The following section includes annotated samples of responses to exam questions - as well as strategies for answering questions based on the command terms. The responses are not from the IB.  They are created specifically for the site.

There is no definitive list of questions for this curriculum - so the list of potential questions below is not exhaustive. The questions are grouped by topic and include both SAQ and ERQ (essay) questions.

SAQs may be asked using the command terms explain, describe, or outline.  To see a list of the SAQs that may be asked on Paper 1 for the sociocultural approach, see this page.

ERQs may be asked using the command terms discuss, evaluate, contrast, or "to what extent" as appropriate. All examples below will use the command term "discuss" to simplify this page.

Please note that I have listed all questions as "one or more" - but there is no guarantee that the IB will not ask for only "one."  It is not possible, however, that the IB would ask for two of anything on Paper 1.

For the ERQ responses, students should include two or more pieces of research. Only one piece of research should be used for responses to SAQs.