IB ESS · 2021 to 2026
7.3 Solid waste
66 past paper questions from 22 papers across 15 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
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SL archive · 2017 to 2026
7.3 Solid waste
Latest exam session: May 2026
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Micro-topics in 7.3 Solid waste
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in.
- Less common
last Spec 26 P2
- Less common
last May 26 P2 TZ2
- Occasional
last May 26 P2 TZ2
- Rising
last May 25 P2 TZ3
- Less common
last May 26 P2 TZ2
- Rising
last May 26 P2 TZ2
- Regular
last May 25 P2 TZ3
- Occasional
last Nov 24 P2 TZ2
- Less common
last May 22 P2
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 9 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Preventing waste v cleaning it up, 2017: 1 question | 1Preventing waste v cleaning it up, 2018: 1 question | 1Preventing waste v cleaning it up, 2019: 1 question | ·Preventing waste v cleaning it up, 2020: 0 questions | ·Preventing waste v cleaning it up, 2021: 0 questions | ·Preventing waste v cleaning it up, 2022: 0 questions | 1Preventing waste v cleaning it up, 2023: 1 question | 2Preventing waste v cleaning it up, 2024: 2 questions | 3Preventing waste v cleaning it up, 2025: 3 questions | 3Preventing waste v cleaning it up, 2026: 3 questions | |
| ·Waste disposal options, 2017: 0 questions | ·Waste disposal options, 2018: 0 questions | 2Waste disposal options, 2019: 2 questions | 1Waste disposal options, 2020: 1 question | 1Waste disposal options, 2021: 1 question | 1Waste disposal options, 2022: 1 question | 3Waste disposal options, 2023: 3 questions | 1Waste disposal options, 2024: 1 question | 6Waste disposal options, 2025: 6 questions | ·Waste disposal options, 2026: 0 questions | |
| 1Impacts of waste, 2017: 1 question | ·Impacts of waste, 2018: 0 questions | ·Impacts of waste, 2019: 0 questions | ·Impacts of waste, 2020: 0 questions | ·Impacts of waste, 2021: 0 questions | ·Impacts of waste, 2022: 0 questions | ·Impacts of waste, 2023: 0 questions | 2Impacts of waste, 2024: 2 questions | 6Impacts of waste, 2025: 6 questions | ·Impacts of waste, 2026: 0 questions | |
7.3.3How waste varies | ·How waste varies, 2017: 0 questions | 1How waste varies, 2018: 1 question | ·How waste varies, 2019: 0 questions | ·How waste varies, 2020: 0 questions | ·How waste varies, 2021: 0 questions | 2How waste varies, 2022: 2 questions | ·How waste varies, 2023: 0 questions | 14How waste varies, 2024: 14 questions | ·How waste varies, 2025: 0 questions | 2How waste varies, 2026: 2 questions |
4 more micro-topics with a free account
- Risingappearing more often in the last two years than before
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Questions on 7.3 Solid waste, by exam session
Which papers asked about 7.3 Solid waste, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2026
1 question across 1 paper
Specimen 2026
1 question across 1 paper
May 2025
3 questions across 3 papers
November 2024
2 questions across 2 papers
May 2024
2 questions across 2 papers
November 2023
2 questions across 2 papers
May 2023
2 questions across 2 papers
November 2022
1 question across 1 paper
May 2022
1 question across 1 paper
November 2021
2 questions across 2 papers
November 2020
1 question across 1 paper
May 2019
1 question across 1 paper
November 2018
1 question across 1 paper
November 2017
1 question across 1 paper
May 2017
1 question across 1 paper
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which ESS exam sessions are covered for 7.3 Solid waste?
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 22 papers in this archive.
Which 7.3 Solid waste topic comes up most?
Preventing waste v cleaning it up (7.3.6): in 22% of papers, last seen May 26 P2 TZ2. Usually "Outline", 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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