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IB ESS HL 4.2 Water Access and Security Question Bank

Practise IB ESS HL 4.2 by analysing demand, pollution, climate and access evidence and evaluating water strategies under competing impacts.

Syllabus
First assessment 2026
Course
ESS HL
Level
HL

Exam points

  • Analyse water-demand and scarcity data to explain stress and unequal access.
  • Evaluate physical and economic limits on storage, treatment and distribution.
  • Evaluate conservation, desalination, dams and transfers through social, economic and ecological effects.
  • Assess transboundary and industrial solutions using conflict, displacement and ecosystem impacts.

Covered syllabus points

4.2.1—Water security definition4.2.2—Factors affecting water availability4.2.3—Water supply increase needs4.2.4—Increasing water supplies4.2.5—Water scarcity types4.2.6—Domestic water conservation4.2.7—Industrial water conservation4.2.8—Water scarcity mitigation strategies4.2.9 (HL)—Freshwater planetary boundary4.2.10 (HL)—Governance for sustainability4.2.11 (HL)—Water footprints4.2.12 (HL)—Citizen science role4.2.13 (HL)—Water stress definition4.2.14 (HL)—Water stress threshold4.2.15 (HL)—Water stress causes4.2.16 (HL)—Transboundary disputes4.2.17 (HL)—Industrial-level water stress solutions4.2.18 (HL)—Freshwater production impacts4.2.19 (HL)—Inequitable access impacts

4.2 Water access, use and security question 1

[Maximum number: 2]
Figure: World population growth, 1750–2050

Figure:World population growth, 1750–2050

Figure: World population growth, 1750–2050 below shows world population growth from 1750 to 2050.

Philippe Rekacewicz, UNEP/GRID-Arendal]

The lack of food and fresh water may limit the rate of global population growth beyond 2050.

Identify two reasons that may cause fresh water supply to be limiting.

4.2 Water access, use and security question 2

[Maximum number: 6]
Figure: Water transfers and transformations after rainfall in forest and urban environments

Figure:Water transfers and transformations after rainfall in forest and urban environments

Figure: Global water demand by sector for 2014 and projections for 2025 and 2040

Figure:Global water demand by sector for 2014 and projections for 2025 and 2040

Question (a)

(a)

Calculate the percentage of water projected to be used for agriculture in 2025, shown in Figure: Global water demand by sector for 2014 and projections for 2025 and 2040.

[ 1 ]

Question (b)

(b)

Suggest one reason for the projected decrease in the demand for water in agriculture between 2014 and 2025, shown in Figure: Global water demand by sector for 2014 and projections for 2025 and 2040.

[ 1 ]

Question (c)

(c)

Outline two reasons why water demand shown in Figure: Global water demand by sector for 2014 and projections for 2025 and 2040 is projected to increase globally from 2014-2040.

[ 2 ]

Question (d)

(d)

Outline two strategies to meet an increasing demand for domestic water.

[ 2 ]

4.2 Water access, use and security question 3

[Maximum number: 7]

Evaluate rainwater harvesting and desalination as a means of sustainably managing water supply.

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