequently tested
1Types and sources of water pollution, 2021: 1 question1Types and sources of water pollution, 2022: 1 question6Types and sources of water pollution, 2023: 6 questions2Types and sources of water pollution, 2024: 2 questions2Types and sources of water pollution, 2025: 2 questions1Types and sources of water pollution, 2026: 1 question
4.4.4Impacts of water pollutionFrequently tested
4Impacts of water pollution, 2021: 4 questions1Impacts of water pollution, 2022: 1 question2Impacts of water pollution, 2023: 2 questions2Impacts of water pollution, 2024: 2 questions4Impacts of water pollution, 2025: 4 questions·Impacts of water pollution, 2026: 0 questions
4.4.2EutrophicationRegular
·Eutrophication, 2021: 0 questions1Eutrophication, 2022: 1 question3Eutrophication, 2023: 3 questions2Eutrophication, 2024: 2 questions1Eutrophication, 2025: 1 question·Eutrophication, 2026: 0 questions
4.4.5Water pollution managementRegular
·Water pollution management, 2021: 0 questions1Water pollution management, 2022: 1 question·Water pollution management, 2023: 0 questions6Water pollution management, 2024: 6 questions1Water pollution management, 2025: 1 question·Water pollution management, 2026: 0 questions

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  • Frequently testedin at least a quarter of all papers, and still appearing in the last two years
  • Regularin roughly one paper in six or more

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Questions on 4.4 Water pollution, by exam session

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Frequently asked questions

Short answers about this page.

Which ESS exam sessions are covered for 4.4 Water pollution?

10 exam sessions from 2021 to 2026, the latest Specimen 2026. Every Paper 1 and 2 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 23 papers in this archive.

Which 4.4 Water pollution topic comes up most?

Types and sources of water pollution (4.4.1): in 32% of papers, last seen Spec 26 P1. Usually "explain / justify", worth about 2.9 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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