IB ESS · 2021 to 2026
8.1 Human populations
55 past paper questions from 26 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
8.1 Human populations
Latest exam session: May 2026
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Micro-topics in 8.1 Human populations
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in. 1 of them has no matching questions in this archive.
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- Less common
last Nov 21 P2
- Frequently tested
last May 26 P1 TZ3
- Less common
last May 26 P2 TZ3
- Occasional
last May 25 P2 TZ3
- Occasional
last Nov 23 P2 TZ2
- Occasional
last May 26 P1 TZ1
- Regular
last May 26 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 7 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 | |
| ·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 | |
| ·Population and migration policies, 2017: 0 questions | ·Population and migration policies, 2018: 0 questions | 1Population and migration policies, 2019: 1 question | ·Population and migration policies, 2020: 0 questions | ·Population and migration policies, 2021: 0 questions | ·Population and migration policies, 2022: 0 questions | ·Population and migration policies, 2023: 0 questions | ·Population and migration policies, 2024: 0 questions | 2Population and migration policies, 2025: 2 questions | ·Population and migration policies, 2026: 0 questions | |
| 1Age-sex pyramids, 2017: 1 question | ·Age-sex pyramids, 2018: 0 questions | 1Age-sex pyramids, 2019: 1 question | 2Age-sex pyramids, 2020: 2 questions | ·Age-sex pyramids, 2021: 0 questions | ·Age-sex pyramids, 2022: 0 questions | ·Age-sex pyramids, 2023: 0 questions | ·Age-sex pyramids, 2024: 0 questions | ·Age-sex pyramids, 2025: 0 questions | 1Age-sex pyramids, 2026: 1 question |
3 more micro-topics with a free account
- 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 8.1 Human populations, by exam session
Which papers asked about 8.1 Human populations, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2026
3 questions across 3 papers
Specimen 2026
1 question across 1 paper
May 2025
6 questions across 6 papers
November 2023
2 questions across 2 papers
May 2023
1 question across 1 paper
November 2022
1 question across 1 paper
May 2022
1 question across 1 paper
November 2021
1 question across 1 paper
November 2020
2 questions across 2 papers
November 2019
1 question across 1 paper
May 2019
3 questions across 2 papers
November 2018
1 question across 1 paper
May 2018
1 question across 1 paper
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 8.1 Human populations?
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 26 papers in this archive.
Which 8.1 Human populations 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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