MYP Science Topics

Topic lists for sciences

Biology

  • Cells (tissues, organs, systems, structure and function; factors affecting human health; physiology; vaccination)

  • Organisms (habitat, ecosystems, interdependency, unity and diversity in life forms; energy transfer and cycles [including nutrient, carbon, nitrogen]; classification)

  • Processes (photosynthesis, cell respiration, aerobic and anaerobic, word and chemical equations)

  • Metabolism (nutrition, digestion, biochemistry and enzymes; movement and transport, diffusion; osmosis; gas exchange; circulation, transpiration and translocation; homeostasis)

  • Evolution (life cycles, natural selection; cell division, mitosis, meiosis; reproduction; biodiversity; inheritance and variation, DNA and genetics)

  • Interactions with environment (tropism, senses, nervous system, receptors and hormones)

  • Interactions between organisms (pathogens/parasites, predator/prey, food chains and webs; competition, speciation and extinction)

  • Human interactions with environments (human influences, habitat change or destruction, pollution/conservation; overexploitation, mitigation of adverse effects)

  • Biotechnology (genetic modification, cloning; ethical implications, genome mapping and application, 3D tissue and organ printing)

Chemistry

  • Periodic table (metals and non-metals; transition metals, noble gases, trends, periods, groups)

  • International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC naming and classification of: alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters; structural formulas)

  • The atmosphere (characteristics of gases; atmospheric composition, testing and treatment; extraction, emission and environmental implications)

  • Matter (states and properties of matter; particle/kinetic theory, diffusion; atomic structure [including isotopes]; electron configuration and valency)

  • Pure and impure substances (types of mixtures [solutions, oils, alloys, emulsions]; separation techniques, including: filtration, distillation [including crude oil], chromatography)

  • Bonding (structure and bonding, properties, chemical formulas, chemical reactions and the conservation of mass; balancing equations, the mole concept and chemical calculations; reaction kinetics [rates, and factors affecting rates/collision theory]; equilibria/reversible reactions; energy changes in reactions, endo- and exothermicity; combustion of fuels)

  • Types of chemical reaction (acids and bases, neutral solutions, acid/base reactions, pH and indicators, formation of salts, uses of salts; redox reactions, reactivity series; extraction of metals, and corrosion, electrochemical cells)

Physics

  • Forces and energy (measurement in science; states and properties of matter, kinetic theory, density; forces and effects of forces; forces and motion, speed, motion graphs, Newton’s laws; pressure; work and power, efficiency; gravity and gravitational fields; energy sources and resources, fuels and environmental impact; energy transfer and transformation, conservation of energy)

  • Electromagnetism (magnetism, electric and magnetic fields; static electricity; electromagnetic forces and induction, AC and DC; current, voltage, power, generation and transmission of electricity; electric circuits)

  • Astrophysics (the solar system, planets and satellites, the Big Bang theory)

  • Heat, light and sound (thermal physics; heat transfer, condensation and evaporation)

  • Waves (longitudinal and transverse waves, sound waves; wave phenomena including reflection, refraction, diffraction; wave equation; electromagnetic spectrum, imaging and applications)

  • Atomic physics (atomic structure, particles, charges and masses; radioactivity, decay and half-life, forms of radiation; uses and dangers)

Integrated sciences

  • Atoms (atomic structure and electron configuration)

  • Bonding (word and chemical reactions and formulas; acids, bases and pH)

  • Cells (tissues, organs and systems; cell division; reproduction)

  • Electromagnetism (magnetism, magnetic fields; electric circuits)

  • Forces and energy (motion, motion graphs, Newton’s laws; energy transfer and transformation)

  • Fuels (combustion)

  • Interactions between organisms (food chains and webs)

  • Matter (particles and kinetic theory)

  • Metabolism (digestion, gas exchange)

  • Periodic table (trends, periods, groups)

  • Systems (photosynthesis and respiration)