IB ESS · 2021 to 2026
Unit 8: Human Population and Urban Systems
111 past paper questions from 39 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 8: Human Population and Urban Systems
Latest exam session: May 2026
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Topics in Unit 8: Human Population and Urban Systems
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of the marks each one carries.
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 18 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4Measuring population change, 2017: 4 questions | 1Measuring population change, 2018: 1 question | 2Measuring population change, 2019: 2 questions | 2Measuring population change, 2020: 2 questions | ·Measuring population change, 2021: 0 questions | 2Measuring population change, 2022: 2 questions | 2Measuring population change, 2023: 2 questions | ·Measuring population change, 2024: 0 questions | 7Measuring population change, 2025: 7 questions | 3Measuring population change, 2026: 3 questions | |
| ·Reducing urban air pollution, 2017: 0 questions | 1Reducing urban air pollution, 2018: 1 question | ·Reducing urban air pollution, 2019: 0 questions | ·Reducing urban air pollution, 2020: 0 questions | 1Reducing urban air pollution, 2021: 1 question | 2Reducing urban air pollution, 2022: 2 questions | 3Reducing urban air pollution, 2023: 3 questions | ·Reducing urban air pollution, 2024: 0 questions | 3Reducing urban air pollution, 2025: 3 questions | 1Reducing urban air pollution, 2026: 1 question | |
| ·The demographic transition model, 2017: 0 questions | 1The demographic transition model, 2018: 1 question | 1The demographic transition model, 2019: 1 question | 3The demographic transition model, 2020: 3 questions | 1The demographic transition model, 2021: 1 question | 2The demographic transition model, 2022: 2 questions | 1The demographic transition model, 2023: 1 question | ·The demographic transition model, 2024: 0 questions | 2The demographic transition model, 2025: 2 questions | 3The demographic transition model, 2026: 3 questions | |
| ·Primary and secondary pollutants, 2017: 0 questions | 1Primary and secondary pollutants, 2018: 1 question | 2Primary and secondary pollutants, 2019: 2 questions | ·Primary and secondary pollutants, 2020: 0 questions | ·Primary and secondary pollutants, 2021: 0 questions | 3Primary and secondary pollutants, 2022: 3 questions | 5Primary and secondary pollutants, 2023: 5 questions | ·Primary and secondary pollutants, 2024: 0 questions | 3Primary and secondary pollutants, 2025: 3 questions | ·Primary and secondary pollutants, 2026: 0 questions |
4 more micro-topics with a free account
- DueManaging acid deposition· last May 24 P2 TZ2
- Risingappearing more often in the last two years than before
- Dueusually examined, but missing from the last two exam sessions
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Questions on Unit 8: Human Population and Urban Systems, by exam session
Which papers asked about Unit 8: Human Population and Urban Systems, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2026
7 questions across 5 papers
Specimen 2026
2 questions across 2 papers
May 2025
9 questions across 6 papers
November 2024
2 questions across 2 papers
May 2024
2 questions across 2 papers
November 2023
4 questions across 2 papers
May 2023
5 questions across 1 paper
November 2022
2 questions across 2 papers
May 2022
2 questions across 2 papers
November 2021
3 questions across 2 papers
May 2021
2 questions across 2 papers
November 2020
3 questions across 2 papers
November 2019
2 questions across 1 paper
May 2019
4 questions across 2 papers
November 2018
1 question across 1 paper
May 2018
2 questions across 2 papers
November 2017
2 questions across 2 papers
May 2017
2 questions across 1 paper
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which ESS exam sessions are covered for Unit 8: Human Population and Urban Systems?
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 39 papers in this archive.
Which Unit 8: Human Population and Urban Systems topic comes up most?
Measuring population change (8.1.3): in 36% of papers, last seen May 26 P1 TZ3. Usually "Calculate", worth about 2.1 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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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.
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