100+ Free IB Geography HL Practice Questions

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A 'global commodity chain' for smartphones typically begins with:

Mining of rare earth elements and lithium in countries like DR Congo and Australia

Software updates pushed from Cupertino

Recycling at end-of-life facilities

Final retail sale in Apple Stores in New York

to track

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Key Facts: IB Geography HL Exam

1-7

IB grading scale per subject

IBO Diploma Programme

25/30/25/20

Paper 1 / Paper 2 / Paper 3 / IA weighting (%)

IB Geography guide

240 hours

Higher Level guided learning hours

IBO subject brief

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

IB Geography HL is graded 1-7 with Paper 1 worth 25%, Paper 2 worth 30%, Paper 3 HL extension worth 25%, and the Internal Assessment fieldwork report worth 20%. Total written exam time is 3 hours 45 minutes across the May or November session.

Sample IB Geography HL Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your IB Geography HL exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which stage of the Demographic Transition Model is characterised by high birth rates, falling death rates, and rapid population growth?

A.Stage 2

B.Stage 1

C.Stage 4

D.Stage 5

Explanation: Stage 2 (early expanding) sees death rates fall sharply due to improved sanitation, healthcare and food supply while birth rates remain high, producing rapid natural increase. Stage 1 has both rates high; Stage 4 has both rates low; Stage 5 is contested with deaths exceeding births.

2A country has a Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 1.4. What does this indicate about its long-term population?

A.Population will decline without net immigration

B.Population will grow rapidly

C.Population is at replacement level

D.Population will stay constant naturally

Explanation: Replacement-level fertility is approximately 2.1 children per woman. A TFR of 1.4 is well below replacement, so each generation is smaller than the previous one, and the population will fall over time unless immigration offsets the deficit. Japan, Italy and South Korea exemplify this trend.

3Which type of population pyramid is most characteristic of a Stage 4 developed country?

A.Narrow base, broad middle, narrow top

B.Very wide base, narrow top

C.Inverted pyramid with wider top than base

D.Perfectly rectangular pyramid at all ages

Explanation: Stage 4 countries (such as the UK or France) have low birth and death rates and longer life expectancy, producing a pyramid with a narrower base, bulging middle-aged cohort and a thicker top than developing countries. This is sometimes called a 'beehive' shape.

4A megacity is defined by the UN as an urban agglomeration with a population of at least:

A.10 million

B.1 million

C.5 million

D.20 million

Explanation: The UN World Urbanization Prospects defines a megacity as an urban agglomeration with 10 million or more inhabitants. Examples include Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai, Sao Paulo and Mexico City. The world had 33 megacities in 2018 and is projected to have 43 by 2030.

5Which of the following best describes a 'youthful' population structure?

A.Over 35% of population aged under 15

B.Over 35% of population aged over 65

C.Equal numbers in every age cohort

D.Median age above 40

Explanation: A youthful population is typically defined as one where more than 30-35% of the population is under 15. This is common in many sub-Saharan African countries such as Niger (where the figure exceeds 45%) and creates pressure on education, healthcare and future job markets.

6Which policy is the best example of an anti-natalist strategy?

A.China's One-Child Policy (1979-2015)

B.Singapore's 'Have Three or More' campaign

C.France's Code de la Famille

D.Romania's Decree 770 banning contraception

Explanation: Anti-natalist policies aim to reduce fertility. China's One-Child Policy (1979-2015) used quotas, fines and access restrictions to suppress births, lowering TFR sharply. The other options are pro-natalist policies designed to raise fertility.

7The dependency ratio is calculated as:

A.((under 15 + over 64) / 15-64 population) x 100

B.(over 64 / total population) x 100

C.(under 15 / 15-64 population) x 100

D.(total population / labour force) x 100

Explanation: The total dependency ratio compares the economically dependent population (children under 15 plus older adults over 64) to the working-age population (15-64), expressed per 100 workers. It can be split into youth dependency and elderly dependency components.

8Which of the following is a 'push' factor in international migration?

A.Civil war and persecution

B.Job opportunities in the destination

C.Family already living abroad

D.Better universities in the destination

Explanation: Push factors are negative conditions in the origin that drive people to leave: war, persecution, drought, poverty, environmental disaster. Pull factors are positive conditions in the destination that attract migrants: jobs, family networks, education, safety.

9Which statement best describes the radiative forcing of CO2?

A.It traps outgoing longwave radiation in the troposphere

B.It reflects incoming shortwave solar radiation

C.It cools the lower atmosphere by absorbing heat

D.It only affects the stratosphere, not the surface

Explanation: CO2 absorbs outgoing longwave (infrared) radiation emitted from Earth's surface and re-emits it in all directions, including back toward the surface. This enhances the natural greenhouse effect and warms the lower troposphere. Pre-industrial CO2 was ~280 ppm; in 2024 it exceeded 420 ppm.

