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Biology
- IB Diploma Programme · Group 4 — Sciences
- Higher Level · 240 hours
- Year 11 2027 – Year 12 2028
- Group
- Group 4 — Sciences
- Level offered
- Higher Level (HL)
- Teaching hours
- HL: 240 hours
- IB syllabus
- Current DP syllabus, first examined 2025
Course description
Biology is primarily concerned with the study of life and living systems, from molecules and cells through to ecosystems and the biosphere. Students develop understanding through unifying themes and conceptual frameworks, with a strong emphasis on scientific inquiry — asking questions, designing experiments, collecting and analysing data, and communicating findings.
Course structure
- Unity and Diversity
- Form and Function
- Interaction and Interdependence
- Continuity and Change
- Experimental programme: practical work, collaborative sciences project, scientific investigation
Students who should consider this course
This course suits students considering study or careers in medicine, nursing, dentistry, biomedical science, pathology, environmental science, marine science or related biological fields.
Assessment at a glance
| Component | Weighting % |
|---|---|
| Paper 1 — Multiple-choice and data-based questions (external) | 36 |
| Paper 2 — Data-based, short-answer and extended-response questions (external) | 44 |
| Scientific investigation (internal) | 20 |
External examinations
External assessment consists of two written papers sat in the November session. The internally assessed scientific investigation is an open-ended task reported as a written report of up to 3,000 words.
Subject presentation
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What is DP Biology?
- The study of life and living systems — from molecules and cells through to organisms, ecosystems and the biosphere.
- Understanding is built through unifying themes and conceptual frameworks rather than isolated facts.
- There is a strong emphasis on scientific inquiry: asking questions, designing experiments, collecting and analysing data, and communicating findings.
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Four themes, four levels of organisation
- Themes: Unity and Diversity · Form and Function · Interaction and Interdependence · Continuity and Change.
- Each theme is studied at four levels: molecules, cells, organisms and ecosystems.
- This gives 16 topic areas, with additional HL content in most of them.
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Skills in the study of biology
- Tools — experimental techniques, technology, and mathematics.
- Inquiry process — exploring and designing; collecting and processing data; concluding and evaluating.
- These skills are assessed in the written papers as well as in the internal assessment.
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The experimental programme
- Practical work throughout the course — 60 hours at HL.
- Collaborative sciences project (10 hours) — an interdisciplinary project shared with students in other sciences, addressing a real-world problem.
- Scientific investigation (10 hours) — the internal assessment.
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Internal assessment — the scientific investigation
- An open-ended task in which you gather and analyse data to answer a research question you have formulated yourself.
- Reported as a written report of up to 3,000 words.
- Marked by your teacher and moderated by the IB; worth 20% of the final grade.
- The IA requirement is the same for biology, chemistry and physics.
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How you are assessed
- Paper 1 (36%) — Paper 1A multiple-choice and Paper 1B data-based questions.
- Paper 2 (44%) — data-based, short-answer and extended-response questions.
- Scientific investigation (20%) — internal assessment.
- External papers are sat in the November session.
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Links to the DP core
- Theory of Knowledge — what counts as evidence in biology? How do models and classifications shape what we see?
- Extended Essay — Biology is one of the most popular EE subjects; an experimental essay builds directly on the IA skills.
- CAS — environmental, health and community projects connect naturally with the course.
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Where it can lead
- Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and veterinary science
- Nursing, physiotherapy and allied health
- Biomedical science, pathology and research
- Environmental and marine science, conservation and biotechnology
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Is Biology HL for you?
- You are curious about how living things work at every scale.
- You enjoy practical work and are comfortable with data and graphs.
- You are prepared for a 240-hour Higher Level course with substantial content and precise terminology.
- Speak to the Head of Science with any questions before you make your selection.
Prepared from the IB Diploma Programme Biology subject brief (2023 guide, first assessment 2025) and the Academy’s IBDP handbook.