New SL & HL syllabus, first assessed May 2026 — eight topics, with three HL lenses (environmental law, economics & ethics).
IB Environmental Systems and Societies is assessed by two external papers and one internal investigation. At SL, Paper 1 (case study) is 25%, Paper 2 is 50% and the IA is 25%. At HL, Paper 1 is 30%, Paper 2 is 50% and the IA is 20%. External assessment is 75% at SL and 80% at HL.
HL students study three additional lenses — environmental law, environmental economics and environmental ethics — sit longer papers (Paper 1 2 hours, Paper 2 2h30) and carry slightly different weightings. ESS is now offered at both SL and HL under the 2026 syllabus.
There are eight topics: Foundations of ESS, Ecology, Biodiversity and conservation, Water, Land, Atmosphere and climate change, Natural resources, and Human populations and urban systems.
The ESS syllabus was significantly revised for first assessment in May 2026 and is now available at both Standard and Higher Level for the first time.
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