IB Assessment Statement/Detailed Syllabus (SL and Bio2)

Clicking on the title above will take you to a monster of a document that is the foundation of our syllabus for the year (for IB exams 2015 only - subsequent years will followed a revised syllabus).  It includes clarifications directly from IB regarding the content to be assessed and is rearranged and further annotated to align with the curriculum that we will be following specifically at WFS.  Follow along on this throughout the year.  Bio2 (non-IB) students will follow the syllabus, with modifications given as the year progresses.

Also, notice the recurring use of various command terms in these assessment statements.  These are carefully chosen verbs, with specific meanings and expectations for your responses.  Note that they are also divided into three categories of increasing depth, and questions of level 3 expect a more sophisticated response than level 2, etc.  This quizlet will help you review them (and ensure that you are actually answering the question given!)

Curriculum content for major units

Topics to be covered (access the class content for these by the pullout menus above.).

Intro to Evolution (Topic 5.4)

Origin of Life on Earth (Topic D.1)

Speciation (Topic D.2)

Human Evolution (Topic D.3)

Systematics (Topic 5.5)

Cell Theory (Topic 2.1)

Prokaryotic Cell Structure and Function (Topic 2.2)

Eukaryotic Cell Structure and Function (Topic 2.3)

Plasma Membrane - Fluid Mosaic/Transport Across Membranes (Topic 2.4)

 Cell Division/Cancer (Topic 2.5)

Water and Chemical Elements (Topic 3.1)

Carbohydrates, Lipids and Proteins (Topics 3.2)

Enzymes (Topics 3.6)

DNA Structure (Topics 3.3)

DNA Replication (Topics 3.4)

Transcription/Translation (Topics 3.5)

Cellular Respiration (Topics 3.7)

Photosynthesis (Topics 3.8)

Chromosomes and Mutations (Topic 4.1)

Meiosis (Topics 4.2)

Transmission genetics (Topics 4.3)

Genetic Engineering/Biotechnology (Topic 4.4)

Communities and Ecosystems (Topic 5.1)

Greenhouse Effect (Topic 5.2)

Populations (Topic 5.3)

Digestion (Topic 6.1)

Transport (6.2) Gas Exchange (6.4) 

Defense Against Disease (Topics 6.3)

Reproduction (Topics 6.6)

Nerves, Hormones and Homeostasis (Topic 6.5)


Components of the Human Diet (Topic A.1)


Energy in Human Diets (Topic A.2)


Special Issues in Human Nutrition (Topic A.3)