Course overview
Biology explores living systems from the molecular scale to the biosphere, organised around the IB themes of unity and diversity, form and function, interaction and interdependence, and continuity and change. The course is grounded in extensive laboratory and fieldwork.
What you will study
- Molecules: water, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and enzymes.
- Cells: structure, transport, and cell division.
- Organisms: physiology of plants and animals (more at HL).
- Ecosystems: energy flow, nutrient cycling, and conservation.
- Genetics and evolution: inheritance, gene expression, and natural selection.
Assessment
| Component | SL | HL | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 | 36% | 36% | Multiple choice and data-based questions |
| Paper 2 | 44% | 44% | Short-answer and extended-response questions |
| Internal Assessment | 20% | 20% | An individual scientific investigation (~3,000 words) |