IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) Exam — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which literary concept is most central to the 'Intertextuality: connecting texts' area of exploration in IB English Language and Literature?

The publishing history of a literary work
The way texts reference, echo, or respond to other texts (Correct answer)
The grammatical complexity of a text's language
The biographical context of the author's life

Correct answer: The way texts reference, echo, or respond to other texts

Intertextuality explores how texts are shaped by and in conversation with other texts, through allusion, parody, adaptation, or shared themes.

Question 2: Which text type would most likely appear as the non-literary unseen text in IB English Language and Literature Paper 1?

A speech transcript or opinion article (Correct answer)
A scene from a play
A sonnet by a Romantic poet
A chapter from a novel

Correct answer: A speech transcript or opinion article

Non-literary texts in Paper 1 are typically speeches, editorials, opinion pieces, advertisements, or other language-focused texts rather than literary works.

Question 3: What value of gravitational field strength (g) is given in the IB Physics data booklet?

10.0 m/s²
9.0 m/s²
9.81 m/s² (Correct answer)
9.8 m/s²

Correct answer: 9.81 m/s²

The IB Physics data booklet specifies g = 9.81 m/s² as the standard acceleration due to gravity at Earth's surface.

Question 4: What is the product when an alcohol undergoes dehydration?

Carboxylic acid
Alkene (Correct answer)
Ester
Alkane

Correct answer: Alkene

Dehydration of an alcohol removes water (H₂O) and produces an alkene via an elimination reaction.

Question 5: What is the maximum score achievable in IB History at the Diploma Programme level?

7 (Correct answer)
100
45
42

Correct answer: 7

Each IB subject, including History, is graded on a scale of 1 to 7, where 7 is the highest possible score.

Question 6: IB History Paper 2 requires students to answer how many essays from a choice of topics?

Two essays from two different topics (Correct answer)
Three essays from three topics
One essay from one topic
Two essays from the same topic

Correct answer: Two essays from two different topics

Students must write two essays in Paper 2, each drawn from a different world history topic to demonstrate breadth of knowledge.

Question 7: For the IB English Language and Literature Individual Oral, approximately how long is the student's initial prepared presentation?

10 minutes (Correct answer)
5 minutes
20 minutes
15 minutes

Correct answer: 10 minutes

The student speaks for approximately 10 minutes in the IO, followed by a 5-minute discussion with the teacher, for a total of about 15 minutes.

Question 8: Why is it important for students to keep a process journal throughout the Reflective Project?

The supervisor uses it to write the student's report on their behalf
The process journal is submitted to the IB as a separate graded component
IB rules require a minimum of 50 journal entries before submission
It helps students track their thinking, decisions, and development to inform the reflective component (Correct answer)

Correct answer: It helps students track their thinking, decisions, and development to inform the reflective component

A process journal documents evolving thought and key decisions, providing material that enriches the reflective component of the final project.

Question 9: Which type of bond results from the electrostatic attraction between oppositely charged ions?

Metallic bond
Ionic bond (Correct answer)
Covalent bond
Hydrogen bond

Correct answer: Ionic bond

An ionic bond forms when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, creating oppositely charged ions that attract each other.

Question 10: How do IB examiners ensure that HL and SL papers are graded to appropriately different standards?

HL and SL papers are graded by different examiner pools only
HL papers use stricter mark schemes with no partial credit
SL papers are graded first and then HL grades are scaled up
Grade boundaries are set separately for HL and SL after statistical analysis each session (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Grade boundaries are set separately for HL and SL after statistical analysis each session

After each examination session, IB grade award committees set grade boundaries independently for HL and SL based on examiner review and statistical data.

Question 11: Which IB History Paper 2 topic specifically addresses 'the rise and rule of single-party states'?

Topic 3 (Correct answer)
Topic 1
Topic 4
Topic 2

Correct answer: Topic 3

Topic 3 in Paper 2 is 'Authoritarian states (20th century),' which covers the rise and rule of single-party states and authoritarian regimes.

Question 12: How many minutes does it take a car traveling at 200 km/h to cover 60 km?

18 minutes (Correct answer)
3 1/3 hours
20 minutes
22 minutes

Correct answer: 18 minutes

To calculate the time taken, use the formula Time = Distance / Speed. Here, the distance is 60 km and the speed is 200 km/h, so Time = 60 km / 200 km/h = 0.3 hours. To convert this to minutes, multiply by 60 minutes/hour: 0.3 hours * 60 minutes/hour = 18 minutes.

Question 13: Which of the following would constitute academic misconduct in the Reflective Project?

