8291_s26_qp_23 — 2026 May-June Environmental Management 8291 Question Paper 2 Variant 3

8291_s26_qp_23 — 2026 May-June Environmental Management 8291 Question Paper 2 Variant 3 · Cambridge CAIE AS & A Level

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8291_s26_qp_23 — 2026 May-June Environmental Management 8291 Question Paper 2 Variant 3

This is the official Cambridge AS & A Level Environmental Management (8291) Question Paper 2 (Variant 3) from the 2026 May-June examination session. This question paper was sat by Cambridge students worldwide in 2026 and is published by Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE). Use it for timed practice under exam conditions to build familiarity with the question format, mark allocation, and time pressure.

Also referenced as: 8291_s26_qp_23 · 8291/23/m/j/26 qp · 8291/23 May/June 2026 qp

Paper 2: Management in Context — This is Paper 2: Management in Context, worth 80 marks with a duration of 1h 45m. Resource-booklet paper assessing AO2 and AO3 in unfamiliar contexts. Includes graph plotting (bar charts, line graphs), distribution descriptions on global maps, fieldwork methodology (questionnaires, sampling, pilot studies), benefits and limitations of methods, and applied environmental management.

To self-assess your performance, use this question paper alongside the corresponding mark scheme (8291_s26_ms_23). Attempt the entire paper under timed conditions before opening the mark scheme — this trains both your subject knowledge and exam technique. Mark each question and record whether marks were lost due to knowledge gaps, method errors, or careless mistakes.

The most effective way to use this Environmental Management question paper is to simulate real exam conditions: set a timer for the full duration, work without notes, and write your answers on separate paper. After finishing, mark yourself using the official mark scheme — do not check answers during the paper. This builds exam stamina and reveals your genuine readiness. Repeat this process across 3–5 sessions to identify recurring weak topics in Environmental Management (8291).

MSView Mark Scheme: Mark Scheme 2 (v3)

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Same paper, other years

Environmental Management (8291) Question Paper 2 (Variant 3) from other exam sessions — practise the same paper across the years, then check each one against its mark scheme.

QP2025 May-June QP2025 Oct-Nov QP2024 May-June QP2024 Oct-Nov QP2023 May-June QP2023 Oct-Nov QP2022 May-June QP2022 Oct-Nov QP2021 May-June QP2021 Oct-Nov

Examiner Insights — Paper 2: Management in Context

Based on analysis of 1 official Cambridge documents (2024)

Vague unqualified words — 'pollution', 'harms the environment', 'resources', 'environmentally-friendly' not credited

“Vague words such as resources, pollution, environmentally-friendly, harms, affects, damages, impacts, should be avoided without qualification. For example, resources could be qualified as food, water, energy, etc. Pollution could be qualified as water, air, noise, visual, etc.”— 8291 Paper 1, May/June 2024

How to fix: Always qualify generic words. Replace 'pollution' with 'air pollution from sulfur dioxide' or 'water pollution from nitrate runoff'. Replace 'harms the environment' with 'reduces biodiversity by destroying native plant species'. Replace 'resources' with 'food crops' or 'fresh water'. Vague = zero marks at AS Level.

Confusing the enhanced greenhouse effect with ozone depletion

“A common misconception was that UV radiation is trapped rather than incoming ultraviolet radiation being absorbed by the Earth's surface and then re-emitted as infrared radiation which is absorbed by methane.”— 8291 Paper 1, May/June 2024

How to fix: Two completely separate processes. Greenhouse effect: incoming UV is absorbed by Earth's surface, re-emitted as infrared (longwave) radiation, then trapped by greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4, N2O) in the troposphere → atmospheric warming. Ozone depletion: CFCs released into the stratosphere, broken down by UV light, chlorine atoms destroy ozone (O3) → more UV reaches Earth. CO2/methane do NOT destroy ozone. CFCs are NOT the main cause of global warming.

Misreading command words — describing when explanation is required, defining when description is required

“It is important that instructions are followed carefully. Candidates should make sure that they understand the difference in meaning of the command words such as state, suggest, predict, justify, describe, explain, compare and evaluate.”— 8291 Paper 1, May/June 2024

How to fix: Underline the command word before writing. Describe = say WHAT you see (no reasons). Explain = say WHY (must include cause-and-effect). State = short factual answer, no long description needed. Suggest = apply to unfamiliar context. Compare = explicit comparative language ('A is higher than B'), not two separate descriptions.

View full exam guide for Environmental Management (8291) →