B3.1.6—Lung volume measurements
Lung volume measurements use spirometer traces and breathing calculations to quantify tidal volume, ventilation rate, minute ventilation and vital capacity.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2025
- Objective
- B3.1.6
- Level
- HL
Exam analysis
Chance of appearing3%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceNovember 2018
Most common paperPaper3
Typical marks1–2
Common command terms
- Define
- State
- Calculate
- Compare
- Describe
- Outline
Scoring notes
- Common mistake
- Giving a ventilation-rate number without breaths per minute or another valid time unit.
Recent exam appearances
November 2018Paper3 ["HL"] · TZ01(a)[ 1 ]B3.1.6—Lung volume measurements
May 2018Paper3 ["HL"] · TZ12(c)[ 2 ]B3.1.6—Lung volume measurements
May 2018Paper3 ["HL"] · TZ12(b)[ 2 ]B3.1.6—Lung volume measurements
May 2018Paper3 ["HL"] · TZ12(a)[ 1 ]B3.1.6—Lung volume measurements
May 2017Paper3 ["HL"] · TZ11(a)(i)[ 1 ]B3.1.6—Lung volume measurements
Practice this objective
Coverage 2017–2018 · Updated 15 Jul 2026
Concept essentials
- Tidal volume is the volume of air moved during one normal breath.
- Ventilation rate is calculated from the number of breaths per unit time.
- Minute ventilation is tidal volume multiplied by ventilation rate.
- Spirometer traces can show breath volume, breathing frequency and oxygen consumption patterns.
- Vital capacity is the largest usable change in lung volume during forced breathing.