Practice Exam Questions

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As well as the Engagement Activity and the Global Political Challenges videos (HL Only), both SL and HL students also have to take two end of course exams. ​Both Papers 1 and 2 are based on the content, concepts, and skills from the four core units of the DP Global Politics course.

Paper 1 is a source-based paper lasting 1 hour 15 minutes and is worth 25 marks. Students have to answer four questions. Three of the questions are short-answer questions, whilst the fourth question is an essay question.
All the questions require the use of sources and own knowledge.

​For SL students, the paper makes up 30% of the final course grade. For HL students it is worth 20% of the final course grade.

​Paper 2 is an extended-response paper and requires SL students to answer 2, and HL students to answer 3 questions. Each individual essay is worth 25 marks. Students can choose between two questions for each topic.

​For SL students, the paper lasts 1 hour 45 minutes, is worth 50 marks, and makes up 45% of the final course grade. For HL students, the paper lasts 2 hours 45 minutes, is worth 75 marks, and makes up 40% of the final course grade. ​

Nov 2020	Evaluate the claim that power in global polities is about possession of resources.	Discuss the claim that intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) reduce conflicts.
May 2020	Exam cancelled due to COVID!	Exam cancelled due to COVID!
Nov 2019	​Discuss the effectiveness of two types of power and their impact on global politics.	Justify the statement that “the sovereign state is the most significant protector as well as the biggest threat to human rights”.
May 2019	Evaluate the claim that sovereign states become less powerful when they join intergovernmental organizations (IGOs).	Evaluate the effectiveness of collective security in responding to threats from state and non-state actors.

Nov 2018	To what extent do you agree with the claim that economic cooperation hinders state sovereignty?	“Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have a limited impact on global politics.” Discuss this view.
May 2018	Discuss the impact of resistance movements and social movements on global politics.	To what extent do you agree that conflicts within states are more of a threat to peace and stability than conflicts between states?
Nov 2017	Examine the claim that state sovereignty is challenged by non-governmental organizations (NGOs), intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) and other non-state actors (NSAs).	​Evaluate the function and impact of one of the following in dealing with global challenges: Political parties; Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs); Multinational corporations (MNCs); Informal forums.
May 2017	Discuss reasons why the legitimacy of a state may need to be questioned.	Examine the claim that economically powerful states are able to manipulate global governance institutions to their advantage.
May 2016	Discuss the claim that power in global politics is mostly exercised through the use of force and threats.	​​Evaluate the claim that state sovereignty creates obstacles for the realization of justice for individuals and communities.​
​May 2015	Examine the claim that increased interactions and interconnectedness in global politics have fundamentally changed the nature of state sovereignty.	​Power is often assumed to be linked to the possession of, or access to, resources. Discuss the validity of this view.
May 2014	Examine the claim that the significance of military power is diminishing in contemporary global politics.	​​Discuss the impact of NGOs, MNCs, and international organizations on state sovereignty.
Specimen Paper	To what extent is state sovereignty an outdated concept in the 21st century?	​“Global politics is characterized more by cooperation than by conflict.” Discuss.