Environmental systems and societies (ESS)
📅 Exam: 2026-04-30**IB Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS)** is a **Group 3 & 4** subject in the **International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP)**. It explores **environmental systems, sustainability, biodiversity conservation, climate change, and human-environment interactions**, with a strong focus on **interdisciplinary analysis combining scientific methodologies with social science perspectives, practical fieldwork, and systems thinking**.
The course is available at **Standard Level (SL, 150 teaching hours)** and **Higher Level (HL, 240 teaching hours)**, with **first assessment in 2026**.
### Assessment at a Glance
| **Assessment** | **Format** | **SL** | **HL** | **Weighting** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Paper 1** | Data response and case study questions | 1 hour | 2 hours | 25% (SL), 30% (HL) |
| **Paper 2** | Structured short-answer and extended essay questions | 2 hours | 2.5 hours | 50% (SL), 50% (HL) |
| **Internal Assessment** | Individual investigation (up to 3,000 words) | 25 hours | 25 hours | 25% (SL), 20% (HL) |
The course is available at **Standard Level (SL, 150 teaching hours)** and **Higher Level (HL, 240 teaching hours)**, with **first assessment in 2026**.
### Assessment at a Glance
| **Assessment** | **Format** | **SL** | **HL** | **Weighting** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Paper 1** | Data response and case study questions | 1 hour | 2 hours | 25% (SL), 30% (HL) |
| **Paper 2** | Structured short-answer and extended essay questions | 2 hours | 2.5 hours | 50% (SL), 50% (HL) |
| **Internal Assessment** | Individual investigation (up to 3,000 words) | 25 hours | 25 hours | 25% (SL), 20% (HL) |