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100+ Free IB Geography SL Practice Questions

Pass your IB Diploma Geography Standard Level exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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Key Facts: IB Geography SL Exam

150 hours

Recommended teaching time SL

IB Geography subject guide

25%

Internal Assessment fieldwork weighting

IB Geography subject guide

7 themes

Paper 1 options (choose 2 at SL)

IB Geography subject guide

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

IB Geography SL is assessed by Paper 1 (two structured questions from seven geographic themes, 90 min, 35%), Paper 2 (short-answer plus extended-response on the Global Change core, 75 min, 40%), and an Internal Assessment fieldwork report (25%). The course requires named real-world case studies at local, regional and global scales.

Sample IB Geography SL Practice Questions

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

1In the Demographic Transition Model, which stage is characterised by high birth rates and high but fluctuating death rates, giving low natural increase?
A.Stage 1
B.Stage 2
C.Stage 3
D.Stage 4
Explanation: Stage 1 (high stationary) has high birth and death rates that fluctuate with famine, disease and war, so natural increase is low. Pre-industrial societies and a few isolated tribes today fit this stage.
2A population pyramid with a very wide base and a narrow apex most closely represents which type of country?
A.A youthful LIC such as Niger
B.An ageing HIC such as Japan
C.A balanced HIC such as the UK
D.A migrant-receiving country such as the UAE
Explanation: A wide base indicates very high birth rates and a high proportion of children, while a narrow apex reflects short life expectancy. Niger, with a TFR above 6, produces exactly this 'pyramid' shape.
3Which formula correctly calculates natural increase rate (per 1,000)?
A.Crude birth rate minus crude death rate
B.Crude birth rate plus net migration
C.Total fertility rate minus infant mortality rate
D.Life expectancy divided by crude birth rate
Explanation: Natural increase rate equals crude birth rate minus crude death rate, expressed per 1,000 people. It excludes migration, which is added separately when calculating total population change.
4Total fertility rate (TFR) is best defined as:
A.Average number of live births per woman over her reproductive lifetime
B.Number of live births per 1,000 people per year
C.Number of children alive in a country at one time
D.Proportion of women who have at least one child
Explanation: TFR is the average number of children a woman would bear if she experienced current age-specific fertility rates throughout her reproductive years. Replacement level in most HICs is approximately 2.1.
5Which policy is an example of an anti-natalist approach?
A.China's one-child policy (1979-2015)
B.Singapore's 'Have Three or More' campaign
C.France's family allowances and parental leave
D.Hungary's 2019 tax exemption for mothers of four
Explanation: China's one-child policy (1979-2015) restricted most urban couples to one child, using fines, sterilisation and contraception to lower birth rates. It is the classic anti-natalist policy.
6Singapore's pro-natalist policies use which combination of measures to raise fertility?
A.Cash baby bonus, longer paid maternity leave, and subsidised childcare
B.Forced sterilisation and one-child fines
C.Restrictions on female employment
D.Removal of all contraception from clinics
Explanation: Singapore offers a Baby Bonus cash gift, government-matched Child Development Account savings, 16 weeks paid maternity leave and subsidised childcare. These pro-natalist measures aim to lift the TFR, currently around 1.0.
7Which is NOT a typical challenge of an ageing population in high-income countries?
A.Rapidly rising school-age dependency ratio
B.Rising pension and healthcare costs
C.Shrinking working-age tax base
D.Increased demand for elderly care services
Explanation: An ageing population is dominated by people over 65, so the elderly dependency ratio rises, not the school-age one. Falling birth rates actually reduce child dependency.
8Infant mortality rate is measured as the number of deaths of children under one year per:
A.1,000 live births
B.1,000 total population
C.100,000 mothers
D.1,000 women aged 15-49
Explanation: Infant mortality rate (IMR) is defined as deaths under one year per 1,000 live births in the same year. It is a sensitive indicator of healthcare quality and development.
9Which of the following best explains the long-term decline in birth rates across HICs?
A.Female education and labour force participation rise, raising the opportunity cost of children
B.Compulsory military conscription
C.Government bans on contraception
D.Declining urbanisation rates
Explanation: Female education delays marriage, raises women's earnings, and increases the opportunity cost of leaving work to raise children. Combined with access to contraception, this consistently lowers birth rates.
10Which of these is the clearest example of FORCED international migration?
A.Syrian refugees fleeing civil war after 2011
B.Polish workers moving to the UK after EU accession
C.Mexican workers seasonally moving to US farms
D.Filipino nurses migrating to the Gulf for higher wages
Explanation: Syrian refugees were pushed out by civil war, persecution and violence after 2011, with over 6 million displaced internationally. This satisfies the UN definition of forced migration under the 1951 Refugee Convention.

