GEOGRAPHY · IB Diploma Programme
GEOGRAPHY/21
Global Core (SL and HL)
Geography · 2024 · Variant 1
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: International Baccalaureate Organization
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.4 / 5
50
75 min
Resource Security and Circular Economy
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
50
Duration
75 min
Session difficulty
3.4 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
The May 2024 Paper 2 represents a standard yet rigorous challenge for IB Geography students.
With a strict time budget of 1 hour and 15 minutes to secure 50 marks, pacing is the absolute key to success.
Section A tests foundational knowledge and data extraction, Section B demands critical evaluation of resource materials (the circular economy infographic), and Section C assesses high-level essay writing and synthesis skills.
Compare difficulty across recent years. Compare topic weight by year to spot recurring and returning areas.
Question difficulty map
How candidates performed on each question in this series
No data available in official reports
Assessment objectives
Skill and AO weighting from official examiner commentary
Skill weighting
Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.
Data Interpretation
Weight: 4100%Synthesising Resources
Weight: 375%Analytical Essay Writing
Weight: 250%Application of Logic
Weight: 125%
Method marks watchlist
Where working, steps, or method marks were commonly lost
No data available in official reports
Recurring mistakes across years
Themes examiners flag in multiple recent sessions for this subject
No data available in official reports
Question choice intelligence
Mean scores and popularity for optional questions (HKDSE electives)
No data available in official reports
Level exemplars
What candidate scripts at each grade level looked like
No data available in official reports
Grade & admission context
How marks relate to grade thresholds and entry standards
Report type
IB subject report — grade distributions, IA weighting, and HL/SL distinctions
Level 7
Excellent — top band for competitive university offers
Level 6
Very good — strong HL performance
Level 5
Good — solid pass at higher level
Level 4
Satisfactory — minimum for many university credits
Level 3
Mediocre
Level 2
Poor
Level 1
Very poor
Deep insights
What top candidates did
Techniques and approaches examiners rewarded in this series
No data available in official reports
Command word playbook
How to match each command word to the expected response style
Apply knowledge to an unfamiliar context; concise, practical points score best.
Give reasons and link mechanism to outcome; each point needs a because/so chain.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Match the expected response style for “extent” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Estimate” questions.
Match the expected response style for “State” questions.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
No data available in official reports
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Global resource consumption and security
20 marks this session
Population distribution—changing population
10 marks this session
Global climate—vulnerability and resilience
10 marks this session
MCQ trap analytics
Commonly chosen wrong options from examiner commentary
No data available in official reports
Topic heatmap across years
Mark concentration by topic and exam year for this subject
Mark intensity
Global resource consumption and security
Population distribution—changing population
Global climate—vulnerability and resilience
Difficulty trend
How session difficulty has shifted across recent years
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 2 (SL/HL Core & Themes):
Marks you can still earn
Where valid approaches outside the mark scheme may still gain credit
No data available in official reports
Practise what examiners flagged
Target weak topics from this report inside the Revui app
Global resource consumption and security
20 marks this session
Practise in RevuiPopulation distribution—changing population
10 marks this session
Practise in RevuiGlobal climate—vulnerability and resilience
10 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
The May 2024 Paper 2 represents a standard yet rigorous challenge for IB Geography students.
- 2Message
With a strict time budget of 1 hour and 15 minutes to secure 50 marks, pacing is the absolute key to success.
- 3Message
Section A tests foundational knowledge and data extraction, Section B demands critical evaluation of resource materials (the circular economy infographic), and Section C assesses high-level essay writing and synthesis skills.
- 4Message
Compare difficulty across recent years. Compare topic weight by year to spot recurring and returning areas.
Teacher briefing pack
One-page session summary for tutors and classroom review
2024 2024
Geography
The May 2024 Paper 2 represents a standard yet rigorous challenge for IB Geography students. With a strict time budget of 1 hour and 15 minutes to secure 50 marks, pacing is the absolute key to success. Section A tests foundational knowledge and data extraction, Section B demands
The May 2024 Paper 2 represents a standard yet rigorous challenge for IB Geography students.
With a strict time budget of 1 hour and 15 minutes to secure 50 marks, pacing is the absolute key to success.
Section A tests foundational knowledge and data extraction, Section B demands critical evaluation of resource materials (the circular economy infographic), and Section C assesses high-level essay writing and synthesis skills.
- Total marks
- 50
- Duration
- 75 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.4 / 5
Session analysis
The May 2024 Paper 2 represents a standard yet rigorous challenge for IB Geography students. With a strict time budget of 1 hour and 15 minutes to secure 50 marks, pacing is the absolute key to success. Section A tests foundational knowledge and data extraction, Section B demands critical evaluation of resource materials (the circular economy infographic), and Section C assesses high-level essay writing and synthesis skills.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 2 (SL/HL Core & Themes):
Top chapters
Exam structure insights
Marks by chapter
See where the marks were concentrated so revision time goes to the highest-value topics.
Mark accessibility
Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.
68% within easy or medium reach
Command word frequency
Spot common command words so answers match the expected response style.
Question type mix
Compare the mark share of each paper section and question type.
Short Answer & Explanation
26·7·52%
Essay
10·1·20%
Data Extraction & Description
8·5·16%
Evaluation / To what extent
(Resource-based)
6·1·12%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Power, places and networks
90%90%
Global climate—vulnerability and resilience
85%85%
Overall Difficulty Verdict
The May 2024 Paper 2 represents a standard yet rigorous challenge for IB Geography students. With a strict time budget of 1 hour and 15 minutes to secure 50 marks, pacing is the absolute key to success. Section A tests foundational knowledge and data extraction, Section B demands critical evaluation of resource materials (the circular economy infographic), and Section C assesses high-level essay writing and synthesis skills.
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 1h 15min
- Total marks
- 50
- Weighting
- 40%
- Question types
- Describe Pattern, Suggest/Explain Core Concepts, Data Extract / Direction, Suggest/Explain Photo Evidence, To What Extent Synthesis, To What Extent Core Essay
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.