IB Middle Years Programme Individuals and Societies (Years 1–5)

🌍 IB MYP Individuals and Societies Reference Sheet 2026

A complete reference sheet for IB MYP Individuals and Societies students (ages 11–16) — combining geography, history, economics and civics with the MYP framework of key concepts, global contexts and Approaches to Learning.

Key & Related Concepts Global Contexts ATL Skills Criteria A–D

Our reference sheets are free to download — save this one as PDF for offline revision.

Aligned with the latest 2026 syllabus and board specifications. This sheet is prepared to match your exam board’s official specifications for the 2026 exam series.

All the Core MYP Individuals and Societies Frameworks in One Reference Sheet

IB MYP Individuals and Societies is an integrated humanities subject that develops conceptual understanding through inquiry. This reference sheet pulls together the MYP conceptual framework, global contexts, ATL skills, the major content strands across geography, history, economics and civics, and the four assessment criteria — so you can revise the whole subject in one place.

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MYP key concepts, related concepts and global contexts mapped clearly

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Geography essentials — population, physical processes and map skills

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History skills — chronology, source evaluation and causation

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Economics and civics fundamentals plus assessment criteria A–D

MYP Conceptual Framework

The big-picture lenses that shape every Individuals and Societies inquiry.

Key Concepts (subject-group)

Broad, transferable ideas that drive long-term conceptual understanding.

Change

How and why societies, environments and ideas transform over time

Global interactions

Connections, exchanges and influences between peoples and places

Systems

Sets of interacting components — political, economic, environmental, social

Time, place and space

Where and when things happen and how location shapes meaning

Perspective

How point of view shapes interpretation of events and issues

Identity

What shapes individuals, groups and cultures

Related Concepts

Subject-specific ideas that sharpen analysis within geography, history and economics.

Causation, perspective, processes, networks, choice, power, scarcity, equity, sustainability, governance, innovation

Pair related concepts with key concepts in your statement of inquiry.

Global Contexts

Real-world settings that make inquiry relevant and personally meaningful.

Identities and relationships

Self, family, communities, beliefs and human nature

Orientation in space and time

Personal histories, civilisations, exploration, migration

Personal and cultural expression

Beliefs, values, creativity, the arts and aesthetics

Scientific and technical innovation

How humans understand and adapt the natural world

Globalization and sustainability

Interconnectedness and the impact of decision-making

Fairness and development

Rights, responsibilities, equity and access to resources

Approaches to Learning (ATL) & Inquiry Structure

ATL skills are the engine of MYP learning — practise them in every unit.

ATL Skill Categories

Communication

Reading, writing, speaking, listening, IT for communication

Social

Collaboration, conflict resolution, group decision-making

Self-management

Organisation, time-management, reflection, mindfulness

Research

Information literacy, media literacy, ethical use of sources

Thinking

Critical, creative and transfer thinking skills

Inquiry Structure

Every MYP unit is built around a statement of inquiry and three question types.

Statement of inquiry

Connects key concept + related concept(s) + global context into one sentence

Factual questions

What? Who? When? Where? — recall and definition

Conceptual questions

How? Why? — analysis and explanation across cases

Debatable questions

Should? Would? — evaluative, with multiple defensible answers

Geography Content Essentials

Population, physical geography and core map skills you must be able to apply.

Population & Settlement

DTM stages

Stage 1 high birth + high death | Stage 2 falling death rate | Stage 3 falling birth rate | Stage 4 low both | Stage 5 birth below death (decline)

Dependency ratio

(Under 15 + Over 64) ÷ 15–64 population × 100

Migration push–pull

Push: war, poverty, drought, persecution | Pull: jobs, safety, family, services

Urbanisation

Growth of cities — drivers (rural-to-urban migration, natural increase), challenges (housing, traffic, services)

Physical Geography

Plate tectonics

Constructive, destructive, conservative and collision boundaries → earthquakes and volcanoes

Weathering

Mechanical (freeze–thaw, exfoliation), chemical (carbonation, hydrolysis), biological (roots, animals)

River processes

Erosion (hydraulic, abrasion, attrition, solution) → transport (traction, saltation, suspension, solution) → deposition

Climate & ecosystems

Climate zones, biomes, food chains/webs, biotic vs abiotic factors, nutrient cycling

Map Skills

Grid references

4-figure (eastings, northings to nearest km square) | 6-figure (further divide each square into tenths)

Scale

Linear scale, ratio scale (e.g. 1:50 000 — 1 cm = 500 m)

Contour lines

Lines of equal height; close together = steep, far apart = gentle slope

Cross-sections & GIS

Draw cross-sections from contours; GIS layers spatial data for analysis

History Skills & Content

Think like a historian — evaluate sources and build reasoned arguments.

