Paper 1 is entirely comprised of multiple-choice questions. For HL there will be 40 questions and for SL 30, hence the differing times. For this paper all the questions presented should be answered. A paper and an answer grid sheet will be provided. It is important you follow the instructions carefully for filling in this grid and it would be a good idea to practice using the grid several times before your exam when attempting past papers.

The questions are based on the specification points and are generally well balanced to cover the different topics that have been studied. Some questions will be based on the nature of Science which is taught throughout the course and focuses on Scientific thinking and development.

All questions will have 4 choices available as answers. It is vital questions are read carefully as some of these options may well be true in a different situation. Take time to carefully break down and understand each answer before selecting your answer on the grid. Go through a process of elimination to methodically work through to the correct answer and avoid mistakes. Many students needlessly lose marks through these careless mistakes and the boundaries for paper 1 are not as generous as the other papers. Only the answer grid will be sent away so annotate the paper as much is as needed.

Paper 2 is made of up two sections, A and B. In section A all questions should be answered, whereas in section B either one (SL) or two (HL) questions should be completed of the choices provided.

Section A begins with a long data analysis-based question broken down into many parts. This is longer for the HL paper than the SL paper and more demanding. You will be given several graphs and figures to analyse throughout the question and towards the end often asked to summarise using multiple pieces of this data. Looking at the command terms is vital for answering these at it changes how you approach the question. These questions are some of the most challenging and difficult to answer successfully in the IB Biology assessments. Try to regularly practice them to become familiar with how these questions should be approached and answered. They will always be presented in a novel situation, so it is about developing the skills to answer them rather than knowledge.

The second part of section A of paper 2 from question 2 onwards, there will be several short answer responses. These are broken down into sub questions and these will be anywhere between 1 and 4 marks. These questions will cover a wide range of the specification points and include some nature of science-based content.

Section B contains the longer response questions. Here you will be given a choice of questions to answer, broken down into three sub questions. You must answer the entirety of any question that is chosen and can not mix. For example you should do question 1 or 2 parts a,b,c. You could not do 1a, 2b, 1c. One mark is awarded for the overall quality of written communication of each question judged as a whole. This will be awarded on the overall quality and ease of understanding of what is written. In total each of the questions will add up to 15 marks and there will be an extra one for the quality of written communication. Totalling 16 marks.

For SL there are a choice of two questions, and one must be completed. For HL there will be three questions presented and two must be completed. Ensure you do two questions if you are studying the HL course or you will at the disadvantage of having already lost 16 marks. Good candidates normally master these longer responses and score very highly on section B.

An important point to note especially for the section B questions of paper 2 is that answers can be accepted as annotated diagrams or flow charts. This will also not affect the quality of written communication as it would be clearly presented in a suitable order so the mark here can be gained still. Bullet points are also not penalised which can help some candidates in structuring ideas.

Paper 3 is also broken down into two sections A and B.

Section A will be answered by all candidates, and all the questions should be completed. Section A has a strong focus on scientific skills and practicals. Within section A there will be another, shorter data-based question to answer. There will also be two questions which relates to one of the 7 (6 for SL) required practicals and applications from the specification.

Section B of paper 3 is where the option questions will be. You must only answer the questions from one of the options. You will have only studied one of the four options so be clear which option this is. Within that option section all questions should then be answered. Section B differs between HL and SL slightly. SL will have less questions overall as the paper is out of less marks and for SL there will be no questions of the HL option content. Most of the questions is section B will be shorter in length. The last question will always be worth 4 marks for SL papers and 6 marks for HL papers.