Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes Weighting: 40% (SL) and 25% (HL)
This paper is common to SL and HL and is divided into two sections, A and B. Its purpose is to assess students’ ability to demonstrate the following objectives in relation to the core theme—patterns and change.
Knowledge and understanding (assessment objective 1) in sections A and B
Application and analysis (assessment objective 2) in sections A and B
Synthesis and evaluation (assessment objective 3) in section B
The ability to use appropriate terminology and, if appropriate, to use a variety of skills in a response in sections A and B, and produce well‑structured written material (assessment objective 4) in section B
The questions in each section may include stimulus material, such as tables/diagrams/maps.
Section A
There are four compulsory short‑answer questions covering each of the four topics within the core theme. Students are required to answer all four.
The questions are subdivided into parts. The first part requires knowledge and understanding and the subsequent part or parts require knowledge and understanding, and application and analysis. The command terms used in each question indicate the depth required.
Each question is worth 10–12 marks and is subdivided.
The maximum for this section is 45 marks.
Responses are assessed with an analytic markscheme specific to the question paper that indicates the required responses and allocation of marks.
Section B
Students are required to answer one extended response question from a choice of three.
The questions require a broad treatment of the content and may integrate topics across the core.
The questions require knowledge and understanding, application and analysis, and synthesis and evaluation.
The command terms used in each question indicate the depth required.
The maximum for this section is 15 marks.
Responses are assessed with an analytic markscheme specific to the question paper and with the paper 1 section B markbands.
Paper 1 - HL and SL
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutesWeighting: 40% (SL) and 25% (HL)
This paper is common to SL and HL and is divided into two sections, A and B. Its purpose is to assess students’ ability to demonstrate the following objectives in relation to the core theme—patterns and change.
- Knowledge and understanding (assessment objective 1) in sections A and B
- Application and analysis (assessment objective 2) in sections A and B
- Synthesis and evaluation (assessment objective 3) in section B
- The ability to use appropriate terminology and, if appropriate, to use a variety of skills in a response in sections A and B, and produce well‑structured written material (assessment objective 4) in section B
The questions in each section may include stimulus material, such as tables/diagrams/maps.Section A
Section B
- Students are required to answer one extended response question from a choice of three.
- The questions require a broad treatment of the content and may integrate topics across the core.
- The questions require knowledge and understanding, application and analysis, and synthesis and evaluation.
- The command terms used in each question indicate the depth required.
- The maximum for this section is 15 marks.
- Responses are assessed with an analytic markscheme specific to the question paper and with the paper 1 section B markbands.
Overall, the maximum for this paper is 60 marks.