IB Chemistry SL
IB Chemistry Standard Level is a rigorous course for curious and scientifically oriented students who aspire to understand, establish, and interpret connections between chemistry concepts and their application in daily life.
Course Structure and Content
IB Chemistry SL studies the relationship between the nature of matter and how and why this affects chemical reactions. The syllabus has been organized into Structures and Reactivities to serve that objective.
The three structures include Models of the Particulate Nature of Matter, Models of Bonding & Structure, and Classification of Matter. All three reactivities are led by guiding questions as students investigate: What Drives Chemical Reactions, How Much, How Fast, and How Far?, and What are the Mechanisms of Chemical Change?
The end of the course culminates with a summative external assessment that includes two written papers.
Paper 1 consists of multiple-choice and data-based questions worth 55 marks. Paper 2 consists of short-answer and extended-response questions worth 50 marks, which test the student's ability to make connections between multiple concepts within the syllabus and apply theoretical, practical, and mathematical knowledge.
Internal Assessment
An Internal Assessment worth 20% of the overall mark consists of a scientific investigation led by each student. This task requires students to collect, interpret, and draw conclusions about data that would answer the project's leading question. The results of their work will be presented in the form of a written report, which will be reviewed and evaluated internally by the teacher and externally by IB.
Tips for Success
- Regular studying: try not to review only the night before the test! A suggestion would be to test yourself on each completed subtopic at your school using the RV Standard Level Chemistry Questionbank!
- Make the most out of your laboratory work: hands-on experiments and investigations allow you to put into practice all of the theoretical knowledge you have acquired. Be focused during those sessions since they will increase your understanding and facilitate learning.
- Stay motivated: working hard, keeping a positive mindset, and having a clear goal will result in excellent results at the end of your IB journey. When facing difficulties in comprehending or applying new concepts, you can now employ our Chatbot, Newton AI; it will be more than happy to help you out!
How does RV help maximize your academic results?
RV IB Chemistry SL offers you a unique learning experience. You can access various revision tools to help you achieve the best results in your IB exam. The website provides a vast Questionbank, topic and subtopic Quizzes, Mock Exams, the Revision Ladder, and Prediction Exams - all specifically tailored to your needs!
Revision Village is now mobile! With our new RV App available on iOS and Android, you can use Flashcards and other study tools coming soon anywhere to enhance your learning experience.
More IB Chemistry Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IB Chemistry SL?
IB Chemistry Standard Level (SL) is one of the science courses introduced in the current IB Science curriculum (2016 - 2024). The Chemistry SL course is a traditional science course, whereby students develop a deep understanding of scientific concepts and solve both real and theoretical problems, with and without technology. The Chemistry SL course should be considered by students who are moderate to strong at science, and are interested in pursuing courses and pathways involving science or engineering after their IB Diploma Program.
What are the assessment items in the IB Chemistry SL course?
The IB Chemistry SL course consists of four assessment items that contribute to a student’s overall score for the course. There are three exam papers and an internally assessed independent investigation. Paper 1 consists of multiple-choice questions, Paper 2 consists of short-answer questions, and Paper 3 consists of data-based questions, short-answer questions on practical experimentation, and short-answer questions from one option. The use of a calculator is prohibited for Paper 1, but permitted for Papers 2 and 3. A data booklet with useful constants and equations are provided for all three papers.
How should students prepare for IB Chemistry SL exams?
There are two phases students progress through in their two-year IB Chemistry SL 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 Chem SL course and appreciate how the concepts are connected. In the revision phase, the most effective strategy is to practice lots of IB Chemistry SL exam questions to build confidence, reach mastery, and be prepared for the Chemistry SL examinations.
How does Revision Village support IB Chemistry SL students?
Revision Village is specifically designed to support IB students in the revision phase of their IB Chemistry Standard Level course. Revision Village has four main sections, each for different revision purposes: 1) Questionbank: a large library of IB Chemistry SL exam questions categorised by topic and ordered by difficulty, 2) Practice Exams: a carefully designed set of quizzes and mock papers for students to use in their final phase of revision, 3) Past Paper Video Solutions: step-by-step video tutorials of past Chem SL exam questions, taught by experienced IB Teachers, and 4) Key Concepts: short concise videos that recap the important theory in the Chemistry SL course. Revision Village is the perfect place for IB Students to learn, practice and prepare for their IB Chemistry exam stress-free, with all of the resources they need in one place.