Submitting a project that someone else wrote on the student's behalf (Correct answer)
Interviewing a professional and including their name in the bibliography
Changing an argument after receiving supervisor feedback
Using a quote from a book and citing it correctly in footnotes

Correct answer: Submitting a project that someone else wrote on the student's behalf

Submitting work produced by another person as one's own is a clear violation of IB academic integrity policy.

Question 14: What percentage of the final IB History HL grade does the Internal Assessment contribute?

10%
25%
30%
20% (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 20%

The Internal Assessment (historical investigation) contributes 20% of the final HL grade in IB History.

Question 15: In IB English Language and Literature Paper 1, students are asked to:

Answer multiple-choice questions about language features
Produce a guided literary analysis of an unseen text (Correct answer)
Write an essay comparing two works from the course
Complete a close reading of a poem from the prescribed reading list

Correct answer: Produce a guided literary analysis of an unseen text

Paper 1 presents students with two unseen texts (one literary, one non-literary) and asks them to write a guided analysis of one (SL) or both (HL).

Question 16: The IB History course at both SL and HL requires study of a minimum of how many Paper 2 world history topics?

Three
One
Four
Two (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Two

Both SL and HL students must study at least two of the twelve world history topics for Paper 2 examination.

Question 17: Which hormone triggers ovulation in the human menstrual cycle?

Progesterone
Estrogen
FSH
LH (Correct answer)

Correct answer: LH

A surge in luteinizing hormone (LH) around day 14 triggers the release of a mature egg from the dominant follicle.

Question 18: The IB History Internal Assessment requires students to complete which type of task?

A 10-page research essay on any historical topic
A comparative analysis of two primary sources
A historical investigation of 2,200 words (Correct answer)
An oral presentation on a 20th-century event

Correct answer: A historical investigation of 2,200 words

The IB History IA is a historical investigation of approximately 2,200 words that includes an identification and evaluation of sources section.

Question 19: Which of the following is the derivative of y = e^(2x) · cos(x)?

2e^(2x)cos(x) + e^(2x)sin(x)
2e^(2x)cos(x) − e^(2x)sin(x) (Correct answer)
2e^(2x)sin(x)
e^(2x)(cos(x) − sin(x))

Correct answer: 2e^(2x)cos(x) − e^(2x)sin(x)

By the product rule: dy/dx = 2e^(2x)cos(x) + e^(2x)(−sin(x)) = e^(2x)(2cos(x) − sin(x)).

Question 20: In IB English Language and Literature, a 'text type' refers to:

The era in which a text was produced
The font style used in a literary work
The language in which a text was originally written
A category of text defined by its purpose, audience, and conventions (e.g., speech, essay, advertisement) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A category of text defined by its purpose, audience, and conventions (e.g., speech, essay, advertisement)

Text type classifies texts by their communicative purpose and formal conventions, such as a political speech, a blog post, or a newspaper editorial.

Question 21: Over the previous week, sales for Seven/Twelve have totaled $4 million. What were the daily sales on average?

$552,000
$518,200
$571,000 (Correct answer)
$589,000

Correct answer: $571,000

To find the daily sales on average, you divide the total sales by the number of days in the period. Given total sales of $4 million over one week, which has 7 days, the calculation is $4,000,000 / 7. This results in approximately $571,428.57, which rounds to $571,000.

Question 22: Which component of IB English Language and Literature requires students to write a formal literary essay under exam conditions?

Paper 1: Guided literary analysis
Individual Oral (IO)
Higher Level Essay (HLE)
Paper 2: Comparative essay (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Paper 2: Comparative essay

Paper 2 requires students to write a comparative essay on two of the works studied in Part 3, responding to one of four essay questions.

Question 23: A TOK essay prompt asks whether 'ethical judgments limit the methods available in the pursuit of knowledge.' Which area of knowledge makes this tension most explicit?

Mathematics
The Natural Sciences (Correct answer)
Language
The Arts

Correct answer: The Natural Sciences

Scientific research is frequently constrained by ethical guidelines (e.g., human experimentation), making this tension most visible in the Natural Sciences.

Question 24: Which learner profile attribute is most closely aligned with the CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) component of the IB Diploma?

Thinker
Caring (Correct answer)
Knowledgeable
Communicator

Correct answer: Caring

CAS's service strand directly embodies the 'Caring' attribute by encouraging students to act compassionately and make a difference beyond the classroom.

Question 25: Classical Greek and Latin are classified under which IB subject group?

Group 2 – Language Acquisition
Group 1 – Studies in Language and Literature (Correct answer)
Group 3 – Individuals and Societies
Group 6 – The Arts

Correct answer: Group 1 – Studies in Language and Literature

Classical languages such as Latin and Classical Greek fall under Group 1 as classical language literature courses.

