IB

IB Biology HL

The study of IB Biology is an exploration of living organisms and their interactions with each other and the environment. This course provides students the opportunity to dig deep into the world of biology, and goes beyond subject matter, allowing students to study the nature of science, experimental design, and the communication of biological ideas.

Questionbank

All the questions you could need! Sorted by topic and arranged by difficulty, with mark schemes and video solutions for every question.

Data-based Questions

Original data-based questions to develop skills in analysing trends, evaluating data, and applying biological concepts in preparation for Paper 2.

Practice Exam

Practice exams refine your revision - use quizzes for key concepts, the Revision Ladder for challenge, and full mock exams to simulate the real exam.

Key Concepts

Helpful refreshers summarizing exactly what you need to know about the most important concepts covered in the course.

Past Papers

Full worked solutions to all past paper questions, taught by experienced IB instructors.

Internal Assessment (IA)

In the IB Biology HL Internal Assessment Bootcamp, you will find resources designed around the most important concepts, techniques, and skills required for success in your IA, created by experienced teachers and examiners.

New

Flashcards

Develop your understanding in IB Biology HL using custom-built flashcards, perfect for quick study sessions on desktop or mobile app.

Course Structure and Content

Students electing to study IB Biology at the Higher Level (HL) investigate content within four themes: Unity and Diversity, Form and Function, Interaction and Interdependence, and Continuity and Change. Students develop a foundation of biology through course content from increasing levels of organisation: molecules, cells, organisms, and ecosystems. Specific topics include biomolecules, the origin of cells, viruses, classification and cladistics, evolution and speciation, transfers of energy and matter, enzymes and metabolism, respiration, photosynthesis, DNA and protein synthesis, gene expression, homeostasis, integration of body systems, and more.

Assessment in HL Biology challenges students to master terminology, biological techniques, data analysis, and effective communication of key biological concepts. At the end of the course, students will take two examination papers featuring multiple-choice, short-answer, data-based, practical-based, and extended-response questions. Throughout the two-year course, students build the skills and deep conceptual understanding needed to succeed in all content areas.

This course offers comprehensive preparation for advanced biology studies at university, covering an extensive breadth and depth of material. With over 240 hours of study, approximately 180 hours focus on content, while 60 hours are devoted to the experimental program, including a student-led individual lab investigation.

Tips for Success

  1. Master terminology: This is critical to show understanding of course content. Make sure to continually review vocabulary throughout the course. The Revision Village App is an excellent way to do this.
  2. Explain and annotate: To effectively learn details and confidently explain biological processes, draw and annotate extensively on large paper or a whiteboard without referencing other materials. Once completed, review your work using resources to fill in any gaps in knowledge, then explain it aloud to reinforce your understanding.
  3. Practice exam-style questions: There's no better preparation for sitting the IB exams than answering exactly the types of questions you will be asked on the actual examinations. You can find an extensive bank of questions and mark schemes for all topics on the Revision Village website.

More IB Biology Resources

Standard Level
Higher Level

Frequently Asked Questions

IIB Biology Higher Level (HL) is one of the International Baccalaureate science courses of the 2025 curriculum. The Biology HL course is a traditional science course, in which students develop a deep understanding of scientific concepts, including cell biology, viruses, genetics, ecology, classification, evolution, and human physiology. The course emphasises critical thinking, experimental design, and the application of biological knowledge to real-world contexts. The Biology HL course should be considered by students who are moderate to strong at science, and are interested in pursuing courses and pathways involving medicine, science, or engineering after their IB Diploma Program.
The IB Biology Higher Level course consists of three assessment items that contribute to a student’s overall score for the course. There are two exam papers and an internally assessed independent investigation. Paper 1 consists of multiple-choice questions and practical-based questions, and Paper 2 consists of short-answer, extended response, and data-based questions. The use of a calculator is permitted for both papers. The internal assessment requires students to conduct an individual investigation, demonstrating their ability to design experiments, collect and analyse data, and evaluate their findings. The assessment structure ensures that students are evaluated on both their theoretical understanding and practical skills in biology, preparing them for future academic and professional pursuits in biology and related fields.
There are two phases students progress through in their two-year IB Biology Higher Level course: the learning phase and the revision phase. The learning phase occurs in class, with their teacher and textbooks, where students first encounter and explore scientific concepts and consolidate their understanding by solving questions specific to that concept. The revision phase, which is what Revision Village is specifically designed for, is when students consolidate their understanding of all of the concepts in the Biology HL course and appreciate how the concepts are connected. In the revision phase, the most effective strategy is to practise lots of IB Biology HL exam questions to build confidence, reach mastery, and be prepared for the Biology HL examinations. The Revision Village Question Bank, Data-based Questions, Key Concept videos, Topic Quizzes, Revision Ladders, Mock Exam Papers, and Flash Card app are all designed to support this revision phase.
Revision Village is specifically designed to support IB students in the revision phase of their IB Biology Higher Level course. Revision Village has five main sections, each for different revision purposes: 1) Questionbank: a large library of IB Biology HL exam questions categorised by topic and ordered by difficulty, 2) Data-based questions: in an easy-to-use format which enables the development of skills required to tackle these Paper 2 style question, 3) Key Concepts: short concise videos and podcasts that recap the important theory in the Biology HL course, 4) Practice Exams: a carefully designed set of quizzes revision ladders, and mock papers for students to use in their final phase of revision, and 5) Past Paper Video Solutions: step-by-step video tutorials of past Biology HL exam questions, tagged to specific subtopics, taught by experienced IB Teachers. There is also a Revision Village app with terminology flash cards and plenty of multiple-choice questions to practice on the go! Revision Village is the perfect place for IB Students to learn, practice and prepare for their IB Biology exam stress-free, with all of the resources they need.