GEOGRAPHY · IB Diploma Programme
Geography Exam Tips
In the high-pressure environment of the IB Geography exam, diving straight into writing a 10-mark or 16-mark essay is a recipe for a mediocre score. Top-scoring candidates consistently practice the 5-minute planning habit. Before writing a single paragraph of your Option essay (P…
Papers
2
Total marks
90
Time limit
2h 45min
Grade scale
Additional note
Calculator policy
A graphic display calculator (GDC) from the IB-approved list is required for most Mathematics and Sciences papers and must be set to examination mode. Note that some papers do not permit a calculator (for example Mathematics Paper 1 and the multiple-choice Sciences Paper 1).
2
Papers
6
Strategies
7
Mistakes
- In the high-pressure environment of the IB Geography exam, diving straight into writing a 10-mark or 16-mark essay is a recipe for a mediocre score. Top-scoring candidates consistently practice the 5-minute planning habit. Before writing a single paragraph of your Option essay (Paper 1) or Core essay (Paper 2, Section C), sketch out a structural matrix. Identify the key stakeholders, the spatial scales involved (local, national, global), and the contrasting perspectives. A well-planned essay starts with a definitive introductory thesis statement, advances through balanced, thematic paragraphs, and culminates in a substantiated, critical conclusion. Without this initial blueprint, essays easily degenerate into descriptive lists that are capped at lower markbands.
Tips are paraphrased for study purposes from exam structure data and marking patterns. Always verify against your official syllabus and mark scheme.