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100+ Free IB Global Politics SL Practice Questions

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

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Key Facts: IB Global Politics SL Exam

1-7

IB grading scale (4 is a pass)

International Baccalaureate Organization

150 hours

Recommended teaching hours at SL

IB Global Politics subject guide

4 core units

Power, Human Rights, Development, Peace/Conflict

IB Global Politics syllabus (first exams 2017)

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

IB Global Politics SL is examined in May and November sessions. Assessment is Paper 1 sources-based (35%), Paper 2 extended response essays (45%) and a 2,000-word Engagement Activity (20%). Subjects are graded 1-7 with grade 4 a satisfactory pass.

Sample IB Global Politics SL Practice Questions

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

1Joseph Nye's concept of 'soft power' refers to the ability to:
A.Coerce others through military or economic threat
B.Co-opt others through attraction and persuasion
C.Use cyber-attacks to disable enemy infrastructure
D.Impose sanctions via the UN Security Council
Explanation: Nye defines soft power as the ability to shape preferences through appeal and attraction (culture, values, foreign policy) rather than coercion (hard power) or payment. The combination of hard and soft is 'smart power'.
2Which 1648 treaty is most associated with the concept of state sovereignty in the Westphalian model?
A.Treaty of Versailles
B.Peace of Westphalia
C.Treaty of Rome
D.Treaty of Lisbon
Explanation: The 1648 Peace of Westphalia ended the Thirty Years' War and is conventionally cited as the origin of the modern state system, establishing the principle that states have exclusive sovereignty over their territory and internal affairs.
3How many permanent members (P5) does the United Nations Security Council have?
A.3
B.5
C.10
D.15
Explanation: The UNSC has 5 permanent members (USA, UK, France, Russia, China) each holding a veto, plus 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms — 15 in total.
4Which IR theory emphasises state self-interest, anarchy, and the security dilemma, associated with thinkers like Hans Morgenthau?
A.Liberalism
B.Constructivism
C.Realism
D.Marxism
Explanation: Realism (Morgenthau, Waltz, Mearsheimer) views international politics as a struggle for power among self-interested states in an anarchic system where survival is the primary goal and the security dilemma is structural.
5Which of the following best describes 'legitimacy' in political theory?
A.The legal right to use physical force
B.The popular acceptance of an authority's right to rule
C.The economic capacity of a state
D.Membership of the United Nations
Explanation: Legitimacy is the perception by the governed that an authority has the right to rule — flowing from tradition, charisma, or legal-rational procedure (Max Weber). It is distinct from raw power or legality.
6Which grouping is referred to as BRICS?
A.Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa
B.Britain, Romania, Italy, Canada, Spain
C.Brunei, Russia, Iran, Cuba, Syria
D.Brazil, Rwanda, Indonesia, Chile, Senegal
Explanation: BRICS is an emerging-powers grouping originally formed by Brazil, Russia, India and China (2009), joined by South Africa in 2010. It expanded in 2024 to include additional members (BRICS+).
7The G7 differs from the G20 primarily because:
A.The G7 includes only African states
B.The G7 is a UN body while G20 is informal
C.The G7 is limited to advanced democracies, G20 includes major emerging economies
D.The G20 only meets every ten years
Explanation: The G7 (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, UK, USA) is a forum of advanced industrial democracies. The G20 adds major emerging economies (China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, etc.) representing ~85% of world GDP.
8Globalisation involves the increasing interconnection of states and societies. Which of the following is NOT a commonly recognised dimension of globalisation?
A.Economic
B.Cultural
C.Technological
D.Geological
Explanation: Standard IB Global Politics treats globalisation across economic, political, cultural, technological and environmental dimensions. Geological is not a dimension of globalisation.
9Which body of the UN is the principal judicial organ that settles disputes between states?
A.International Criminal Court (ICC)
B.International Court of Justice (ICJ)
C.UN General Assembly
D.UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Explanation: The ICJ (seated in The Hague) is the UN's principal judicial organ and rules on legal disputes between states. The ICC prosecutes individuals for war crimes but is not a UN organ.
10A state in which power is concentrated, opposition is suppressed, and elections (if held) are not free and fair is best described as:
A.Liberal democracy
B.Illiberal democracy
C.Authoritarian regime
D.Federal state
Explanation: Authoritarian regimes concentrate power and restrict competition and civil liberties. 'Illiberal democracy' (Fareed Zakaria's term) holds elections but limits rights; full authoritarianism may dispense with meaningful elections.

