IB ESS · 2021 to 2026

5.2 Agriculture and food

41 past paper questions from 22 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

5.2 Agriculture and food

Latest exam session: Specimen 2026

questions
41
questions
papers
22
papers
exam sessions
10
exam sessions
micro-topics
6

Micro-topics in 5.2 Agriculture and food

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

  • 10

    5.2.1

    Terrestrial food production systems

    3 questions · in 10% of papersAppears in 3 of the 31 ESS papers analysed (10%), at least once each.

    Occasional

    last May 25 P1 TZ1

  • 6

    5.2.2

    Intensive vs extensive agriculture

    6 questions · in 6% of papersAppears in 2 of the 31 ESS papers analysed (6%), at least once each.

    Occasional

    last Spec 26 P2

  • 23

    5.2.3

    Environmental impacts of agriculture

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

    Regular

    last May 25 P1 TZ2

  • 16

    5.2.4

    Food choices and diets

    9 questions · in 16% of papersAppears in 5 of the 31 ESS papers analysed (16%), at least once each.

    Regular

    last May 25 P1 TZ3

  • 39

    5.2.5

    Sustainable agriculture

    12 questions · in 39% of papersAppears in 12 of the 31 ESS papers analysed (39%), at least once each.

    Frequently tested

    last May 25 P2 TZ3

  • 10

    5.2.6

    Soil conservation methods

    3 questions · in 10% of papersAppears in 3 of the 31 ESS papers analysed (10%), at least once each.

    Occasional

    last May 25 P1 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 6 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.

fewermore

Micro-topic202120222023202420252026
5.2.5Sustainable agricultureFrequently tested
2Sustainable agriculture, 2021: 2 questions·Sustainable agriculture, 2022: 0 questions1Sustainable agriculture, 2023: 1 question6Sustainable agriculture, 2024: 6 questions3Sustainable agriculture, 2025: 3 questions·Sustainable agriculture, 2026: 0 questions
5.2.3Environmental impacts of agricultureRegular
1Environmental impacts of agriculture, 2021: 1 question·Environmental impacts of agriculture, 2022: 0 questions2Environmental impacts of agriculture, 2023: 2 questions2Environmental impacts of agriculture, 2024: 2 questions3Environmental impacts of agriculture, 2025: 3 questions·Environmental impacts of agriculture, 2026: 0 questions
5.2.4Food choices and dietsRegular
5Food choices and diets, 2021: 5 questions1Food choices and diets, 2022: 1 question·Food choices and diets, 2023: 0 questions2Food choices and diets, 2024: 2 questions1Food choices and diets, 2025: 1 question·Food choices and diets, 2026: 0 questions
5.2.1Terrestrial food production systemsOccasional
·Terrestrial food production systems, 2021: 0 questions1Terrestrial food production systems, 2022: 1 question1Terrestrial food production systems, 2023: 1 question·Terrestrial food production systems, 2024: 0 questions1Terrestrial food production systems, 2025: 1 question·Terrestrial food production systems, 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
  • Occasionalin about one paper in ten

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Questions on 5.2 Agriculture and food, by exam session

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Frequently asked questions

Short answers about this page.

Which ESS exam sessions are covered for 5.2 Agriculture and food?

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 22 papers in this archive.

Which 5.2 Agriculture and food topic comes up most?

Sustainable agriculture (5.2.5): in 39% of papers, last seen May 25 P2 TZ3. Usually "explain / justify", worth about 4.6 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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