IB Biology Exam Breakdown

A breakdown of the IB Biology exams. The exams account for most of your final IB Biology grade. Use this page to understand the paper structure and pacing before you sit your exams in IB Biology.

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Paper 1: Multiple Choice & Data Analysis

Weighting: SL 36% | HL 36%

This IB Biology exam paper tests all of your core syllabus knowledge through multiple choice & data analysis questions.

You are allowed a calculator and data booklet for this Biology exam.

Level	Description	Time
SL	55 marks: Section A: 30 marks delivered through 30 multiple-choice questions, each with 4 answer options (A/B/C/D) Section B: 25 marks delivered through 4 data-based multi-part (i/ii/iii) and short answer questions	90 minutes: 1.6 minutes per mark
HL	75 marks: Section A: 40 marks delivered through 40 multiple-choice questions, each with 4 answer options (A/B/C/D) Section B: 35 marks delivered through 4 data-based multi-part (i/ii/iii) and short answer questions	120 minutes: 1.6 minutes per mark

Paper 2: Extended Response & Data Analysis

Weighting: SL 44% | HL 44%

This IB Biology exam paper tests all of your core syllabus knowledge through extended response & data analysis questions.

You are allowed a calculator and data booklet for this Biology exam.

Level	Description	Time
SL	50 marks: Section A: 34 marks delivered through 1 data-based question and short answer questions on syllabus content Section B: 16 marks delivered through a choice of 1 of 2 extended response question sets, on syllabus content, selected by the candidate	90 minutes: 1.8 minutes per mark
HL	80 marks: Section A: 48 marks delivered through 1 Data-based question and short answer questions on syllabus content Section B: 32 marks delivered through a choice of 2 of 3 extended response question sets, on syllabus content, selected by the candidate	150 minutes: 1.9 minutes per mark