Chronology & Source Work

Chronology

BCE (Before Common Era) and CE (Common Era); centuries, decades, eras, periods

Primary vs secondary

Primary: from the time (letters, photos, artefacts) | Secondary: written later (textbooks, articles)

NOP source evaluation

Nature (what is it?), Origin (who/when?), Purpose (why made?) — then assess reliability and utility

Historical Thinking Concepts

Causation

Long-term, short-term and trigger causes; how causes interact

Change vs continuity

What changed, what stayed the same, and how rapidly

Significance

Why an event/person mattered — who was affected, for how long, and how widely

Historical empathy

Understanding past actions in their own context, not by today's values

Indicative Periods Studied

Ancient civilisations (Egypt, Greece, Rome, China) | Medieval world | Early modern (exploration, Reformation) | Modern (industrialisation, world wars, decolonisation)

Schools choose specific units — concepts and skills transfer across periods.

Economics Fundamentals

Core ideas that explain how societies make and distribute resources.

The Basic Economic Problem

Unlimited wants vs limited resources → scarcity → choices → opportunity cost (the next best alternative given up)

Markets, Production & Systems

Supply & demand

Demand falls as price rises; supply rises as price rises; equilibrium where they meet

Factors of production

Land, labour, capital, enterprise

Economic systems

Market (private decisions, prices) | Command (state-led) | Mixed (both)

Division of labour

Splitting tasks among workers raises productivity but can reduce variety and skill

Civics & Global Issues

Citizenship, rights and the structures that govern modern societies.

Government & Citizenship

Democracy

Direct (citizens vote on issues) | Representative (elected officials decide)

Government types

Democracy, monarchy, dictatorship, theocracy, oligarchy

Citizenship

Rights (vote, free expression) and responsibilities (laws, voting, civic participation)

Human Rights & SDGs

UDHR

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) — 30 articles covering civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights

Sustainable Development Goals

17 UN goals (2030) — e.g. no poverty, quality education, climate action, gender equality

Global issues

Climate change, conflict, inequality, migration, public health

Assessment Criteria & Personal Project

Each criterion is marked 0–8 — know what each level rewards.

Criteria A–D (each 0–8)

A — Knowing & understanding

Use terminology accurately; demonstrate factual and conceptual knowledge

B — Investigating

Formulate questions, follow an action plan, evaluate process and sources

C — Communicating

Communicate information and ideas with clarity, structure, and proper referencing

D — Thinking critically

Analyse concepts and arguments, evaluate sources, synthesise from different perspectives

MYP Personal Project (Year 5)

An independent inquiry project that consolidates ATL skills.

25–35 hours of student-led work | Choose a goal, plan, take action, reflect | Submit a process journal, product/outcome, and final report

The personal project is externally moderated and central to MYP completion.

How to Use This Reference Sheet

Boost your Cambridge exam confidence with these proven study strategies from our tutoring experts.

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Lead With Concepts, Not Just Content

When revising any topic, identify the key concept and related concept(s) at play — this lifts your work into MYP top bands.

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Practise Source Evaluation Routinely

Apply NOP to every source you meet, even in textbooks. Question who made it, when, and why before you trust it.

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Connect Local to Global

Use case studies from your country and from elsewhere. Comparing scales strengthens your global contexts work.

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Keep a Process Journal Habit

Track your thinking, sources and reflections regularly — this is essential practice for the personal project in Year 5.

Reference Sheet FAQ

Quick answers about this free PDF and how to use it for exam revision and active recall.

Is the IB MYP Individuals and Societies Reference Sheet 2026 free to download as a PDF?

Yes. This Tutopiya formula sheet is free to use and you can download it as a PDF from this page for offline revision. There is no payment or account required for the PDF download.

What Individuals and Societies topics and equations does this formula sheet cover?

This page groups key Individuals and Societies formulas in one place for revision. Master IB MYP Individuals and Societies (Years 1–5) with this 2026 reference sheet. Covers key concepts, global contexts, ATL skills, geography, history, economics and civics content, plus assessment criteria A–D. Always cross-check with your official syllabus and past papers for your exam session.

Can I use this instead of the official exam formula booklet in the exam?

No. In the exam you must follow only what your exam board allows in the hall—usually the official formula booklet or data sheet where provided. This page is a revision and teaching aid, not a replacement for board-issued materials.

Who is this formula sheet for (Middle School)?

It is written for students preparing for assessments at Middle School in Individuals and Societies, including classroom revision, homework support, and independent study. Teachers and tutors can also share it as a quick reference.

How should I revise with this formula sheet?

Work through past paper questions, quote the correct formula before substituting values, and check units and notation every time. Pair this sheet with timed practice and mark schemes so you see how examiners expect working to be set out.

Where can I get more help with Individuals and Societies revision?

Explore Tutopiya’s study tools, past paper finder, and revision checklists linked from our tools hub, or book a trial lesson with a subject specialist for personalised support alongside this formula reference.

Need Help with IB MYP Individuals and Societies?

Build conceptual understanding, source evaluation skills and inquiry technique with an experienced IB MYP tutor. We focus on criteria A–D, statements of inquiry, and high-quality investigations.

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This reference sheet aligns with the IB Middle Years Programme Individuals and Societies subject group framework.

Always frame work around a clear statement of inquiry and link evidence to the relevant key concept and global context.