# IB Biology tutoring online

> Our IB Biology tutors teach the Diploma Programme Biology course at SL and HL through live 1:1 or small-group online classes. Lessons work through the four themes of the current guide, from unity and diversity to continuity and change, and practise data-based questions, extended responses and the planning of the scientific investigation.

Source: https://www.gradeupinternational.com/ib/biology
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Publisher: GradeUp International (https://www.gradeupinternational.com/)

Taught by: our most qualified teachers for the subject.

IB Biology is a natural choice for students considering medicine, veterinary science, biomedical science, nursing, psychology, environmental science and the wider life sciences. It is frequently taken alongside chemistry by those aiming for healthcare degrees, where Higher Level is often requested, although conditions differ between universities. The current guide, first assessed in 2025, arranges content into four themes, unity and diversity, form and function, interaction and interdependence, and continuity and change, each studied across molecules, cells, organisms and ecosystems.

Two external papers and one internal component make up the final grade. Paper 1, worth 36%, opens with multiple-choice items (Paper 1A) followed by data-based questions (Paper 1B); SL candidates have 90 minutes and HL candidates two hours. Paper 2, worth 44%, mixes short-answer and extended-response questions, with SL students allowed 90 minutes and HL students two and a half hours. The individually designed investigation contributes 20%, and an ungraded collaborative project completes the requirements.

Students moving from IGCSE, GCSE or the MYP often underestimate how precisely IB Biology expects terms to be used, and the guide's emphasis on linking concepts across levels of organisation adds further challenge. Extended responses reward answers that connect, say, enzyme structure to metabolic control, rather than isolated facts. Data-based questions present unfamiliar experiments. We teach students to annotate diagrams, build concept maps between themes, and interpret unfamiliar graphs under time pressure.

## How is IB Biology examined?

### IB Diploma Programme Biology, International Baccalaureate Organization

| Paper | Duration | Marks | Weighting |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Paper 1 (Paper 1A multiple-choice + Paper 1B data-based questions) | 1 hour 30 minutes (SL) / 2 hours (HL) |  | 36% (SL and HL) |
| Paper 2 (short-answer and extended-response) | 1 hour 30 minutes (SL) / 2 hours 30 minutes (HL) |  | 44% (SL and HL) |
| Internal assessment: scientific investigation |  |  | 20% (SL and HL) |

New guide, first assessment 2025. Teaching hours: 150 (SL) / 240 (HL). Content is organised by four themes (A Unity and diversity, B Form and function, C Interaction and interdependence, D Continuity and change) across four levels of organisation. Students also complete the collaborative sciences project, which is required but not graded.

Official syllabus: https://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme/curriculum/sciences/biology/

## What topics are in IB Biology?

- A1.1 Water: Describing hydrogen bonding vaguely without linking it to cohesion, solvent or thermal properties.
- A1.2 Nucleic acids: Mixing up the sugar and base differences between DNA and RNA in comparison questions.
- A2.2 Cell structure: Calculating magnification with mismatched units for image size and actual size.
- A3.1 Diversity of organisms: Using the term species loosely without reference to interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.
- A4.1 Evolution and speciation: Not explaining how reproductive isolation leads to the formation of a new species.
- A4.2 Conservation of biodiversity: Giving generic threats without a named, specific example when the question asks for one.
- B1.1 Carbohydrates and lipids: Confusing condensation and hydrolysis when describing how bonds form and break.
- B1.2 Proteins: Not linking a change in primary structure to altered folding and function.
- B2.1 Membranes and membrane transport: Describing active transport without mentioning ATP or movement against a concentration gradient.
- B3.1 Gas exchange: Listing adaptations of exchange surfaces without explaining how each one increases diffusion.
- B3.2 Transport: Describing arteries, veins and capillaries without linking each structural feature to its function.
- C1.1 Enzymes and metabolism: Saying high temperatures kill enzymes instead of explaining denaturation of the active site.
- C1.2 Cell respiration: Mixing up the locations and products of the different stages of respiration.
- C1.3 Photosynthesis: Interpreting limiting-factor graphs without identifying which factor limits each section.
- C2.2 Neural signalling: Describing an action potential without the correct order of sodium and potassium ion movements.
- C3.2 Defence against disease: Confusing antigens with antibodies when explaining the immune response.
- C4.1 Populations and communities: Misidentifying the type of interaction between species from population data.
- C4.2 Transfers of energy and matter: Stating that energy is recycled in ecosystems, when it is matter that cycles.
- D1.1 DNA replication: Forgetting that replication is semi-conservative, or the direction in which new strands are built.
- D1.2 Protein synthesis: Swapping the roles of transcription and translation, or of codons and anticodons.
- D2.1 Cell and nuclear division: Placing chromosome events in the wrong phase of mitosis or meiosis.
- D3.2 Inheritance: Leaving genetic diagrams without clear parental genotypes, gametes and predicted ratios.
- D3.3 Homeostasis: Describing negative feedback without naming the receptor, coordinating system and effector.
- D4.1 Natural selection: Implying that individual organisms adapt deliberately during their lifetimes.
- D4.3 Climate change: Making claims about climate impacts without referring to the data provided.
- Internal assessment: scientific investigation: Collecting too few repeats to support a statistical analysis of the results.

