100+ Free IGCSE Environmental Management Practice Questions

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UNESCO Biosphere Reserves are designed to combine:

Strict protection of wildlife only

Industrial extraction with no conservation

Conservation with sustainable use by people in zoned areas

Solely tourism with no scientific aims

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: IGCSE Environmental Management Exam

A*-G

Grading scale (single tier)

Cambridge International

2 papers

Paper 1 + Paper 2, each 50% of final grade

Cambridge 0680 syllabus 2025-2026

160 marks

Total across the two papers

Cambridge 0680 syllabus

100

Free practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

Cambridge IGCSE 0680 Environmental Management runs on the 2025-2026 syllabus. All candidates take Paper 1 (80 marks, 1h 45m) and Paper 2 (80 marks, 1h 45m), each weighted 50%. Both papers include source-based questions assessing topics from rock cycles and air pollution to renewable energy, conservation and the Brundtland definition of sustainability.

Sample IGCSE Environmental Management Practice Questions

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

1Which of the following best describes igneous rock?

A.Rock formed from the compaction of sediments

B.Rock formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava

C.Rock formed from the action of heat and pressure on existing rock

D.Rock formed from the evaporation of seawater

Explanation: Igneous rocks form when molten magma (underground) or lava (above ground) cools and solidifies. Granite (intrusive) and basalt (extrusive) are common examples. They contain interlocking crystals whose size depends on cooling rate.

2Freeze-thaw weathering is best classified as which type of weathering?

A.Chemical

B.Biological

C.Physical (mechanical)

D.Hydrological

Explanation: Freeze-thaw is a physical (mechanical) process. Water enters cracks, freezes and expands by about 9%, exerting pressure that widens the crack. Repeated cycles break the rock apart without changing its mineral composition.

3Which chemical weathering process is mainly responsible for the formation of limestone caves?

A.Oxidation

B.Hydrolysis

C.Carbonation

D.Hydration

Explanation: Rainwater absorbs carbon dioxide to form weak carbonic acid (H2CO3). This reacts with calcium carbonate in limestone to produce soluble calcium hydrogencarbonate, which is washed away, gradually enlarging joints and caves.

4What is the key difference between weathering and erosion?

A.Weathering happens only in deserts; erosion happens elsewhere

B.Weathering breaks rock down in place; erosion involves transport of material

C.Weathering is caused by humans; erosion is natural

D.Weathering happens at night; erosion happens in daylight

Explanation: Weathering is the in-situ breakdown of rock by physical, chemical or biological agents. Erosion involves the removal and transport of weathered material by water, wind, ice or gravity. The two often work together but are distinct processes.

5In a typical soil profile, which horizon is described as the topsoil rich in humus?

A.O horizon

B.A horizon

C.B horizon

D.C horizon

Explanation: The A horizon is the dark topsoil where humus is mixed with mineral particles. The O horizon above it is the surface organic litter layer, the B horizon is the subsoil where leached minerals accumulate, and the C horizon is weathered parent rock.

6Which soil type is generally considered the most fertile for crop growth?

A.Sandy soil

B.Clay soil

C.Loam soil

D.Peat soil

Explanation: Loam is a balanced mix of roughly equal sand, silt and clay with high humus content. It drains well yet retains moisture and nutrients, making it the most fertile general-purpose soil for crops.

7Two oceanic plates moving away from each other create which feature?

A.A subduction zone

B.A mid-ocean ridge

C.A fold mountain range

D.A transform fault

Explanation: At a divergent (constructive) boundary, plates move apart and magma rises to form new oceanic crust, building a mid-ocean ridge such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Subduction and fold mountains form at convergent boundaries.

8Which of the following is a key environmental advantage of open-pit mining compared with underground mining?

A.It produces no waste rock

B.It allows extraction of a much higher proportion of low-grade ore

C.It causes less visual impact on the landscape

D.It does not require pumping of water

Explanation: Open-pit mining can economically extract a high proportion of low-grade ore because large machinery operates from the surface. Its main disadvantages are large visual scars, dust and the need for substantial restoration of mined land.

9Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) is mainly used to extract which fossil fuel?

A.Coal

B.Shale gas and shale oil

C.Brown coal (lignite)

D.Peat

Explanation: Fracking forces a high-pressure mixture of water, sand and chemicals into shale rock to fracture it, releasing trapped natural gas and oil. Concerns include groundwater contamination and induced seismicity.

10Which of the following is the most sustainable strategy for restoring an abandoned open-pit mine?

