Previous knowledge
Whilst the course is designed so that it can be taken without any previous knowledge, it is desirable that students who wish to study Biology at Standard Level have gained at least a grade C in Biology or a relevant Science course at GCSE level or equivalent, and students who wish to study the Higher Level have gained a grade B or above. Students who have not studied Biology immediately before Diploma level, or who have not achieved the desired grades and who wish to study Biology, will only gain access to the course after an interview with the IB Coordinator and the Head of Biology to assess their suitability. (See ‘Who is the IB Diploma Programme for?’)

Biology SL
The SL Biology course is designed to have 150 hours of teaching with theory covered in 110 hours and practical work including the Group 4 project taking 40 hours.
The SL course is divided into core theory: 80 hours; options theory: 30 hours; practical work investigations: 30 hours and Group 4 project: 10 hours.

Students will study the following core theory topics:

Statistical Analysis
Cells
The Chemistry of Life
Genetics
Ecology and Evolution
Human Health and Physiology

JESS students will study the optional topics:

Option A: Human Nutrition and Health
Option E: Neurobiology and Behaviour

Biology HL only
The HL Biology course adds depth and breadth to the SL course. It is designed to take 240 hours of teaching with theory taking 180 hours and practical work including the Group 4 project taking 60 hours.
The HL course is divided into core theory: 80 hours, additional higher level theory: 55 hours, options theory: 45 hours, practical work investigations: 50 hours and Group 4 project: 10 hours.
Students will study the following core theory topics:

Statistical Analysis
Cells
The Chemistry of Life
Genetics
Ecology and Evolution
Human Health and Physiology

Additional Higher Level theory topics:

Nucleic Acids and Proteins
Cell Respiration and Photosynthesis
Plant Science
Genetics
Human Health and Physiology

JESS students will study the optional topics:

Topic E: Neurobiology and Behaviour
Topic H: Further Human Physiology

Assessment
All students will be formally examined at the end of the two-year course. In addition students will be required to undertake Internal Assessment of their practical skills over the duration of the two-year course, where their Experiment Design, Data Collection and Processing, Conclusion and Evaluation and Manipulative Skills will be assessed. This will begin as soon as the course starts. Finally at the end of Year 12 all students must also take part in the Group 4 project which will allow their Personal Skills to be assessed.