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Paper 1 is the first Geography assessment you will encounter during your exam session. In this post we will break this paper down so you know what to expect and set yourself up for success.
IB Geography Paper 1
- At SL Paper 1 accounts for 45% of the student's final subject grade while for HL it accounts for 40% of the student's final grade.
- SL students have 1 hour 30 minutes, while HL students are given 2 hours 10 minutes to complete Paper 1.
- Paper 1 is made up of IB Geography Option topics
- SL students answer questions from 2 option topics while HL students must answer 3.
- Each option has a structured question and one extended answer question from a choice of two.
A typical Paper 1 question may look the following way:
Option A: Freshwater
Refer to the map and key on pages 2 and 3 of the accompanying resource booklet.
The map shows an area in western Mexico containing river floodplains and wetlands. The scale is 1:250 000 and the contour interval is 100 metres.
(a) Briefly describe two natural features of the river Rio Grande de Santiago downstream from the settlement of La Presa (grid square 3721). [2]
(b) Outline one possible threat to this area’s wetlands. [2]
(c) Referring to map evidence, suggest three ways in which local people might benefit economically from this area’s wetlands and/or river landforms. [2+2+2]
Answer either part (a) or part (b).
(a) Examine the impacts of human activity on river hydrographs. [10]
(b) Evaluate the contribution individuals and communities can make towards minimizing their local area’s vulnerability to water scarcity. [10]
How to succeed in Geography Paper 1?
To do well in IB Geography Paper 1, it’s important to prepare thoroughly for the option topics you’ve chosen. Make sure to gather a wide range of case studies to back up your answers. To do well you also need to practice answering questions, especially the essay question that comes at the end. The best way to do this is by doing past paper questions under exam conditions. This helps you get used to writing clear, structured answers within the time limit, which is key to performing well in the exam.
We hope you found this post helpful. For more useful materials associated with the IB check out the wide variety of IA, EE and TOK exemplars available at Clastify.
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