IB Biology SL - 2024

Standard Level (SL) Biology is the study of living things, from a molecular to a systems level. This course allows students to explore the world of living things, as well as investigate the nature of science, experimental design, and communication of ideas.

Questionbank

All the questions you could need! Sorted by topic and arranged by difficulty, with mark schemes and video solutions for every question.

Practice Exams

Choose your revision tool! Contains topic quizzes for focused study, Revision Village mock exams covering the whole syllabus, and the revision ladder to precisely target your learning.

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Key Concepts

Helpful refreshers summarizing exactly what you need to know about the most important concepts covered in the course.

Past Papers

Full worked solutions to all past paper questions, taught by experienced IB instructors.

Course Structure and Content

SL Biology is a rigorous course covering six core topics of biology, plus one Option. The Core content includes the following required topics: Cells, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Ecology, Evolution & Biodiversity, and Human Physiology (digestion, blood system, immunity, gas exchange, nervous system, hormones, reproduction and homeostasis). Students study further content from one of four Option sections: Neurobiology and Behaviour (Option A), Biotechnology and Informatics (Option B), Ecology and Conservation (Option C), or further studies in Human Physiology (Option D).

SL Biology is most often studied over a two year period and the course culminates in an external exam consisting of three Papers. The external exam is administered at the end of the two year program, and the exam questions include multiple choice, short answer and extended response questions. SL Biology also includes a practical component, including use of databases, experimental techniques, data analysis, diagram interpretation, and these practical components are also covered in the exam.

The breadth of content and depth of material covered at Standard Level is less than HL Biology. For successful completion of the course, students must complete an internal laboratory practical, which is completed and assessed in school and is included as part of the practical programme. Note the Optional section to be completed is only one of four sections; not all Options are studied.

Tips for Success

Biology terminology is extensive, so make sure to study key terms as you learn new concepts, and consistently review vocabulary during your study sessions.
Multiple choice exam questions often check your understanding of key terms, so be aware of terms that can be easily confused, like glycogen, glucagon and glycolysis!
Not sure how much detail to study material? Use markschemes to identify how to approach a question and details needed in a response that earns top marks.

RV Biology provides ample opportunity to practice and improve your approach to multiple choice, short answer response, long answer response style questions so that you are equipped to maximize your marks on the exam. Included in the unique RV questions are exam style multiple choice and data based questions, diagram interpretation, and extended response questions, with corresponding markscheme and videos explaining answers to questions created by expert IB teachers.