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C4.1.14—Tests for interspecific competition

Tests for interspecific competition explains how ecological evidence links organisms, resources and interactions to population size, distribution or community structure in a habitat.

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Objective
C4.1.14
Level
HL

Exam analysis

Chance of appearing3%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceMay 2024
Most common paperPaper3
Typical marks1–3

Common command terms

  • Outline
  • Suggest
  • Explain
  • State
  • Predict

Scoring notes

Common mistake
Describing overlapping niches without explaining that one competitor is displaced or restricted.

Recent exam appearances

May 2024Paper3 ["HL"] · TZ116(c)[ 2 ]C4.1.14—Tests for interspecific competition
May 2022Paper2 ["HL"] · TZ23(a)[ 1 ]C4.1.14—Tests for interspecific competition
May 2019Paper3 ["HL"] · TZ117(b)[ 3 ]C4.1.14—Tests for interspecific competition
Practice this objective

Coverage 2019–2024 · Updated 16 Jul 2026

Concept essentials

  • Tests for interspecific competition must be linked to the correct ecological unit, method or species interaction.
  • The evidence for tests for interspecific competition depends on measurable abundance, distribution, survival or resource patterns.
  • Tests for interspecific competition is clearest when cause, ecological process and population outcome are kept distinct.
  • Field or graph evidence for tests for interspecific competition needs biological interpretation, not values alone.
ConceptIB Biology HL