Below is an outline of the IB biology exam papers you will sit for your IB biology final exams. Each biology exam paper is different for IB biology SL exam and IB biology HL exam students.
We recomend you understand the format of all of your IB biology papers, in particular the exam questions, marks and timings. We have calculated the estimated marks per minute for each of the IB biology exam papers, just for you!
This exam paper tests all of your core IB biology exam syllabus knowledge through multiple choice questions.
Each question has 4 answer options (A/B/C/D). Questions can take any form including diagrams, images and tables.
You are not allowed a calculator or data booklet.
Standard Level
Total marks - 30:
Timing - 45 minutes:
Higher Level
Total marks - 40:
Timing - 60 minutes:
This exam paper tests all of your core IB biology exam syllabus knowledge through two sections.
Section A contains shorter answer questions, where each question has multiple parts (I/ii/iii).
Section B contains a choice of 3 extended response sets, where each set is made of 3 longer questions (often 2,6,8 marks). In the IB biology exam, candidates choose which extended response set(s) to answer.
You are allowed a calculator and a data booklet.
Standard Level
Total marks - 50:
Timing - 90 minutes:
Higher Level
Total marks - 72:
Timing - 135 minutes:
This exam paper tests your experimental skills and all of your IB biology exam option topic knowledge, through two sections.
Section A contains shorter answer questions on experiments or data (using examples from the core syllabus), where each question has multiple parts (I/ii/iii).
Section B contains shorter answer questions on the IB biology exam option topics, where each question also has multiple parts (I/ii/iii). Candidates choose which option topic to answer based on their class curriculum.
You are allowed a calculator and a data booklet.
Standard Level
Total marks - 35:
Timing - 60 minutes:
Higher Level
Total marks - 45:
Timing - 75 minutes:
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