SCIENCE
A common curriculum model applies to all the Diploma Programme group 4 subjects: biology, chemistry and physics. Students at both SL and HL study a core syllabus and this is supplemented by the study of options. Students at HL also study additional higher level (AHL) material. Students at both SL and HL study 2 options. Students at SL are required to spend 40 hours and students at HL 60 hours, on practical/investigative work. This includes 10 hours for the group 4 project. Click on the + icon to view more information.
Assessment
Wherever appropriate, the assessment will draw upon environmental and technological contexts and identify the social, moral and economic effects of science.
External Assessment | Description | Value |
SL and HL Paper 1 Online Assessment SL : 3/4 hour HL : 1 hour | SL : 30 multiple choice questions on the core. HL : 40 multiple choice questions. | SL (20%) HL (20%) |
SL and HL Paper 2 Online Assessment SL : 1 1/4 hours HL : 2 1/4 hours | SL : Section A : 1 data-based question and several short-answer questions on the core (all compulsory). Section B : 1 extended-response question on the core (from a choice of 3). HL : Section A : 1 data-based question and several short-answer questions on the core and the AHL (all compulsory). Section B : 2 extended-response questions on the core and the AHL (from a choice of 4). | SL (32%) HL (36%) |
SL and HL Paper 3 Online Assessment SL : 1 hour HL : 1 1/4 hours | SL : Several short-answer questions in each of the 2 options studied (all compulsory. HL : Several short-answer questions and one extended-response question in each of the 2 options studied (all compulsory). | SL (24%) HL (20%) |
BIOLOGY
Biology for the International Baccalaureate programme is a pre-university course for 16 to 19 year olds. IB Biology at HL is a suitable course of study for any student who has demonstrated an interest and ability in the subject in an intermediate course. It is strongly recommended that a student should have a grade B at IGCSE or equivalent to successfully study at HL. It is also recommended that students who may wish to study biological subjects beyond IB should also study Chemistry to at least SL.
The course curriculum is as follows:
Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
IB1 : Cells (SL and HL), Chemistry of Life (SL and HL), Nucleic Acids and Proteins (HL), Digestion, Transport, and Gaseous Exchange (SL and HL). | IB1 : Cell Respiration and Photosynthesis (HL), Plant Science (HL), Ecology and Evolution (SL and AHL), Ecology and Conservation (Option 1 SL and AHL). |
IB2 : Ecology and Conservation (Option 1 SL and AHL continued) Residential field trip (SL and HL), Genetics (SL and AHL), Neurobiology and Behaviour (Option 2 SL and AHL) or Human Nutrition and Health (Option 2 SL only). | IB2 : Nerves, Hormones and Homeostasis (SL and AHL), Muscles and Movement (HL), Reproduction (SL and AHL), Defence against infectious disease (SL and AHL), The kidney (HL). |
Assessment
Biology is an experimental science and naturally practical laboratory and field work forms an integral part of the course and 24% of the final assessment. The other 76% of assessment is made up of 3 externally set exam papers. HL students must provide evidence of at least 60 hours of practical coursework whilst SL students require 40 hours.
The criteria for assessment in coursework are Investigation Design , Data Collection and Processing, Conclusions and Evaluations, Manipulative Skills and Personal Skills.Students are also required to display use of specified skills in ICT.
CHEMISTRY
Students will need to have grade A or A* in IGCSE chemistry and maths in order to cope with the HL course and ideally grade B or better for SL. A high degree of commitment and personal motivation is also required. SL tends to be more descriptive whilst HL involves more calculations.
Topics Studied
The topics studied in Chemistry are as follows:
PHYSICS
Physics for the International Baccalaureate programme is a pre-university course for 16 to 19 year olds. IB Physics at HL is a suitable course of study for any student who has demonstrated an interest and ability in the subject in an intermediate course. It is strongly recommended that a student should have a grade B at IGCSE or equivalent to successfully study at HL. It is also recommended for students who may wish to study engineering.
The course curriculum is as follows:
Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
IB1 : (SL and HL) Physics and physical measurements, Mechanics, Oscillation and waves. | IB1 : (SL and HL) Electric currents, Fields and forces, Atomic and nuclear physics, Energy power and climate change. |
IB2 : Wave phenomena (OSL and AHL), Quantum and nuclear physics (OSLA and HL), Motion in fields (AHL), Thermal physics (AHL), Electromagnetic induction (AHL). | IB2 : Digital technology (AHL), Electromagnetic waves (OHL), Medical physics (OHL). |
Assessment
Physics is an experimental science and naturally practical laboratory and field work forms an integral part of the course and 24% of the final assessment. The other 76% of assessment is by way of 3 externally set exam papers. HL students must provide evidence of at least 60 hours of practical coursework whilst SL students require 40 hours.
The criteria for assessment in coursework are Investigation Design, Data Collection and Processing, Conclusions and Evaluations, Manipulative Skills and Personal Skills. Students are also required to display use of specified skills in ICT.
COMPUTER SCIENCE
The IB Computer Science course is a rigorous and practical problem-solving discipline.
Course Outline
The course outline for the Computer Science course is as follows:
SL and HL | System fundamentals, Computer organization, Networks, Computational thinking, problem-solving and programming. |
HL only | Abstract data structures, resource management and control. In addition: Case study and one of the following options: Databases, Modelling and simulation, Web science or Object-oriented programming (OOP). |
Assessment
Assessment for the Computer Science course is as follows:
Assessment | Description | Value |
SL and HL Paper 1 | Paper 1 is an examination paper consisting of 2 compulsory sections. Section A (30 minutes approximately) consists of several compulsory short answer questions and Section B (60 minutes approximately) consists of 3 compulsory structured questions. | SL (45%) HL (40%) |
SL and HL Paper 2 | Paper 2 is an examination paper linked to the option studied. The paper consists of between 2 and 5 compulsory questions | SL (25%) HL (20%) |
HL Paper 3 | Paper 3 is an examination paper of 1 hour consisting of four compulsory questions based on a pre-seen case study. | HL (20%) |
Internal Assessment | Solution: The development of a computational solution. Students must produce a cover page that follows the prescribed format, a product and supporting documentation (word limit 2,000 words). Group 4 project is to be assessed using the criterion Personal skills. | SL (30%) HL (20%) |