IB Envirionmental Systems and Societies

Applications Open - 3rd November 2025

Applications Close - 3rd April 2026

Entry Requirements -

IBDP - 6 Grade 6s

IBCP - 5 Grade 5s

Level 3 - 4 Grade 4s

Level 2 - dependent

How to Apply - Please apply via KentChoices

To apply for courses at TMS sixth form please select the subject combination you wish to apply for. The combinations as described are subject to change so please put in your ideal choices, even if they do not match the options grid.

All course options will be confirmed post interviews.

When you access the application page you will be shown a list of subjects only. Please note they will not be separated into the 3 different pathways (vocational, IBCP, IBDP)

For those wishing to apply for the level1/2 vocational pathway, please select this as an option. You do not need to select any further subjects and individual choices will be confirmed at interview.

For those wishing to apply for the IBCP or IBDP pathway please select the individual choices from the list.

Level1/2 Vocational pathway

Select the Level1/2 vocational pathway only

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (ESS) is an exciting course which is part science and part humanities and takes a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the challenges facing our environment, and the solutions to them.

On the ESS course, you will learn about the science of the interaction between the natural systems of the planet on which we depend – the biosphere, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere and the lithosphere - and the human activities that both harm and benefit them.

Sustainability is at the heart of the ESS programme, and we will discuss issues ranging from the local to the global, considering issues of justice, fairness, ethics, practicality and effectiveness, developing both your academic knowledge and your ability to effectively communicate issues of global importance.

The course covers 10 large topics:

• ESS Foundation (perspectives, systems and sustainability
• Ecology
• Biodiversity and conservation
• Water
• Land
• Atmosphere and climate change
• Natural resources
• Human populations and urban systems
• Environmental law (HL only)
• Environmental economics (HL only)
• Environmental ethics (HL only)

• Internal assessment (80%):

Paper 1, 2hours – Questions on an unseen case study (30%)

Paper 2, 2 ½ hours

Section A: Short-answer and data-based questions.

Section B: Two structured essays from a choice of three.

• External assessment (20%):

Individual Investigation – students collect and analyse data to address a research question of their choice.

To be admitted onto this course you will need to meet the following requirements:

GCSE grade 6+ in Combined Science, GCSE Separate Sciences or GCSE Geography

A good grade in IB ESS can help unlock a wide range of careers including:

• Anthropologist
• Biologist
• Environmental consultant
• Environmental engineering
• Environmental health and safety specialist
• Environmental lawyer
• Geographer
• Geoscientist
• Hydrologist
• Nature conservation
• Sustainability officer
• Teaching
• Wildlife biologist