SOCIAL-AND-CULTURAL-ANTHROPOLOGY · IB Diploma Programme
SOCIAL-AND-CULTURAL-ANTHROPOLOGY/22
Engaging with Ethnography
Social and Cultural Anthropology · June 2025 · Variant 2
Relative difficulty
Analysis source: International Baccalaureate Organization
Analysis aligned to the official syllabus and assessment design.
3.2 / 5
60
180 min
Key Concepts and Ethnographic Analysis
Cohort performance
Session statistics from official examination reports
Total marks
60
Duration
180 min
Session difficulty
3.2 / 5
Key examiner messages
Top priorities from the principal examiner before you revise
In Paper 1, the introductory questions are where you must demonstrate conceptual precision.
Defining agency and applying it to the text (Question 1) or analyzing the passage through identity (Question 2) requires students to move past everyday vocabulary.
Top-performing candidates score highly by showing that agency is not just 'freedom of choice' but the capacity to act within structural constraints—such as Abraham refusing lucrative fights abroad as a form of critical agency.
In the essay-based comparative questions (Questions 3, 4, and 5) and the entirety of Paper 2, the absolute key to unlocking the top mark bands is the complete identification of your chosen ethnographies.
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.
Conceptual Knowledge
Weight: 8100%Ethnographic
Weight: 675%Comparative Structure
Weight: 563%Methodological
Weight: 338%Critical Discussion
Weight: 225%
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
Match the expected response style for “contrast” questions.
Present multiple perspectives with evidence; balance breadth and depth.
Match the expected response style for “Examine” questions.
Match the expected response style for “extent” questions.
Match the expected response style for “Define” questions.
State features in sequence or list observable properties — do not explain causes unless asked.
Break into parts and explain how each contributes to the whole question focus.
Time traps
Sections where candidates spent disproportionate time relative to marks
Min per mark: 3.5
Min per mark: 3
Min per mark: 2.5
Syllabus traceability
Topics linked to questions and mark weighting in this session
Anthropological thinking
35 marks this session
The practice of anthropology
10 marks this session
Belonging
5 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
Anthropological thinking
Health, illness and healing 3.
Belonging 3.
The body 3.
The practice of anthropology
Belonging
Paper comparison
Marks and duration breakdown across papers in this session
Paper 1 (Standard Level):
Paper 2 (Standard Level):
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
Anthropological thinking
35 marks this session
Practise in RevuiThe practice of anthropology
10 marks this session
Practise in RevuiBelonging
5 marks this session
Practise in RevuiSelf-diagnostic checklist
Key actions before you sit this paper — copy and tick off as you revise
- 1Message
In Paper 1, the introductory questions are where you must demonstrate conceptual precision.
- 2Message
Defining agency and applying it to the text (Question 1) or analyzing the passage through identity (Question 2) requires students to move past everyday vocabulary.
- 3Message
Top-performing candidates score highly by showing that agency is not just 'freedom of choice' but the capacity to act within structural constraints—such as Abraham refusing lucrative fights abroad as a form of critical agency.
- 4Message
In the essay-based comparative questions (Questions 3, 4, and 5) and the entirety of Paper 2, the absolute key to unlocking the top mark bands is the complete identification of your chosen ethnographies.
- 5Message
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
June 2025 2025
Social and Cultural Anthropology
In Paper 1, the introductory questions are where you must demonstrate conceptual precision. Defining agency and applying it to the text (Question 1) or analyzing the passage through identity (Question 2) requires students to move past everyday vocabulary. Top-performing candidate
In Paper 1, the introductory questions are where you must demonstrate conceptual precision.
Defining agency and applying it to the text (Question 1) or analyzing the passage through identity (Question 2) requires students to move past everyday vocabulary.
Top-performing candidates score highly by showing that agency is not just 'freedom of choice' but the capacity to act within structural constraints—such as Abraham refusing lucrative fights abroad as a form of critical agency.
- Total marks
- 60
- Duration
- 180 min
- Session difficulty
- 3.2 / 5
Session analysis
In Paper 1, the introductory questions are where you must demonstrate conceptual precision. Defining agency and applying it to the text (Question 1) or analyzing the passage through identity (Question 2) requires students to move past everyday vocabulary. Top-performing candidates score highly by showing that agency is not just 'freedom of choice' but the capacity to act within structural constraints—such as Abraham refusing lucrative fights abroad as a form of critical agency. In the essay-based comparative questions (Questions 3, 4, and 5) and the entirety of Paper 2, the absolute key to unlocking the top mark bands is the complete identification of your chosen ethnographies. You must explicitly name the ethnographer, the fieldwork location, the year of publication, and the group studied. Failing to do so triggers a brutal mark cap, stopping even the most brilliant arguments from progressing.
Updated Jun 14, 2026
Paper breakdown
Paper 1 (Standard Level):
Paper 2 (Standard Level):
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.
75% 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.
Paper 2)
15·1·34%
Paper 2)
15·1·34%
Paper 1)
10·1·23%
60marksShort Answer
(Definition & Application)
4·1·9%
Study ROI
Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.
Difficulty trend
Compare difficulty across recent years.
Time vs marks
Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.
Paper 1 Section A (
0.40 m/minPaper 1 Section B (
0.33 m/minPaper 1 Section C (
0.29 m/minTotal marks
30
Total time
90 min
Avg pace
0.33
Next-year prediction
Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.
Anthropological thinking
100%100%
Health, illness and healing
90%90%
The body
85%85%
Exam tips
Paper format
- Duration
- 2h 30min
- Total marks
- 45
- Weighting
- 50%
- Question types
- Real-world Issue Essay, Area of Inquiry Essay
Analysis is paraphrased for study purposes. Always verify against the official examiner report and mark scheme.