International Baccalaureate (IB) Syllabus

IBO mission statement The International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop inquiring,knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end the IBO works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

IB learner profile
The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.

IB learners strive to be:

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Inquirers Knowledgeable Thinkers Communicators Principled

Open-minded Caring Risk-takers Balanced Reflective

The Diploma Programme

is a rigorous pre-university course of study designed for students in the 16 to 19 age range. It is a broad-based two-year course that aims to encourage students to be knowledgeable and inquiring, but also caring and compassionate. There is a strong emphasis on encouraging students to develop intercultural understanding, open-mindedness, and the attitudes necessary for them to respect and evaluate a range of points of view.

Difference between SL and HL

Group 4 students at standard level (SL) and higher level (HL) undertake a common core syllabus, a common internal assessment (IA) scheme and have some overlapping elements in the options studied. They are presented with a syllabus that encourages the development of certain skills, attributes and attitudes, as described in the Objectives section of this guide. While the skills and activities of group 4 science subjects are common to students at both SL and HL,students at HL are required to study some topics in greater depth, to study additional topics and to study extension material of a more demanding nature in the common options. The distinction between SL and HL is one of breadth and depth.

SL group 4 curriculum model

SL Theory Core Options Practical work Investigations Group 4 project Total teaching hours 150 110 80 30 40 30 10

Syllabus
Format of the syllabus details
The format of the syllabus details section of the group 4 guides is the same for each subject. The structure is as follows.

Topics or options
Topics are numbered and options are indicated by a letter (for example, Topic 5: Ecology and evolution, or Option D: Evolution).

Syllabus
Format of the syllabus details

Sub-topics
Sub-topics are numbered and the estimated teaching time required to cover the material is indicated (for example, 7.1 DNA structure (2 hours)). These times are for guidance only and do not include time for practical/investigative work.

Syllabus
Format of the syllabus details Assessment statements (AS)
Assessment statements, which are numbered, are expressed in terms of the outcomes that are expected of students at the end of the course (for example, 5.1.2 Distinguish between autotroph and heterotroph). These are intended to prescribe to examiners what can be assessed by means of the written examinations. Each one is classified as objective 1, 2 or 3 (see the Objectives section) according to the command terms used (see the Command terms section). The objective levels are relevant for the examinations and for balance within the syllabus, while the command terms indicate the depth of treatment required for a given assessment statement. It is important that students are made aware of the meanings of the command terms because these will be used in examination questions. (When the command term define is used, the word(s) or phrase to be defined is in italics. When the command term distinguish is used, the terms or concepts to be distinguished are also in italics.)

Syllabus
Aims All the Diploma Programme experimental science courses should aim to:
1. provide opportunities for scientific study and creativity within a global context that will stimulate and challenge students 2. provide a body of knowledge, methods and techniques that characterize science and technology 3. enable students to apply and use a body of knowledge, methods and techniques that characterize science and technology 4. develop an ability to analyse, evaluate and synthesize scientific information 5. engender an awareness of the need for, and the value of, effective collaboration and communication during scientific activities

Syllabus
Aims All the Diploma Programme experimental science courses should aim to:
6. develop experimental and investigative scientific skills 7. develop and apply the students information and communication technology skills in the study of science 8. raise awareness of the moral, ethical, social, economic and environmental implications of using science and technology 9. develop an appreciation of the possibilities and limitations associated with science and scientists 10. encourage an understanding of the relationships between scientific disciplines and the overarching nature of the scientific method.

Syllabus
Objectives Students achieve the following objectives.
1. Demonstrate an understanding of: a. scientific facts and concepts b. scientific methods and techniques c. scientific terminology d. methods of presenting scientific information.

Syllabus
Objectives Students achieve the following objectives.
2. Apply and use: a. scientific facts and concepts b. scientific methods and techniques c. scientific terminology to communicate effectively d. appropriate methods to present scientific information.

Syllabus
Objectives Students achieve the following objectives.
3. Construct, analyse and evaluate: a. hypotheses, research questions and predictions b. scientific methods and techniques c. scientific explanations.

Syllabus
Objectives Students achieve the following objectives.
4. Demonstrate the personal skills of cooperation, perseverance and responsibility appropriate for effective scientific investigation and problem solving. 5. Demonstrate the manipulative skills necessary to carry out scientific investigations with precision and safety.

Syllabus
Command terms
These command terms indicate the depth of treatment required for a given assessment statement. These command terms will be used in examination questions, so it is important that students are familiar with the following definitions.

