IB Geography SL · 2019 to 2025
Unit 7: Option A: Freshwater - drainage basins
73 past paper questions from 12 papers across 12 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.
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SL archive · 2019 to 2025
Unit 7: Option A: Freshwater - drainage basins
Latest exam session: May 2025
- questions
- 73
- questions
- papers
- 12
- papers
- exam sessions
- 12
- exam sessions
- micro-topics
- 8
Topics in Unit 7: Option A: Freshwater - drainage basins
In syllabus order. The ring is the share of the marks each one carries.
7.1
Drainage basin hydrology and geomorphology
28% of marks99 of the 360 marks across the 28 Geography SL papers analysed (28%) were on this topic. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 28 questions
- DueRiver discharge and hydrographs
7.2
Flooding and flood mitigation
12% of marks44 of the 360 marks across the 28 Geography SL papers analysed (12%) were on this topic. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 6 questions
- DueFlooding and flood mitigation
7.3
Water scarcity and water quality
19% of marks70 of the 360 marks across the 28 Geography SL papers analysed (19%) were on this topic. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 18 questions
7.4
Water management futures
41% of marks147 of the 360 marks across the 28 Geography SL papers analysed (41%) were on this topic. A past-paper pattern, not a guarantee for your next paper. · 21 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ·Integrated water management and dams, 2019: 0 questions | ·Integrated water management and dams, 2020: 0 questions | 3Integrated water management and dams, 2021: 3 questions | 1Integrated water management and dams, 2022: 1 question | 1Integrated water management and dams, 2023: 1 question | 5Integrated water management and dams, 2024: 5 questions | 1Integrated water management and dams, 2025: 1 question | |
| 1Water quality and pollution, 2019: 1 question | 3Water quality and pollution, 2020: 3 questions | ·Water quality and pollution, 2021: 0 questions | 5Water quality and pollution, 2022: 5 questions | 2Water quality and pollution, 2023: 2 questions | 2Water quality and pollution, 2024: 2 questions | 1Water quality and pollution, 2025: 1 question | |
| 2Stakeholders, conflict and wetland futures, 2019: 2 questions | 1Stakeholders, conflict and wetland futures, 2020: 1 question | ·Stakeholders, conflict and wetland futures, 2021: 0 questions | 3Stakeholders, conflict and wetland futures, 2022: 3 questions | 2Stakeholders, conflict and wetland futures, 2023: 2 questions | 2Stakeholders, conflict and wetland futures, 2024: 2 questions | ·Stakeholders, conflict and wetland futures, 2025: 0 questions | |
| 3River discharge and hydrographs, 2019: 3 questions | 1River discharge and hydrographs, 2020: 1 question | 1River discharge and hydrographs, 2021: 1 question | ·River discharge and hydrographs, 2022: 0 questions | 3River discharge and hydrographs, 2023: 3 questions | 1River discharge and hydrographs, 2024: 1 question | ·River discharge and hydrographs, 2025: 0 questions |
4 more micro-topics with a free account
- DueFlooding and flood mitigation· last Nov 23 P1
- Frequently testedin at least a quarter of all papers, and still appearing in the last two years
- Dueusually examined, but missing from the last two exam sessions
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Questions on Unit 7: Option A: Freshwater - drainage basins, by exam session
Which papers asked about Unit 7: Option A: Freshwater - drainage basins, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.
May 2025
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2024
2 questions across 1 paper
May 2024
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2023
2 questions across 1 paper
May 2023
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2022
2 questions across 1 paper
May 2022
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2021
2 questions across 1 paper
May 2021
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2020
2 questions across 1 paper
November 2019
2 questions across 1 paper
May 2019
2 questions across 1 paper
Every Unit 7: Option A: Freshwater - drainage basins question, unlocked
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Frequently asked questions
Short answers about this page.
Which Geography SL exam sessions are covered for Unit 7: Option A: Freshwater - drainage basins?
13 exam sessions from 2019 to 2025, the latest May 2025. Every Paper 1 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 12 papers in this archive.
Which Unit 7: Option A: Freshwater - drainage basins topic comes up most?
Integrated water management and dams (7.4.1): in 25% of papers, last seen May 25 P1. Usually "examine", worth about 8.4 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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