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To help you transition seamlessly into the rigours of the IB Diploma or Career-related Programme, this subject page houses your essential preparatory resources. Beyond the required Summer Task, designed to prime your analytical and subject-specific skills, you will find curated Recommended Reading and Recommended Viewing lists. These selections are handpicked by your future teachers to broaden your perspective, ignite your curiosity, and provide the cultural and academic context necessary for high-level inquiry. Engaging with these materials now will not only ease the step up from Grade 10 but will also give you a distinct advantage as you begin your two-year journey.
Mandatory Summer Task
Scientific Reading & Writing
Understanding scientific writing is a critical part of the course. The ability to think critically is the difference between a passing grade of 3, and a high achieving grade 5 and above. The activities below are designed to support you in developing your scientific reading. Whilst we recognise the use of AI to support your work, we actively discourage its use in this specific activity as it will reduce or even remove the actual substance of the task. You will not develop the necessary skills in this instance if AI is utilised to summarise the journal and construct your product.
Learning Objectives: We are learning to read for deep understanding, use appropriate sources of information and communicate new ideas and concepts clearly to a specific audience.
Task 1: Read and answer the review questions for one of the following articles from each of the 4 Biology themes IBDP Biology Articles.
These articles are designed for upper MYP students. The format, language and depth are pitched to be accessible, readable and easily understood by students aged 13-15. This format will be used in the second main activity.
Task 2: Select one article of interest from one of the following sites.
Science Daily . National Geographic Science . Free Access Medical Journals
Complete the following activities:
Read the article and make notes/mind map/though organizer of the information you read. This must be hand written on paper.
Find 3 other sources that offer additional information or an alternative perspective on the topic of the article. Add the information from these sources to your notes/mind map/thought organizer.
Create a 4 pager, similar in format to the articles in Task 1. This should simplify and summaries the main concept for students in Grade 8-9. Include your bibliography at the end, this can be a 5th page, in MLA format (MLA Referencing guide). Include date last accessed. Each item in the Bibliography should be directly hyperlinked to the webpages you have used.
Prepare a presentation on your topic to share with the whole class.
You may use a maximum of 3 slides
Each slide can contain a maximum of 20 words
There are no restrictions on images
You may have cue cards for your presentation but you may not have a pre-prepared speech
Your presentation must last at least 5 minutes
There will be 5 minutes of questioning from the teacher and class at the end of the presentation linked to the article. You will need to be able to answer questions on the article and topic in some scientific depth.
Your article will be submitted by Friday 4th September, with presentations taking place the week following.
Mandatory and Recommended Reading
Mandatory Reading:
Recommended Reading - Books:
Lab Girl – Hope Jahren
A memoir that shows the realities of scientific research and inspires curiosity, perseverance, and an appreciation for plant biology.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks – Rebecca Skloot
Connects cell biology, genetics, and medical research while raising important ethical questions about scientific advances.
Better – Atul Gawande
Demonstrates how scientific thinking, evidence, and continuous improvement are applied in medicine and healthcare.
The Hot Zone – Richard Preston
Provides an engaging look at infectious diseases, viruses, and epidemiology, linking directly to topics in human health and disease.
The Sixth Extinction – Elizabeth Kolbert
Highlights current biodiversity loss and environmental change, supporting IB topics on ecology, conservation, and human impacts on ecosystems.
Pests – Bethany Brookshire
Examines human interactions with other species and ecological challenges, helping students understand evolution, ecology, and environmental management.
My Life with the Chimpanzees – Jane Goodall
Introduces animal behavior, ecology, and conservation through groundbreaking field research, illustrating how biological knowledge is gathered.
Rabid – Bill Wasik & Monica Murphy
Uses the story of rabies to explore disease biology, evolution, and the relationship between humans and pathogens.
The Sports Gene – David Epstein
Explores the interaction of genetics and environment in shaping human performance, connecting directly to inheritance and gene expression.
Recommended reading - websites:
Recommended Viewing
Relevant Ted Talks and YouTube Videos:
Interesting and Useful Online Courses:
The Future learn website has hundreds of interesting courses, many of which are free! We have included a selection below which would be a useful to complete before starting the IBDP Biology course. Completing the course is free, however, if you would like a certificate to keep as proof some of these cost a fee as they are provided by the universities.
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