Environmental Systems and Societies (SL only)

1. What is the nature of ESS at IB level?

Environmental systems and Societies (ESS) is for students with a genuine interest in environmental issues. ESS is an interdisciplinary Group 3 and 4 course that is offered only at standard level (SL). As an interdisciplinary course, ESS is designed to combine the methodology, techniques and knowledge associated with Group 4 (Sciences) with those associated with Group 3 (Individuals and Societies). Because it is an interdisciplinary course, students can study ESS and have it count as either a group 3 or a group 4 course, or as both. If students choose the latter option, this leaves the opportunity to study an additional subject from any other group, including an additional group 3 or group 4 subject.

2. What will be the approach to learning?

The approach to learning will be fully in line with the principles described in ‘Teaching and Learning at SJII’. Students will engage in individual and group work and we expect them to acquire independent and proactive study habits.

3. What will be the subject content?

In addition, Students will participate in a 5 days expedition to Batam in order to carry out field work relating to the study of ecology. There is an additional cost for this trip of approx. $1100.

The Topics covered within the course

1. Foundations of environmental systems and societies

2. Ecosystems and ecology

3. Biodiversity and conservation

4. Water and aquatic food production systems and societies

5. Soil systems and terrestrial food production systems and societies

6. Atmospheric systems and societies

7. Climate change and energy production

8. Human systems and resource use

4. What will be the nature of assessment?

During the period of the course, students will experience a wide range of tasks, including:

General tasks including comprehension, essay and report writing, answering questions and calculations.

End of topic tests (based on IB questions and marked according to IB standardized mark schemes)

∙ End of year and mock examinations (based on IB questions and marked according to IB

standardised mark schemes)

Practical investigations - many of these will contribute to the students’ ‘practical scheme of work’ which represents the hours of ‘formal’ practical work mentioned in table 1. Students will also carry out an extended individual practical investigation for internal assessment where they will be marked by teachers and moderated by IB. These will eventually contribute to 25% of a student’s final IB mark for the subject.

At the end of the course, students will sit an examination consisting of two papers:

Paper 1 – Case Study (1 hour)

Paper 2 – Short answers, Data Handling and structured essays (2 hours)

Courses offered: