IB Geography SL · 2019 to 2025
Unit 3: Global resource consumption and security
85 past paper questions from 16 papers across 13 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
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SL archive · 2019 to 2025
Unit 3: Global resource consumption and security
Latest exam session: May 2025
- questions
- 85
- questions
- papers
- 16
- papers
- exam sessions
- 13
- exam sessions
- micro-topics
- 8
Topics in Unit 3: Global resource consumption and security
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of the marks each one carries.
3.1
Global trends in consumption
33% of marks108 of the 330 marks across the 28 Geography SL papers analysed (33%) were on this topic. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 38 questions
- DueTrends in energy and resource consumption
3.2
Impacts of changing trends in resource consumption (the water-food-energy nexus)
42% of marks140 of the 330 marks across the 28 Geography SL papers analysed (42%) were on this topic. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 30 questions
- RisingFood security and the threats to it
3.3
Resource stewardship possibilities
25% of marks82 of the 330 marks across the 28 Geography SL papers analysed (25%) were on this topic. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 17 questions
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 8 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.
fewermore
| Micro-topic | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2Resource stewardship and the circular economy, 2019: 2 questions | 2Resource stewardship and the circular economy, 2020: 2 questions | 2Resource stewardship and the circular economy, 2021: 2 questions | 1Resource stewardship and the circular economy, 2022: 1 question | 1Resource stewardship and the circular economy, 2023: 1 question | 4Resource stewardship and the circular economy, 2024: 4 questions | 3Resource stewardship and the circular economy, 2025: 3 questions | |
| 2Water and energy security, 2019: 2 questions | 1Water and energy security, 2020: 1 question | ·Water and energy security, 2021: 0 questions | 1Water and energy security, 2022: 1 question | 2Water and energy security, 2023: 2 questions | 2Water and energy security, 2024: 2 questions | 4Water and energy security, 2025: 4 questions | |
| 1Food security and the threats to it, 2019: 1 question | ·Food security and the threats to it, 2020: 0 questions | 2Food security and the threats to it, 2021: 2 questions | ·Food security and the threats to it, 2022: 0 questions | ·Food security and the threats to it, 2023: 0 questions | 1Food security and the threats to it, 2024: 1 question | 6Food security and the threats to it, 2025: 6 questions | |
| 1The new global middle class and changing diets, 2019: 1 question | 1The new global middle class and changing diets, 2020: 1 question | 3The new global middle class and changing diets, 2021: 3 questions | 2The new global middle class and changing diets, 2022: 2 questions | 1The new global middle class and changing diets, 2023: 1 question | 5The new global middle class and changing diets, 2024: 5 questions | 1The new global middle class and changing diets, 2025: 1 question |
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- DueTrends in energy and resource consumption· last May 24 P2 TZ1
- Frequently testedin at least a quarter of all papers, and still appearing in the last two years
- 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 3: Global resource consumption and security, by exam session
Which papers asked about Unit 3: Global resource consumption and security, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2025
8 questions across 3 papers
November 2024
2 questions across 1 paper
May 2024
4 questions across 2 papers
November 2023
2 questions across 1 paper
May 2023
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2022
1 question across 1 paper
May 2022
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2021
1 question across 1 paper
May 2021
1 question across 1 paper
November 2020
4 questions across 1 paper
November 2019
2 questions across 1 paper
May 2019
1 question across 1 paper
Specimen 2019
3 questions across 1 paper
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which Geography SL exam sessions are covered for Unit 3: Global resource consumption and security?
13 exam sessions from 2019 to 2025, the latest May 2025. Every Paper 2 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 16 papers in this archive.
Which Unit 3: Global resource consumption and security topic comes up most?
Resource stewardship and the circular economy (3.3.1): in 43% of papers, last seen May 25 P2 TZ3. Usually "explain / justify", worth about 6.2 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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