Course Description
Course Structure
SL and HL
Prerequisites:
Nil
Exclusions:
Nil
Environmental Systems and Societies is a unique interdisciplinary course that bridges the natural sciences and the social sciences, exploring the complex and dynamic relationships between human societies and the environments they inhabit.
IB ESS is structured around three unifying concepts that recur throughout the course: perspectives (examining the diverse worldviews that shape environmental decision-making), systems (applying holistic thinking to understand both natural and human-constructed systems), and sustainability (evaluating how resources are managed in relation to long-term ecological and social wellbeing). The course is organised into eight topics — including foundations of environmental thinking, ecology, biodiversity and conservation, water, land systems, atmosphere and climate change, natural resources, and human populations and urban systems — ensuring students engage with a wide range of contemporary environmental issues from local to global scales.
Throughout the course, students apply scientific methodologies alongside social, cultural, economic, political and ethical frameworks to analyse environmental problems. This dual approach means students do not simply describe issues, but critically evaluate competing perspectives and develop evidence-based, reasoned responses. Fieldwork, data analysis and research investigations are central to the learning experience.
A significant practical and investigative component underpins the course, culminating in the Internal Assessment (IA) — an individual scientific investigation in which students formulate their own research question, gather and analyse data, and present their findings in a written report.
The Higher Level course extends understanding through three additional lenses — environmental law, environmental and ecological economics, and environmental ethics — providing students with a more comprehensive and nuanced framework for addressing real-world environmental challenges.
IB ESS develops systems thinking, interdisciplinary reasoning and the ability to engage thoughtfully with complexity and uncertainty. It is particularly well suited to students who wish to explore science in its broader societal context, and provides excellent preparation for further study and careers in environmental science, sustainability, geography, law, economics, public policy and related fields.
Coursework:
| Group 4 | Syllabus Requirements | Teaching Hours | |
| SL | HL | ||
| Core | 1. Foundation 2. Ecology 3. Biodiversity and conservation 4. Water 5. Land 6. Atmosphere and climate change 7. Natural resources 8. Human populations and urban systems HL.a Environmental law HL.b Environmental and ecological economics HL.c Environmental ethics | 16 22 13 12 8 10 10 9 | 16 35 26 25 15 23 18 15 5 7 5 |
| Experimental programme | Practical work Collaborative sciences project Scientific investigation | 30 10 10 | 30 10 10 |
| Total teaching hours | 150 | 240 | |
Assessment
| Group 4: | ESS Standard Level | ESS Higher Level | ||||
| Type of Assessment | Format of assessment | Time (hours) | Weighting of final grade (%) | Format of assessment | Time (hours) | Weighting of final grade (%) |
| External | 3 | 80 | 4.5 | 80 | ||
| Paper 1 | Part A: 30 multiple-choice questions | 0.75 | 36 | Part A: 40 multiple-choice questions (Core and HL) | 1 | 36 |
| Part B: One data-based question and some questions on experimental work for a total of 25 marks | 0.75 | Part B: One data-based question and some questions on experimental work for a total of 35 marks | 1 | |||
| Paper 2 | Short answer questions and extended response questions. All questions are compulsory, i.e. there is no choice of questions. | 1.5 | 44 | Short answer questions and extended response questions. All questions are compulsory, i.e. there is no choice of questions. | 2.5 | 44 |
| Internal Individual Investigation | Investigation and write-up of maximum 3000 words | 10 | 20 | Investigation and write-up of 6 to 12 pages | 10 | 20 |
