AICE final Exam 2026/2027 | Complete Practice Questions,
Correct Answers & Detailed Explanations | Cambridge
International AICE
SECTION 1 — GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES & RESEARCH
1. Which statement best describes a strong research question?
A. What is climate change?
B. Is climate change bad?
C. To what extent do economic policies influence urban responses to
climate change?
D. Climate change is important.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: A strong research question is focused, debatable, and
sufficiently specific to permit evidence-based investigation. C identifies
a relationship and allows different perspectives to be evaluated.
2. Which source is generally most appropriate for supporting a
statistical claim about national unemployment?
A. An anonymous social-media comment
B. A national statistics agency
C. An entertainment blog
D. An unsourced discussion forum
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: A national statistics agency is designed to collect and
publish official statistical information using defined methodologies. The
,other sources may provide opinions but are weaker for authoritative
statistical claims.
3. What is confirmation bias?
A. Changing an argument after finding evidence
B. Preferring evidence that supports an existing belief
C. Using multiple independent sources
D. Rejecting all evidence
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Confirmation bias occurs when people disproportionately
notice or accept information that agrees with their existing beliefs while
discounting contradictory evidence.
4. Which is a primary source?
A. A historian's textbook
B. A newspaper article written years later
C. A participant's original diary
D. An encyclopedia entry
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: A diary created by a participant during the relevant period
is direct evidence. Textbooks and encyclopedias generally interpret or
summarize primary evidence.
5. What is the principal purpose of evaluating source credibility?
A. To make an argument longer
B. To determine whether evidence is trustworthy and appropriate
C. To eliminate opposing viewpoints
D. To avoid using statistics
,Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Credibility evaluation considers factors such as authority,
evidence, methodology, date, purpose, and potential bias.
6. A researcher compares evidence from government data, academic
research, and interviews. This is best described as:
A. Triangulation
B. Generalization
C. Plagiarism
D. Randomization
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Triangulation involves using multiple sources or methods
to examine an issue and increase confidence in findings.
7. Which statement is an example of correlation rather than
causation?
A. Increasing pressure caused the volume to decrease
B. Ice melts when temperature rises above its melting point
C. Students who exercise more tend to report better sleep
D. Removing oxygen prevented combustion
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: A relationship between exercise and reported sleep does
not by itself establish that exercise causes the improvement. Other
variables may contribute.
8. What does a counterargument do?
A. Repeats the thesis
B. Presents a relevant alternative position
, C. Removes evidence
D. Changes the research question
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: A counterargument recognizes a credible opposing or
alternative position, allowing the researcher to evaluate competing
interpretations.
9. Which research method is most appropriate for understanding
people's personal experiences in depth?
A. Structured census only
B. In-depth interviews
C. Multiple-choice examination
D. Chemical titration
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: In-depth interviews can provide detailed qualitative
information about experiences, perceptions, and motivations.
10. What is plagiarism?
A. Citing a source
B. Paraphrasing with attribution
C. Presenting another person's work as one's own
D. Comparing two studies
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Plagiarism involves using another person's words, ideas, or
intellectual work without appropriate acknowledgment.
11. Which statement represents a balanced conclusion?
Correct Answers & Detailed Explanations | Cambridge
International AICE
SECTION 1 — GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES & RESEARCH
1. Which statement best describes a strong research question?
A. What is climate change?
B. Is climate change bad?
C. To what extent do economic policies influence urban responses to
climate change?
D. Climate change is important.
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: A strong research question is focused, debatable, and
sufficiently specific to permit evidence-based investigation. C identifies
a relationship and allows different perspectives to be evaluated.
2. Which source is generally most appropriate for supporting a
statistical claim about national unemployment?
A. An anonymous social-media comment
B. A national statistics agency
C. An entertainment blog
D. An unsourced discussion forum
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: A national statistics agency is designed to collect and
publish official statistical information using defined methodologies. The
,other sources may provide opinions but are weaker for authoritative
statistical claims.
3. What is confirmation bias?
A. Changing an argument after finding evidence
B. Preferring evidence that supports an existing belief
C. Using multiple independent sources
D. Rejecting all evidence
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Confirmation bias occurs when people disproportionately
notice or accept information that agrees with their existing beliefs while
discounting contradictory evidence.
4. Which is a primary source?
A. A historian's textbook
B. A newspaper article written years later
C. A participant's original diary
D. An encyclopedia entry
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: A diary created by a participant during the relevant period
is direct evidence. Textbooks and encyclopedias generally interpret or
summarize primary evidence.
5. What is the principal purpose of evaluating source credibility?
A. To make an argument longer
B. To determine whether evidence is trustworthy and appropriate
C. To eliminate opposing viewpoints
D. To avoid using statistics
,Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Credibility evaluation considers factors such as authority,
evidence, methodology, date, purpose, and potential bias.
6. A researcher compares evidence from government data, academic
research, and interviews. This is best described as:
A. Triangulation
B. Generalization
C. Plagiarism
D. Randomization
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Triangulation involves using multiple sources or methods
to examine an issue and increase confidence in findings.
7. Which statement is an example of correlation rather than
causation?
A. Increasing pressure caused the volume to decrease
B. Ice melts when temperature rises above its melting point
C. Students who exercise more tend to report better sleep
D. Removing oxygen prevented combustion
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: A relationship between exercise and reported sleep does
not by itself establish that exercise causes the improvement. Other
variables may contribute.
8. What does a counterargument do?
A. Repeats the thesis
B. Presents a relevant alternative position
, C. Removes evidence
D. Changes the research question
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: A counterargument recognizes a credible opposing or
alternative position, allowing the researcher to evaluate competing
interpretations.
9. Which research method is most appropriate for understanding
people's personal experiences in depth?
A. Structured census only
B. In-depth interviews
C. Multiple-choice examination
D. Chemical titration
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: In-depth interviews can provide detailed qualitative
information about experiences, perceptions, and motivations.
10. What is plagiarism?
A. Citing a source
B. Paraphrasing with attribution
C. Presenting another person's work as one's own
D. Comparing two studies
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Plagiarism involves using another person's words, ideas, or
intellectual work without appropriate acknowledgment.
11. Which statement represents a balanced conclusion?
