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IB Group 4 subjects

 
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International Baccalaureate

The Group 4 (or Experimental Sciences) subjects of the IB Diploma Programme consist of five courses, four of which are offered at both the Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) and one offered at SL only: Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Design Technology, and Environmental Systems SL.[1] There is also a transdisciplinary course, Environmental Systems and Societies (SL only), that satisfies Diploma requirements for Groups 3 and 4,[2] and a pilot course, Sports, Exercise, and Health Science, that is offered at schools participating in the pilot program.[3]. Students taking two or more Group 4 subjects may combine any of the aforementioned, except for Environmental Systems and Biology.[4]

Contents

Structure and assessment

Group 4 subjects follow roughly the same format. Each subject has its Subject Specific Core (SSC), i.e., material taught at both the standard and higher levels. Students sitting the Higher Level examination study the Additional Higher Level (AHL) material. Lastly, there is a list of options for each subject from which two are chosen. Higher Level students are sometimes unable to choose certain options that are available to Standard Level students because the AHL already covers it. Ideally, students choose the options based on their own abilities and preferences, but in practice the options are usually chosen by the school (based on the school's scientific facilities as well as the discretion of the instructor). Students spend one-quarter of the 150 hours of SL instruction (240 hours for HL; however, both numbers are merely recommendations and are not enforced) doing practical work in the laboratory. Group 4 subjects at the Standard Level are tailored for students who do not see themselves in further science instruction after leaving the programme.

Assessment of a Group 4 subject comprises the following:

  • Internal assessment of the practical work (24%)
  • Paper 1 - multiple choice questions on the SSC (20%)
  • Paper 2 - free response questions on the SSC (32% at SL, 36% at HL)
  • Paper 3 - free response questions on the options (24% at SL, 20% at HL)

At the Standard Level, the examinations are respectively 45 minutes, 1 hour and 15 minutes, and 1 hour long. At the Higher Level, they are 1 hour, 2 hours and 15 minutes, and 1 hour and 15 minutes long. Calculators are not permitted for Paper 1, but they (as well as a provided formula booklet and periodic table) are permitted for papers 2 and 3.

Physics

Wiki letter w.svg This section requires expansion.

Chemistry

Topics addressed in the chemistry series for 2009 include atomic theory, periodicity, atomic bonds, energetics, kinetics, equilibrium, acids and bases, oxidation, and organic chemistry.

Chemistry SL

Topic 1: Stoichiometry

  1. Mole concept and Avogadro's constant
  2. Formulas
  3. Chemical equations
  4. Moles and gaseous volume relationships in chemical reactions
  5. Solutions

Topic 2: Atomic theory (sl)

  1. The atom
  2. The mass spectrometer
  3. Electron arrangement

Topic 3: Periodicity (sl)

  1. The periodic table
  2. Physical properties
  3. Chemical properties

Topic 4: Bonding (sl)

  1. Ionic bonding
  2. Covalent bonding
  3. Intermolecular forces
  4. Metallic bonding
  5. Physical properties

Topic 5: Energetics (sl)

  1. Exo and endothermic reactions
  2. Calculation of enthalpy changes
  3. Hess' law
  4. Bond enthalpies

Topic 6: Kinetics (sl)

  1. Rates of reaction
  2. Collision theory

Topic 7: Equilibrium (sl)

  1. Dynamic equilibrium
  2. The position of equilibrium

Topic 8: Acids and Bases (sl)

  1. Theories of acids and bases
  2. Properties of acids and bases
  3. Strong and weak acids and bases
  4. The pH scale

Topic 9: Oxidation and reduction (sl)

  1. Introduction to oxidation and reduction
  2. Redox equations
  3. Reactivity
  4. Voltaic cells
  5. Electrolytic cells

Topic 10: Organic chemistry (sl)

  1. Introduction
  2. Alkanes
  3. Alkenes
  4. Alcohols
  5. Halogenoalkanes
  6. Reaction pathways

Topic 11: Measurement and data processing

  1. Uncertainty and error in measurement
  2. Uncertainty in calculated results
  3. Graphical techniques

Chemistry HL

Topic 1: Stoichiometry (sl & hl)

  1. Mole concept and Avogadro's constant
  2. Formulas
  3. Chemical equations
  4. Moles and gaseous volume relationships in chemical reactions
  5. Solutions

Topic 12: Atomic structure (hl)

  1. Electron configuration

Topic 13: Periodicity (hl)

  1. Trends across period 3
  2. First row "d" block elements

Topic 14: Bonding (hl)

  1. Shapes of molecules and ions
  2. Hybridisation
  3. Delocalisation of electrons

Topic 15: Energetics (hl)

  1. Standard enthalpy changes of reaction
  2. Born-Haber cycle
  3. Entropy
  4. Spontaneity

Topic 16: Kinetics (hl)

  1. Rate expression
  2. Reaction mechanism
  3. Activation energy

Topic 17: Equilibrium (hl)

  1. Liquid-vapour equilibrium
  2. The equilibrium law

Topic 18: Acids and Bases (hl)

  1. Calculations involving acids and bases
  2. Buffer solutions
  3. Salt hydrolysis
  4. Acid-base titrations
  5. Indicators

Topic 19: Oxidation and reduction (hl)

  1. Standard electrode potentials
  2. Electrolysis

Topic 20: Organic chemistry (hl)

  1. Introduction
  2. Nucleophilic substitution reactions
  3. Elimination reactions
  4. Condensation reactions
  5. Reaction pathways
  6. Stereoisomerism

Chemistry Options

  1. Modern analytical chemistry
  2. Human Biochemistry
  3. Chemistry in industry and technology
  4. Medicines and drugs
  5. Environmental Chemistry
  6. Food chemistry
  7. Further Organic Chemistry

Biology

Note: The biology syllabus is undergoing revision for the May 2006 examination session. Please edit this section as updates become known.

Biology is the science of life and living organisms. Aside from instruction relevant to this, students are given the chance to learn complex laboratory techniques (e.g., DNA extraction) as well as develop mindful opinions about controversial topics in biology (e.g., stem-cell research and genetic modification). The syllabus lists thirteen topics, to be covered in an order varying from school to school:

  1. Cells
  2. Chemistry of Life
  3. Genetics
  4. Ecology and evolution
  5. Health and human physiology
  6. Nucleic acids and proteins
  7. Cellular respiration and photosynthesis
  8. Further genetics
  9. Human reproduction
  10. Defense against infectious disease
  11. Nerves, muscle, and movement
  12. Excretion
    • 12.1 Excretion
    • 12.2 The human kidney
  13. Plant Science

The options:

The theory is covered in detail on a number of websites [1][2]

The Internal Assessment for Biology includes the submission of a number of lab reports covering certain skills like ability to plan an experiment, ability to present data and ability to process data. Overall these count for 24 percent of a student's final grade.

Group 4 project

All students of the Diploma Programme in any of these subjects will compulsorily complete a Group 4 project. The students collaborate on the Group 4 project report which is approached in an inter-disciplinary way.. The Group 4 project assessment is included in the internal assessment marks.

Footnotes

  1. ^ "Diploma Programme curriculum: Group 4, Experimental Sciences". ibo.com. http://www.ibo.org/diploma/curriculum/group4/. Retrieved 3 Jul 2009. 
  2. ^ "Diploma Programme curriculum". ibo.com. http://www.ibo.org/diploma/curriculum/additional/. Retrieved 2009-06-26. 
  3. ^ Sports, Exercise, & Health subject guide 2007, p. 4.
  4. ^ Schools' Guide to IBDP, p. 11.

References

External links

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