About the IB Geography SL Exam

IB Diploma Geography Standard Level is a Group 3 individuals and societies course that examines interactions between people and environments at local to global scales. SL students study the Global Change core (population dynamics, climate change, resource consumption) alongside two optional themes chosen from seven, and complete a fieldwork-based Internal Assessment.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Paper 1: 90 min, Paper 2: 75 min, plus Internal Assessment fieldwork

Passing Score

Grade 4 commonly used as a pass; grades 1-7 awarded (7 highest)

Exam Fee

School-set entry fee (varies by school and country) (International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO))

IB Geography SL Exam Content Outline

~30%

Population Dynamics (Global Change core)

Demographic Transition Model stages 1-5, population pyramids (youthful Niger, ageing Japan), birth and death rates, natural increase, life expectancy, infant mortality, total fertility rate, pro-natalist (Singapore, France, Hungary) vs anti-natalist policies (China one-child 1979-2015, India), ageing population challenges, voluntary economic vs forced refugee migration (Syria, Rohingya, Ukraine), gender equality and development

~20%

Global Climate Change (Global Change core)

Natural vs enhanced greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O, CFCs), feedback loops (ice-albedo, permafrost methane), evidence (1.1 C rise since 1850, ice cores, glacier retreat, 20 cm sea level rise), impacts (droughts, biodiversity loss, climate refugees Tuvalu/Kiribati, food security), mitigation (Kyoto 1997, Paris Agreement 2015 1.5 C target, IPCC, COP, carbon trading, CCS), adaptation (flood defences, drought-resistant crops)

~25%

Global Resource Consumption and Security (Global Change core)

Resource use across food, water, energy; water security and scarcity; food security (Green Revolution, GM crops, organic farming, food waste); energy security (declining fossil reserves, OPEC geopolitics, energy mix); circular economy; sustainability strategies; transboundary water conflicts; ecological and environmental footprint

~15%

Geographic Themes (Paper 1 options)

Two of seven: Freshwater drainage basins; Oceans and coastal margins; Extreme environments (hot arid, glacial, periglacial, high altitude); Geophysical hazards (earthquakes, volcanoes, mass movement, hurricanes); Leisure, tourism and sport; Food and health; Urban environments (urbanisation, sustainability)

~10%

Geographic Skills and Methods

Map and atlas skills, statistical techniques (mean, median, mode, Spearman's rank, chi-squared), data presentation (choropleth, isoline, dot, proportional symbol, flow lines), primary fieldwork data collection (questionnaires, observation, measurement), secondary data analysis, ethical considerations, identifying spatial patterns, interpreting graphs

How to Pass the IB Geography SL Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Grade 4 commonly used as a pass; grades 1-7 awarded (7 highest)
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: Paper 1: 90 min, Paper 2: 75 min, plus Internal Assessment fieldwork
  • Exam fee: School-set entry fee (varies by school and country)

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 SL Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorise named case studies at local, regional, and global scales — examiners credit specific places, dates, and figures over generic answers
2Use IB command terms precisely (define, describe, explain, examine, discuss, evaluate, to what extent) — the command word sets the level of detail required
3For Paper 2 extended-response, plan with a clear argument, balance evidence with evaluation, and reference at least two named case studies
4Practise drawing and interpreting population pyramids, choropleth maps, climate graphs, and resource-flow diagrams — they appear in every paper

Frequently Asked Questions

How is IB Geography SL assessed?

IB Geography SL has three assessment components: Paper 1 (two structured questions from seven geographic theme options, 90 minutes, 35%), Paper 2 (short-answer plus extended-response on the Global Change core, 75 minutes, 40%), and an Internal Assessment fieldwork report based on primary data (25%).

What is the Global Change core in IB Geography?

Global Change is the compulsory core covering three units: Population dynamics (DTM, pyramids, migration, policies), Global climate change (greenhouse effect, mitigation and adaptation), and Global resource consumption and security (food, water, energy).

What is the difference between IB Geography SL and HL?

HL covers all SL content plus an additional HL Extension on Global Interactions (power, networks, transformations, hybridisation) and an extra Paper 3. SL has 150 teaching hours; HL has 240. The Internal Assessment fieldwork report is identical at both levels.

When are IB Geography exams sat?

IB Diploma exams are held in May (Northern Hemisphere schools) and November (Southern Hemisphere schools). Results are released in early July or early January respectively.