IB Biology Course Outline and Evaluation

Internal Assessment (Lab Work)

Assessment of the practical scheme of work will be criterion based. There are five separate criteria
which will be considered. These include:

- Design (D)
- Data collection and processing (DCP)
- Conclusion and evaluation (CE)
- Manipulative skills (MS)
- Personal skills (PS)

Each candidate will be assessed at least twice in each of the first three criteria by the end of the course,
in both years. Descriptions of each criteria and expectations are provided in your internal assessment
guidelines. A penalty may be administered for late or missing work. The two highest scores in each
category are added together, with MS and PS marks to determine a final mark out of 48 for the internal
assessment. Manipulative skills is assessed summatively over the whole course, and the assessment will
be based on a wide range of manipulative skills. Personal skills is assessed only once, and this will
during the Group 4 project. These marks are used to determine your grades for the SBI3UW and SBI
4UW course.

Assignments
Clearly identified items from your homework or other assignments will be evaluated for completeness,
accuracy and format (e.g. significant digits, proper terminology, proper problem solving format).

Tests
There is one test per unit (with the exception of the division of Human Physiology into subtopics).
Calculators are not permitted on the first part of the test (multiple choice section) but may be used on
the remaining sections. If you are aware of a valid conflict with a test date you must speak with your
teacher to make alternative arrangements prior to the test date.

Examination
There will be a comprehensive 2 hour examination at the end of the semester. It will consist of
questions similar to those found in the IB final test papers.

Tests
30%
Lab Work
25%
Examination
30%
Assignments
15%
SBI3UW

Internal Assessment (Lab Work)
See previous reference to the internal assessment.

Group 4 Project
The group project allows students to appreciate the environmental, social and ethical implications of
science. It may also allow them to understand the limitations of scientific study, for example, the
shortage of appropriate data and/or the lack of resources. The emphasis is on interdisciplinary
cooperation and the processes involved in scientific investigation, rather than the products of such
investigation.
The exercise should be a collaborative experience and is a mandatory component of the IB programme.
The intention is that students analyse a topic or problem which can be investigated in each of the
science disciplines offered by a school. The topic can be set in a local, national or international context.

Note: I DC 4UW outline and evaluation will be provided at the beginning of the course.
External Assessment (Papers 1,2, & 3)

Internal assessment grades are submitted to IBCA in April of the examination year, and scaled to a
mark out of 24% to be combined with the external assessment, worth 76% of the total IB grade.
Examination, 30%
Group 4 project
5%
Assignments, 10%
Lab Work, 25%
Tests, 30%
SBI4UW