IB ESS HL 5.1.1 Soil as dynamic system Question Bank
Practise IB ESS SL/HL 005.001.001 by applying soil as dynamic system concepts to exam-style environmental systems questions.
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Course
- ESS HL
- Level
- HL
Exam points
- identify the relevant environmental system, process or evidence
- apply the correct ESS concept and explain the causal relationship
- evaluate the outcome using ecological, social or management evidence
5.1.1—Soil as dynamic system question 1
[Maximum number: 4]
Outline how soil can be viewed as an ecosystem.
Like an ecosystem, soil is an open system with inputs and outputs; (inputs of) eg water /O2 (and outputs of) eg CO2/ nitrogen; ...and storages and flows/processes; (storages of) eg nitrates/water (and flows of) eg leaching/decomposition; like an ecosystem, soil is a community of living/biotic and abiotic elements; (biotic) eg bacteria/fungi/earthworms (and abiotic) eg clay/sand/silt/water/heat; ...with the many complex interactions/interrelationships/eg mineral cycling/leguminous plants; interacts with/supports other systems/eg vegetation growth, animal movement/burrowing/human development;
Marking guidance:
Award marks as above for identifying relevant common features, and also for giving examples (provided it is clear what is being exemplified).
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