Syllabus
Command terms Objective 1
Define Draw Label List Give the precise meaning of a word, phrase or physical quantity. Represent by means of pencil lines. Add labels to a diagram. Give a sequence of names or other brief answers with no explanation. Measure Find a value for a quantity. State Give a specific name, value or other brief answer without explanation or calculation.

Syllabus
Command terms Objective 2
Annotate Apply Calculate Describe Estimate Identify Outline Add brief notes to a diagram or graph. Use an idea, equation, principle, theory or law in a new situation. Find a numerical answer showing the relevant stages in the working (unless instructed not to do so). Give a detailed account. Find an approximate value for an unknown quantity. Find an answer from a given number of possibilities. Give a brief account or summary. Distinguish Give the differences between two or more different items.

Syllabus
Command terms Objective 3
Analyse Interpret data to reach conclusions. calculation. Compare Give an account of similarities and differences between two (or more) items, referring to both (all) of them throughout. Construct Represent or develop in graphical form. Deduce Derive Reach a conclusion from the information given. Manipulate a mathematical relationship(s) to give a new equation or relationship. Comment Give a judgment based on a given statement or result of a

Syllabus
Command terms Objective 3
Design Determine Discuss Produce a plan, simulation or model. Find the only possible answer. Give an account including, where possible, a range of arguments for and against the relative importance of various factors, or comparisons of alternative hypotheses. Evaluate Explain Predict Assess the implications and limitations. Give a detailed account of causes, reasons or mechanisms. Give an expected result.

Syllabus
Command terms Objective 3
Show Sketch Give the steps in a calculation or derivation. Represent by means of a graph showing a line and labelled but unscaled axes but with important features (for example, intercept) clearly indicated. Solve Suggest Obtain an answer using algebraic and/or numerical methods. Propose a hypothesis or other possible answer.

Syllabus Overview
The syllabus for the Diploma Programme biology course is divided into three parts: the core, the AHL material and the options.

Core 80 Topic 1: Statistical analysis 2 Topic 2: Cells 12 Topic 3: The chemistry of life 15 Topic 4: Genetics 15 Topic 5: Ecology and evolution 16 Topic 6: Human health and physiology 20

Syllabus Overview
The syllabus for the Diploma Programme biology course is divided into three parts: the core, the AHL material and the options.

AHL 55 Topic 7: Nucleic acids and proteins 11 Topic 8: Cell respiration and photosynthesis 10 Topic 9: Plant science 11 Topic 10: Genetics 6 Topic 11: Human health and physiology 17

Syllabus Overview
The syllabus for the Diploma Programme biology course is divided into three parts: the core, the AHL material and the options.

Options 15/22 Options SL Option A: Human nutrition and health 15 Option B: Physiology of exercise 15 Option C: Cells and energy 15

Syllabus Overview
The syllabus for the Diploma Programme biology course is divided into three parts: the core, the AHL material and the options.

Options SL and HL Option D: Evolution 15/22 Option E: Neurobiology and behaviour 15/22 Option F: Microbes and biotechnology 15/22 Option G: Ecology and conservation 15/22 Options HL Option H: Further human physiology 22

Syllabus Outline (1 Year IB)

Topic 1: Statistical analysis 2

Topic 2: Cells 12 2.1 Cell theory 3 2.2 Prokaryotic cells 1 2.3 Eukaryotic cells 3 2.4 Membranes 3 2.5 Cell division 2

Syllabus
Topic 3: The chemistry of life 15 3.1 Chemical elements and water 2 3.2 Carbohydrates, lipids and proteins 2 3.3 DNA structure 1 3.4 DNA replication 1 3.5 Transcription and translation 2 3.6 Enzymes 2 3.7 Cell respiration 2 3.8 Photosynthesis 3

Syllabus
Topic 4: Genetics 15 4.1 Chromosomes, genes, alleles and mutations 2 4.2 Meiosis 3 4.3 Theoretical genetics 5 4.4 Genetic engineering and biotechnology 5 Topic 6: Human health and physiology 6.1 Digestion 3

Lessons: 47h Investigations: 17h Group 4project-10h

Grading Scale:
100-90%=7 89-80%=6 79-70%=5 69-60%=4 59-50%=3 49-40%=2 39-0%=1 Excellent Very Good Good Satisfactory Mediocre Poor Very Poor

Homework:
Think: Why statistical analysis is useful in biology?