## How do you get top marks?

- Use precise vocabulary: 'diffusion down a concentration gradient' earns credit where 'moves across' does not.
- In data-based questions, quote figures with units and describe the trend before suggesting a cause.
- Plan extended responses with a quick list of points so each creditworthy idea appears once and clearly.
- Label diagrams with ruled lines and accurately drawn structures, since unclear drawings are hard to credit.
- Check each command term carefully: 'state' needs a brief answer, while 'explain' requires reasons or mechanisms.
- Link answers across themes where relevant, for example connecting enzyme activity to rates of respiration.

## Fees

1:1: PKR 3,500 / AED 140 / GBP 28 per 60-minute class. Small group: PKR 12,500 per month. [All currencies](https://www.gradeupinternational.com/pricing).

## Frequently asked questions

### Is IB Biology HL hard?

IB Biology HL is demanding mainly because of the volume of content and the depth of explanation required, rather than heavy mathematics. HL students study additional material within each theme and sit longer papers. Consistent note-making, regular retrieval practice and early work on data analysis help students manage the workload across the two-year course without a last-minute rush.

### Should I take IB Biology or Chemistry for medicine?

Most medical courses expect chemistry, and many also value or require biology, so students often take both; requirements vary, so check each university's published entry requirements. Some medical schools specify which subject must be at Higher Level. If you can only take one science at HL, choose based on the requirements of your preferred universities rather than general advice.

### What is the IB Biology IA?

The IB Biology IA is an individual scientific investigation that contributes 20% of the final grade at both SL and HL. You design a focused research question, gather sufficient data, analyse it, often using statistics, and evaluate your method and conclusion. Tutors can offer feedback on design and analysis choices, while the investigation and written report must be your own work.

### How do I get a 7 in IB Biology?

No method guarantees a 7, but secure knowledge of all four themes, precise terminology and confident data analysis form a strong base. Practise extended responses against mark schemes so you learn how marks are allocated, and use spaced revision to retain detail. Strong performance on data-based questions and a carefully planned investigation also make a meaningful difference.

### How is the new IB Biology syllabus structured?

The current IB Biology guide, first assessed in 2025, is structured around four themes: unity and diversity, form and function, interaction and interdependence, and continuity and change. Each theme is studied at four levels of organisation, from molecules to cells, organisms and ecosystems. This grid encourages students to connect ideas across the course rather than revising topics in isolation.

### Is IB Biology SL enough for psychology or nursing?

IB Biology SL may be acceptable for many psychology and nursing courses, but requirements vary between universities and countries, so check each university's published entry requirements. Some programmes ask for a science at Higher Level or set a minimum grade. If you are unsure, choose subjects that keep several options open and confirm details with your school's university counsellor.