A.Leaving the pit completely open as a tourist attraction

B.Backfilling with overburden, capping with topsoil and replanting native vegetation

C.Filling the pit with untreated industrial waste

D.Allowing the pit to fill naturally with acidic runoff

Explanation: Best practice is to backfill with stored overburden, re-spread original topsoil, contour the land and replant with native species. This restores habitat, prevents erosion and gradually re-establishes the local ecosystem.

About the IGCSE Environmental Management Exam

Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management (0680) is an international upper-secondary qualification that examines the natural environment and how people use and manage its resources. The course covers the lithosphere, atmosphere and climate change, hydrosphere, biosphere and biodiversity, the human population, natural ecosystems, and sustainable development. All candidates take two written papers and are eligible for grades A* to G.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

Paper 1: 1 hr 45 min; Paper 2: 1 hr 45 min

Passing Score

Grade C or above for higher-tier pass; all candidates eligible for grades A*-G

Exam Fee

£60-£140 per subject (school-set entry fee, varies by centre) (Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE))

IGCSE Environmental Management Exam Content Outline

15%

The lithosphere

Rock cycle (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic), physical/chemical/biological weathering, erosion, soil formation and profiles, plate tectonics, open-pit and underground mining, fracking, restoration of mined land

15%

The atmosphere and climate change

Atmosphere composition and layers, weather vs climate, primary and secondary air pollutants, acid rain, enhanced greenhouse effect, ozone depletion, Kyoto Protocol 1997, Paris Agreement 2015, Montreal Protocol 1987

15%

The hydrosphere

Hydrological cycle, freshwater sources, dams (Three Gorges, Aswan), desalination, water pollution (sewage, fertilisers, oil spills, thermal), water treatment, overfishing, MSY, aquaculture

15%

Biosphere and biodiversity

Genetic, species and ecosystem biodiversity, biomes, deforestation (Amazon, Indonesia), desertification (Sahel), national parks, UNESCO biosphere reserves, seed banks, IUCN Red List, CITES

10%

The human population

Exponential growth, demographic transition model, birth and death rates, fertility, population pyramids, China one-child policy, migration, urbanisation, Green Revolution, GM crops, food security

10%

Natural ecosystems and human activity

Biotic and abiotic factors, food chains and webs, pyramids of numbers/biomass/energy, carbon, nitrogen and water cycles, carrying capacity, coral reef and mangrove threats, fragile ecosystem case studies

20%

Sustainable development and resource management

Brundtland 1987 definition, non-renewable vs renewable energy, household and transport efficiency, agroforestry, polyculture, IPM, sustainable fishing, ecotourism (Costa Rica, Galapagos), recycling, environmental impact assessments

How to Pass the IGCSE Environmental Management Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Grade C or above for higher-tier pass; all candidates eligible for grades A*-G
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: Paper 1: 1 hr 45 min; Paper 2: 1 hr 45 min
Exam fee: £60-£140 per subject (school-set entry fee, varies by centre)

Keys to Passing

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

IGCSE Environmental Management Study Tips from Top Performers

1Memorise named case studies — Aswan and Three Gorges dams, Amazon and Indonesian deforestation, Deepwater Horizon, Sahel desertification and Costa Rica ecotourism appear repeatedly in source questions

2Practise reading data tables, climate graphs and population pyramids quickly — Paper 2 is built around source material and data-processing questions

3Learn the key international agreements with dates: Montreal 1987 (ozone/CFCs), Kyoto 1997, Paris 2015, Brundtland Report 1987

4For pollution questions, separate primary from secondary pollutants (e.g. SO2 is primary, acid rain is secondary) and link each to a clear source and effect

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 assessed?

All candidates take two written papers. Paper 1 (1 hour 45 minutes, 80 marks) is a theory paper with Section A short/structured questions and Section B source-based questions. Paper 2 (1 hour 45 minutes, 80 marks) uses source material for short-answer, data processing and extended response questions. Each paper is worth 50% of the final grade.

Is there a Core and Extended route for 0680?

No. Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management 0680 is a single-tier qualification — all candidates take the same Paper 1 and Paper 2 and are eligible for grades A* to G.

What topics does the 0680 syllabus cover?

The seven topic areas are: the lithosphere, the atmosphere and climate change, the hydrosphere, biosphere and biodiversity, the human population, natural ecosystems and human activity, and sustainable development.

Is the 2026 syllabus different from previous years?

The current 0680 syllabus covers the 2025-2026 examination series. The structure (two written papers, 80 marks each, equally weighted) has been stable; candidates should still revise from 2023-2025 past papers as the topic content is similar.

100+ Free IGCSE Environmental Management Practice Questions

Cambridge IGCSE Environmental Management

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