C4.2.15—Primary production
Primary production explains how energy flow, matter cycling, trophic transfer or carbon movement is represented, measured or limited within ecosystems.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2025
- Objective
- C4.2.15
- Level
- SL
Exam analysis
Chance of appearing2%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceNovember 2014
Most common paperPaper3
Typical marks1
Common command terms
- State
- Identify
- Compare
- Calculate
- Distinguish
- Annotate
- Describe
- Explain
- Evaluate
Scoring notes
- Common mistake
- Confusing gross production with net production after respiration losses.
Recent exam appearances
November 2014Paper3 ["SL"] · TZ020(b)[ 1 ]C4.2.15—Primary production
May 2013Paper3 ["SL"] · TZ2G3(a)[ 1 ]C4.2.15—Primary production
May 2010Paper3 ["SL"] · TZ2C1(d)[ 3 ]C4.2.15—Primary production
May 2010Paper3 ["SL"] · TZ2C1(b)[ 1 ]C4.2.15—Primary production
May 2010Paper3 ["SL"] · TZ2C1(a)[ 1 ]C4.2.15—Primary production
Practice this objective
Coverage 2010–2014 · Updated 16 Jul 2026
Concept essentials
- Primary production must be linked to the correct source, store, transfer or loss process.
- The evidence for primary production depends on distinguishing energy flow from matter cycling.
- Primary production is clearer when arrows, units and trophic positions match the biological process.
- Data or diagrams for primary production need interpretation as ecosystem transfer evidence.