About the IB Global Politics SL Exam

IB Global Politics SL (which replaced 'Politics' in 2017) is an Individuals and Societies subject in the IB Diploma Programme. The course explores four core units — Power, Sovereignty and International Relations; Human Rights; Development; and Peace and Conflict — assessed through Paper 1 (sources-based), Paper 2 (extended-response essays) and an internally assessed Engagement Activity.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

3 hours total written (Paper 1: 1h 15min + Paper 2: 1h 45min)

Passing Score

Grade 4 is a satisfactory pass; subjects graded 1-7

Exam Fee

Approx. USD 119 registration + USD 144 per subject (school-set) (International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO))

IB Global Politics SL Exam Content Outline

25%

Power, Sovereignty and International Relations

Hard/soft/smart power (Joseph Nye), Westphalian sovereignty, legitimacy, state types, IGOs (UN, EU, NATO, WTO), IR theory (realism, liberalism, constructivism), globalisation, BRICS

25%

Human Rights

UDHR 1948, ICCPR/ICESCR Bill of Rights, three generations of rights, universalism vs cultural relativism, ECHR/ECtHR, ICC Rome Statute, R2P, refugee 1951 Convention

25%

Development

HDI, MPI, Gini, $2.15/day extreme poverty, 17 SDGs (2015), modernisation theory (Rostow) vs dependency theory (Frank/Wallerstein), aid, FDI, microfinance, debt relief

25%

Peace and Conflict

Galtung negative/positive peace and direct/structural/cultural violence, conflict triangle, Lederach, peacekeeping/peacemaking/peacebuilding, just war theory, NPT, terrorism

How to Pass the IB Global Politics SL Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Grade 4 is a satisfactory pass; subjects graded 1-7
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: 3 hours total written (Paper 1: 1h 15min + Paper 2: 1h 45min)
  • Exam fee: Approx. USD 119 registration + USD 144 per subject (school-set)

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 Global Politics SL Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorise key theorists and cite them by name: Joseph Nye (soft power), Galtung (positive peace/violence types), Rostow (modernisation), Lederach (conflict transformation)
2Build a case-study bank with 2-3 contemporary examples per unit (e.g. Syria, Ukraine, Rohingya, China, Rwanda) — Paper 2 essays demand current real-world evidence
3Practise Paper 1 source extraction: question 1a/1b reward direct quotation and 1c rewards comparison of source perspectives
4For Paper 2, structure essays with explicit perspectives (realist vs liberal, universalist vs relativist) rather than narrative description

Frequently Asked Questions

How is IB Global Politics SL assessed?

Paper 1 sources-based (1h 15min, 35%) tests stimulus analysis on a single core unit. Paper 2 extended response (1h 45min, 45%) requires two essays from four core units. The Engagement Activity (20%) is a 2,000-word internally assessed report on a political issue.

What are the four core units of IB Global Politics?

(1) Power, Sovereignty and International Relations; (2) Human Rights; (3) Development; (4) Peace and Conflict. SL students study all four; HL students additionally complete two case studies for an HL extension oral presentation.

When did IB Global Politics replace Politics?

The current IB Global Politics course was introduced in 2015 with first exams in 2017, replacing the legacy Politics subject. It sits within the Individuals and Societies (Group 3) subject group.

Is IB Global Politics SL accepted by universities?

Yes. IB Global Politics SL contributes to the IB Diploma total of 45 points and is widely accepted by universities for politics, international relations, law, and social-science programmes. Grade 4 or higher is a satisfactory pass.