IB Geography SL · 2019 to 2025

9.1 The characteristics of extreme environments

16 past paper questions from 7 papers across 7 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.

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SL archive · 2019 to 2024

9.1 The characteristics of extreme environments

Latest exam session: November 2024

questions
16
questions
papers
7
papers
exam sessions
7
exam sessions
micro-topics
2

Micro-topics in 9.1 The characteristics of extreme environments

In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in.

  • 18

    9.1.1

    Hot, arid and semi-arid environments

    11 questions · in 18% of papersAppears in 5 of the 28 Geography SL papers analysed (18%), at least once each.

    Due

    last May 22 P1

  • 11

    9.1.2

    Cold and glacial environments

    5 questions · in 11% of papersAppears in 3 of the 28 Geography SL papers analysed (11%), at least once each.

    Occasional

    last Nov 24 P1

Exam pattern

How often each micro-topic has been examined, year by year. Each label is explained under the grid.

Does it repeat?

Questions per year for each micro-topic.

fewermore

Micro-topic2019202020212022202320242025
9.1.1Hot, arid and semi-arid environmentsDue · last May 22 P1
2Hot, arid and semi-arid environments, 2019: 2 questions1Hot, arid and semi-arid environments, 2020: 1 question5Hot, arid and semi-arid environments, 2021: 5 questions3Hot, arid and semi-arid environments, 2022: 3 questions·Hot, arid and semi-arid environments, 2023: 0 questions·Hot, arid and semi-arid environments, 2024: 0 questions·Hot, arid and semi-arid environments, 2025: 0 questions
9.1.2Cold and glacial environmentsOccasional
·Cold and glacial environments, 2019: 0 questions·Cold and glacial environments, 2020: 0 questions1Cold and glacial environments, 2021: 1 question2Cold and glacial environments, 2022: 2 questions·Cold and glacial environments, 2023: 0 questions2Cold and glacial environments, 2024: 2 questions·Cold and glacial environments, 2025: 0 questions
  • Dueusually examined, but missing from the last two exam sessions
  • Occasionalin about one paper in ten

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Questions on 9.1 The characteristics of extreme environments, by exam session

Which papers asked about 9.1 The characteristics of extreme environments, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.

  • November 2024

    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

  • May 2021

    1 question across 1 paper

  • November 2020

    1 question across 1 paper

  • May 2019

    1 question across 1 paper

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Frequently asked questions

Short answers about this page.

Which Geography SL exam sessions are covered for 9.1 The characteristics of extreme environments?

13 exam sessions from 2019 to 2024, the latest November 2024. Every Paper 1 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 7 papers in this archive.

Which 9.1 The characteristics of extreme environments topic comes up most?

Hot, arid and semi-arid environments (9.1.1): in 18% of papers, last seen May 22 P1. Usually "outline", worth about 3 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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