10Which of the following is a positive feedback loop in the climate system?

A.Arctic sea-ice melt reducing albedo

B.Plants increasing photosynthesis under higher CO2

C.Ocean uptake of CO2 reducing atmospheric concentration

D.Stratospheric cooling reducing surface temperatures

Explanation: Sea-ice loss exposes dark ocean water, lowering surface albedo and increasing solar absorption, which causes further warming and further melting — a positive (amplifying) feedback. CO2-fertilised photosynthesis and ocean carbon uptake are negative feedbacks that dampen warming.

About the IB Geography HL Exam

IB Geography HL is a Higher Level subject in the IB Diploma Programme assessing students through three written papers and an internal assessment. HL students sit the same Paper 1 (core) and Paper 2 (optional themes) as SL plus an additional Paper 3 on the HL extension Global Interactions, covering power and networks, human development and diversity, and global risks and resilience.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours 45 minutes total written exam time (Paper 1 90 min + Paper 2 75 min + Paper 3 60 min)

Passing Score

Grade 4 is widely accepted as a pass; full DP requires 24+ points total (1-7 scale per subject)

Exam Fee

Set by school; IBO subject registration fee approx $119 USD per exam (International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO))

IB Geography HL Exam Content Outline

25%

Paper 1 — Geographic perspectives (SL/HL core)

Population distribution, megacity growth, demographic transition; climate change drivers, impacts and vulnerability; global resource consumption — water, food, and energy security

30%

Paper 2 — Optional geographic themes

Three of seven themes: freshwater drainage basins, oceans and coastal margins, extreme environments, geophysical hazards, leisure/sport/tourism, food and health, urban environments

10%

Paper 3 — Power, places and networks (HL)

Superpowers and emerging powers (BRICS), soft and hard power (Nye), WTO and regional trading blocs (EU, USMCA, ASEAN, Mercosur), global commodity chains, ICT and transport networks

Paper 3 — Human development and diversity (HL)

HDI, MPI, Gini coefficient, gender inequality index; SDGs replacing the MDGs; cultural diffusion vs homogenisation; indigenous rights; global cities (Sassen, GaWC, Friedmann)

Paper 3 — Global risks and resilience (HL)

Geopolitical risks (conflict, terrorism, cybercrime, transnational crime); environmental risks (pandemics, AMR); technological risks (AI, automation); international cooperation and resilience

20%

Internal Assessment — Fieldwork report

2,500-word fieldwork investigation answering a student-set geographic question, with primary data collection, analysis, and evaluation; marked by teachers and externally moderated

How to Pass the IB Geography HL Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Grade 4 is widely accepted as a pass; full DP requires 24+ points total (1-7 scale per subject)
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 3 hours 45 minutes total written exam time (Paper 1 90 min + Paper 2 75 min + Paper 3 60 min)
Exam fee: Set by school; IBO subject registration fee approx $119 USD per exam

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

IB Geography HL Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorise specific case studies with dates, figures, and named locations — Paper 3 examiners reward concrete contemporary examples (BRICS GDP shares, SDG indicators, named global cities)

2Practice the Paper 3 command terms 'examine', 'discuss', and 'to what extent' — full-mark essays develop counter-arguments and weighted evaluative conclusions

3Draw and annotate diagrams in every answer — flow maps, choropleths, demographic transition models, and Friedmann/GaWC hierarchies all gain credit

4Build your own case-study grid by syllabus theme so you can swap a single example into multiple questions across Paper 2 and Paper 3

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of IB Geography HL?

IB Geography HL has Paper 1 (1 hour 30 minutes, core, 25%), Paper 2 (1 hour 15 minutes, three optional themes, 30%), Paper 3 (1 hour, HL extension Global Interactions, 25%), and an Internal Assessment fieldwork report of about 2,500 words worth 20%.

When are IB Geography exams taken?

IB exams are sat in two annual sessions: May (Northern Hemisphere schools) and November (Southern Hemisphere schools). Results are released in early July and early January respectively.

How is IB Geography HL graded?

Each IB subject is graded on a 1-7 scale, where 7 is the highest. Grade 4 is widely treated as a pass, and the full Diploma requires at least 24 points across six subjects plus the core (TOK, EE, CAS).

What is the difference between IB Geography SL and HL?

SL and HL students sit the same Paper 1 (core) and Paper 2 (optional themes — SL chooses 2, HL chooses 3). HL students additionally sit Paper 3, a one-hour essay paper on the Global Interactions HL extension covering power and networks, human development and diversity, and global risks and resilience.

100+ Free IB Geography HL Practice Questions

IB Geography HL