Year 11 IB Subject Guide 2020

IB - BIOLOGY Subject Summary:

Biology is the study of life. Biologists attempt to understand the living world at all levels using many different approaches and techniques. At one end of the scale is the cell, its molecular construction and complex metabolic reactions. At the other end of the scale biologists investigate the interactions that make whole ecosystems function. Many areas of research in biology are extremely challenging and many discoveries remain to be made. The course places considerable emphasis upon practical work conducted within a laboratory and in the field. Field work is integrated with the study of the key concepts to help students better understand biological phenomena. During practical activities students learn to examine collected data, suggest hypotheses that explain observations, and design and conduct experiments. Group 4 students at standard level (SL) and higher level (HL) undertake a common core syllabus, a common internal assessment (IA) scheme and have some overlapping elements in the option studied. While the skills and activities of group 4 science subjects are common to students at both SL and HL, students at HL are required to study some topics in greater depth, in the additional higher level (AHL) material and in the common options. The distinction between SL and HL is one of breadth and depth (International Baccalaureate Biology Diploma Programme Guide).

Assessment Outline: There are two (2) Assessment Categories for given tasks: External Assessment 80% Higher Level Paper 1 : Multiple-choice questions on Core and Additional Higher Level (AHL) material Paper 2 : Data-based question and short-answer and extended-response questions on the Core and AHL material Paper 3 : This paper will have questions on Core and AHL Option material. • Section A: candidates answer short-answer questions based on experimental skills and techniques, analysis and evaluation, using unseen data linked to the Core and AHL material. • Section B: short-answer and extended-response questions from one Option.

Standard Level

Paper 1 : Multiple-choice questions on Core material

Paper 2 : Data-based question and short-answer and extended-response questions on Core material Paper 3 : This paper will have questions on Core and SL Option material. • Section A: candidates answer short-answer questions based on experimental skills and techniques, analysis and evaluation, using unseen data linked to the Core material. • Section B: short-answer and extended-response questions from one Option.

Internal Assessment 20% Practical work will be ongoing in Year 11 and 12 with the final Individual Student Practical Report assessed for: • Personal Engagement • Exploration • Analysis • Evaluation • Communication As part of this subject students are also required to undertake a 10 hour Group 4 Project in year 11, with students from the other three Group 4 subject areas.

Subject Outline: Semester One Topics: • Cell Biology • Ecology

Semester Three Topics: •

Molecular Biology (Part 2)

• Metabolism, Cell Respiration and Photosynthesis (AHL only) • Human Physiology ( Option D) • Animal Physiology (AHL only) • Plant Physiology (AHL only)

• Evolution and Biodiversity

Semester Two Topics:

Semester Four Topics:

• Molecular Biology (Part 1) • Human Physiology

• Molecular Biology (Part 3) • Nucleic Acids (AHL only) • Genetics (+AHL) • Evolution and Biodiversity

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