Question 26: Theoretically, an observation is characterized as having a weight equal to _____ to its variance (standard error squared).

Inversely proportional (Correct answer)
None of the above.
Proportional
Equal

Correct answer: Inversely proportional

In statistical analysis, the weight assigned to an observation reflects its precision or reliability. Observations with a smaller variance (or standard error squared) are considered more precise and are therefore given a higher weight. This relationship indicates that the weight of an observation is inversely proportional to its variance.

Question 27: In IB History HL, what is the primary structural difference from History SL?

HL students write more internal assessments
HL students take a different Paper 1
HL students study an additional depth study (HL regional option) (Correct answer)
HL students must complete a world history essay

Correct answer: HL students study an additional depth study (HL regional option)

HL History requires an additional regional option (Paper 3) covering a specific region in greater depth, which SL students do not sit.

Question 28: The 'Reflection' stage in CAS is unique because it:

only occurs once at the very end of the CAS project.
can occur at any point during the CAS process to inform planning and understanding. (Correct answer)
is formally assessed and graded by the CAS coordinator.
must be submitted as a formal, written essay for every experience.

Correct answer: can occur at any point during the CAS process to inform planning and understanding.

Reflection is a continuous process in CAS. It can and should happen at any time to help students understand their experiences, revise plans, and connect their actions to the learning outcomes. It is not a single event at the end.

Question 29: A student is applying for a competitive university program in Mechanical Engineering. The university's admission requirements state a preference for specific IB subjects. Which combination of levels would best prepare the student and meet these typical requirements?

Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation HL and Design Technology SL
Chemistry HL and Environmental Systems and Societies SL
Physics SL and Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches SL
Physics HL and Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Physics HL and Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches HL

Competitive engineering programs almost universally require a strong foundation in advanced mathematics and physics. Therefore, taking both Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches and Physics at the Higher Level is the standard and most advantageous combination for such a degree path.

Question 30: Which of the following best describes how a fertilized egg develops?

Zygote-embryo-blastula-morula
Morula-blastula-zygote-embryo
Zygote-blastula-morula-embryo
Zygote-morula-blastula-embryo (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Zygote-morula-blastula-embryo

After fertilization, the single-celled zygote undergoes rapid cell division, a process called cleavage, to form a solid ball of cells known as a morula. The morula then develops into a hollow structure called a blastula (or blastocyst in mammals). This blastula subsequently implants and further differentiates into an embryo, establishing the correct developmental sequence.

Question 31: In IB History, OPVL stands for:

Order, Purpose, Value, Limitation
Overview, Purpose, Validity, Logic
Origin, Perspective, Validity, Limitation
Origin, Purpose, Value, Limitation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Origin, Purpose, Value, Limitation

OPVL (Origin, Purpose, Value, Limitation) is the framework used to evaluate historical sources in IB History.

Question 32: A researcher is looking into how the qualities of eye color and hair color, which are encoded by two distinct genes, are inherited. Green eyes are subordinate to brown eyes, while brunette hair is preferred to blond hair. What is the odds that a child will be born with green eyes and blond hair if parent A is homozygous for both brown eyes and brunette hair and parent B is heterozygous for both brown eye color and brunette hair?

25%
15%
0% (Correct answer)
20%

Correct answer: 0%

Let brown eyes (B) be dominant to green eyes (b), and brunette hair (H) be dominant to blond hair (h). Parent A is homozygous for both dominant traits (BBHH), meaning they can only pass on 'B' and 'H' alleles. For a child to have green eyes (bb) and blond hair (hh), they must inherit 'b' and 'h' alleles from both parents. Since Parent A cannot contribute 'b' or 'h' alleles, the probability of having a child with green eyes and blond hair is 0%.

Question 33: What is the recommended length for the Extended Essay abstract?

Up to 500 words
No abstract is required (Correct answer)
Up to 100 words
Up to 300 words

Correct answer: No abstract is required

The IB removed the abstract requirement from the Extended Essay in the 2018 guide; students no longer write one.

Question 34: Which subatomic particles are found in the nucleus of an atom?

Protons and neutrons (Correct answer)
Protons, neutrons, and electrons
Protons and electrons
Neutrons and electrons

Correct answer: Protons and neutrons

The nucleus contains protons (positively charged) and neutrons (no charge); electrons orbit the nucleus in shells outside it.

Question 35: Which of the following is a vector quantity?

Temperature
Mass
Speed
Displacement (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Displacement

Displacement is a vector quantity because it has both magnitude and direction, unlike speed, mass, and temperature which are scalars.

