How ESS is assessed: data skills, essays and the IA: practice

Question 11 mark

Spec and skills

Paper scope: Paper 1; Paper 2
Topic spec Paper 1
Topic spec Paper 2
Skill: ess-k01-commands
Knowledge check
Environmental systems and societies, first assessment 2026, Subject brief (IBO 2023), read 29 Oct 2026

What does the command term 'state' ask for?

Question 21 mark

Spec and skills

Paper scope: Paper 1; Paper 2
Topic spec Paper 1
Topic spec Paper 2
Skill: ess-k01-commands
Knowledge check
Environmental systems and societies, first assessment 2026, Subject brief (IBO 2023), read 29 Oct 2026

A question asks students to outline one advantage of a wind farm. What should the answer give?

Question 31 mark

Spec and skills

Paper scope: Paper 1; Paper 2
Topic spec Paper 1
Topic spec Paper 2
Skill: ess-k01-commands
Knowledge check
Environmental systems and societies, first assessment 2026, Subject brief (IBO 2023), read 29 Oct 2026

Which answer best meets the command 'Explain why the number of salmon fell after a dam was built across a river'?

Question 41 mark

Spec and skills

Paper scope: Paper 1; Paper 2
Topic spec Paper 1
Topic spec Paper 2
Skill: ess-k01-commands
Knowledge check
Environmental systems and societies, first assessment 2026, Subject brief (IBO 2023), read 29 Oct 2026

What does 'evaluate' require that 'describe' does not?

Question 51 mark

Spec and skills

Paper scope: Paper 1; Paper 2
Topic spec Paper 1
Topic spec Paper 2
Skill: ess-k01-commands
Knowledge check
Environmental systems and societies, first assessment 2026, Subject brief (IBO 2023), read 29 Oct 2026

Which feature most clearly marks a strong answer to a 'discuss' question?