Question 36: The IB TOK exhibition requires students to explore how TOK manifests in the real world by:

Writing a 1,600-word essay arguing for a prescribed title
Selecting three real-world objects and connecting them to a TOK concept (Correct answer)
Debating a classmate on an ethical dilemma in front of an examiner
Conducting a scientific experiment and reflecting on its epistemological implications

Correct answer: Selecting three real-world objects and connecting them to a TOK concept

The TOK exhibition asks students to identify three real objects and use them to demonstrate how TOK applies to the world around them.

Question 37: How does the Reflective Project differ from a standard academic research paper?

It must be written in a foreign language
It emphasizes personal reflection alongside academic analysis (Correct answer)
It requires more citations than a research paper
It focuses solely on career skills rather than ideas

Correct answer: It emphasizes personal reflection alongside academic analysis

The Reflective Project uniquely combines rigorous inquiry with genuine personal reflection on the student's own development and learning.

Question 38: Which of the following best describes the relationship between SL and HL in IB English Language and Literature?

HL students study the same content but have longer exam times
HL requires more texts, an additional essay component, and analysis of both unseen texts in Paper 1 (Correct answer)
SL studies language only; HL studies literature only
SL and HL sit different papers with no overlap in content

Correct answer: HL requires more texts, an additional essay component, and analysis of both unseen texts in Paper 1

HL requires 6 works (vs. 4 for SL), an additional Higher Level Essay, and analysis of both unseen texts in Paper 1 rather than just one.

Question 39: What type of wave is sound classified as in IB Physics?

Longitudinal (Correct answer)
Surface
Transverse
Electromagnetic

Correct answer: Longitudinal

Sound is a longitudinal wave in which particle displacement is parallel to the direction of wave propagation, creating compressions and rarefactions.

Question 40: The IB extended essay is assessed by:

The student's own teacher only
A panel of peers
External IB examiners (Correct answer)
The school's academic board

Correct answer: External IB examiners

The Extended Essay is externally assessed by trained IB examiners who do not know the student.

Question 41: Which of the following best describes the 'bonus points' mechanism in the IB Diploma in relation to HL subjects?

Bonus points are given only to students taking 4 HL subjects
HL grades above 5 automatically add bonus points
Students earn bonus points for each HL subject passed
Up to 3 bonus points can be awarded based on combined EE and TOK grades (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Up to 3 bonus points can be awarded based on combined EE and TOK grades

The IB awards up to 3 bonus points based on the matrix of Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge grades, not directly from HL performance.

Question 42: The IB Learner Profile is intended to apply to:

Only teachers and administrators
Only IB Diploma Programme students
All members of the IB community, including students, teachers, and parents (Correct answer)
Only students in Grades 11 and 12

Correct answer: All members of the IB community, including students, teachers, and parents

The IB Learner Profile describes ideals for the entire IB community — students, educators, and parents across all four IB programmes.

Question 43: What is the approximate total assessment weighting of external exams in a typical HL IB course?

60%
90%
75% (Correct answer)
50%

Correct answer: 75%

Most HL IB courses weight external examinations at approximately 75–80% of the final grade, with internal assessment making up the remainder.

Question 44: Which of the following represents a homogeneous mixture?

Saltwater (Correct answer)
Granite rock
Oil and water
Sand and water

Correct answer: Saltwater

Saltwater is a homogeneous mixture because the solute (salt) is uniformly distributed throughout the solvent (water) at the molecular level.

Question 45: Paper 2 in IB English Language and Literature tests students primarily on:

Analysis of a visual text alongside a written text
Knowledge and comparison of two literary works studied in the course (Correct answer)
Unseen language and literary analysis
Writing skills in a variety of text types

Correct answer: Knowledge and comparison of two literary works studied in the course

Paper 2 is a closed-book examination requiring students to write a comparative essay on two of their studied literary works in response to a chosen question.

Question 46: What is the word limit for the IB History Extended Essay?

3,500 words
6,000 words
2,200 words
4,000 words (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 4,000 words

The IB Extended Essay in History has a maximum word limit of 4,000 words.

Question 47: A geometric sequence has first term 5 and common ratio 2. What is the sum of the first 8 terms?

635
255
1275 (Correct answer)
1280

Correct answer: 1275

Using S_n = a(r^n - 1)/(r - 1): S_8 = 5(2^8 - 1)/(2 - 1) = 5(255) = 1275.

Question 48: Which of the following is NOT a typical activity associated with the Investigating stage of CAS?

Identifying personal skill gaps
Exploring potential CAS opportunities in the local community
Surveying the school community for project needs
Executing a fundraiser event (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Executing a fundraiser event

Executing a fundraiser event belongs to the Acting stage, not Investigating, which focuses on research, self-assessment, and identifying opportunities.

Question 49: Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) is unique in the IB DP because it can fulfill requirements for which two groups simultaneously?

Groups 4 and 5
Groups 3 and 4 (Correct answer)
Groups 1 and 3
Groups 2 and 6

Correct answer: Groups 3 and 4

ESS is an interdisciplinary subject that satisfies the requirements of both Group 3 (Individuals and Societies) and Group 4 (Sciences).

Question 50: Which IB History paper requires students to answer questions on prescribed subjects using primary source documents?

Paper 4
Paper 3
Paper 1 (Correct answer)
Paper 2

Correct answer: Paper 1

Paper 1 is the source-based paper that tests students on prescribed subjects using a set of primary and secondary source documents.

Question 51: A TOK student argues that language shapes the way we perceive reality. Which philosopher's idea does this most closely reflect?

Plato's theory of forms
Aristotle's syllogism
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis (Correct answer)
Descartes' cogito

Correct answer: The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis

The Sapir-Whorf (linguistic relativity) hypothesis holds that the structure of a language influences its speakers' worldview.

Question 52: What is the MAXIMUM number of marks available for the Extended Essay?

34 marks (Correct answer)
42 marks
30 marks
24 marks

Correct answer: 34 marks

The Extended Essay is graded out of 34 marks across five assessment criteria before being converted to a letter grade A–E.

Question 53: A matrix A = [[2, 1], [5, 3]]. What is det(A)?

−1
11
6
1 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 1

det(A) = (2)(3) − (1)(5) = 6 − 5 = 1.

Question 54: A binomial experiment has n = 10 trials and probability of success p = 0.3. What is the expected number of successes?

3 (Correct answer)
2.1
0.3
7

Correct answer: 3

For a binomial distribution, E(X) = np = 10 × 0.3 = 3.

Question 55: Which of the following is an example of a nucleophilic substitution reaction?

Combustion of methane
Reaction of CH₃Br with OH⁻ to form CH₃OH (Correct answer)
Polymerization of ethene
Thermal cracking of alkanes

Correct answer: Reaction of CH₃Br with OH⁻ to form CH₃OH

The reaction of CH₃Br with OH⁻ is an SN2 nucleophilic substitution where the hydroxide ion replaces the bromide.

Question 56: What is the coefficient of x³ in the expansion of (2 + x)⁵?

10
160
80 (Correct answer)
40

Correct answer: 80

C(5,3)·2²·x³ = 10·4·x³ = 40x³ — wait, C(5,3)·2²·1³ = 10·4 = 40... recalculating: C(5,2)·2³ = 10·8 = 80.

Question 57: What is the value of ∫₀² (3x² − 2x) dx?

2
6
8
4 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 4

[x³ − x²] from 0 to 2 = (8 − 4) − 0 = 4.

Question 58: Which discovery by Watson, Crick, and Franklin/Wilkins revealed the double-helix structure of DNA?

Density-gradient centrifugation results after one generation
Gel electrophoresis patterns of DNA fragments
X-ray diffraction images showing a helical pattern (Correct answer)
Autoradiographs of replicating bacterial chromosomes

Correct answer: X-ray diffraction images showing a helical pattern

Rosalind Franklin's X-ray diffraction photograph (Photo 51) showed a characteristic cross pattern indicating a helical structure, key evidence for the double-helix model.

Question 59: In IB English Language and Literature, the concept of 'authorial choice' refers to:

The publisher's decision about cover design and marketing
The deliberate selection of language, structure, and form by a writer to create meaning (Correct answer)
The choice of which literary canon a work belongs to
The author's decision to publish a text in a particular language

Correct answer: The deliberate selection of language, structure, and form by a writer to create meaning

Authorial choice encompasses all deliberate decisions a writer makes — from word selection to narrative structure — to construct meaning and achieve effects.

Question 60: Which scenario best illustrates 'affective skills' in action during a challenging Group 4 lab?

A student organizes equipment before beginning the experiment
A student remains calm after an unexpected result and persists in troubleshooting (Correct answer)
A student searches online for similar experiments
A student correctly records data in a table

Correct answer: A student remains calm after an unexpected result and persists in troubleshooting

Remaining calm under pressure and persisting despite setbacks are hallmarks of affective skills—emotional regulation and resilience—within self-management.

IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) Exam

The IB Diploma Programme exam assesses students across six subject groups and the DP Core, covering languages, sciences, mathematics, humanities, arts, Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay, and Creativity, Activity, Service.

Questions

90 min

Time Limit

60%

To Pass

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