Science

FAQS

General Science Questions

Q: I am going into Grade 9 next year is there any preparation material available?

A: Any general introduction to coding would be useful and also, we have the following resources available: 

• CK-12 custom online for Physical Science

• Class website with daily lesson plans, worksheets, and other resources

Q: What science course should I take?

A: The decision of “what science to take” is driven by ultimate career/university goals and student desire, interest and preparation. You’ll need to give it some serious thought before your counselor meeting.

Q: Can I take more than one science class?

A: Yes, many students take two. You have a wide range of options from semester electives, year-long AP or JIS courses, to two-year-long IB courses.

Q: What is the difference between AP and IB?

A: This partly depends on the subject area, but generally AP courses are 1-year long and IB courses are 2 years. Given the time allotments, IB tends to explore a broader range of topics in each subject area.  AP exams stand alone and are single subject, whereas IB also has an internal assessment (typically a lab write-up or project) and is typically taken as part of the broader IB diploma programme.

Q: I’ve heard IB sciences do labs and AP sciences do not.  Is this true?

A: This is not true.  However, while both programmes emphasize hands-on experiments, lab skills will be assessed in different ways.  In IB you will write an “Internal Assessment” report with a maximum word count of 3000 words, and in AP you will be asked multiple choice and free response questions about the analysis and set up of standard labs.

Q: Do I need to do the full IB Diploma to take an IB Science?

A: No, but the IB courses are typically taken as part of the full diploma.  You can talk with your counselor or teacher about the specifics of why you might want to take an IB science on its own.

Q: What are the science electives?

A: The electives are also semester-long explorations of science in different contexts (Investigative Science, Food Science, Earth and Planetary Science, Practical Physics, Computer Microarchitecture, Game Design & Development, Physical Computing).  All of these courses are not externally assessed and will not grant IB or AP credit but do count towards graduation.  

Q: What is the easiest IB science course?

A: None.  So choose based on (1) what you’re interested in and (2) what you’re good at.  Being interested in the subject will help you stay motivated when it gets challenging.  But each of the sciences emphasize different skills, for instance physics emphasizes mathematical analysis and problem solving, environmental systems emphasizes system interactions and descriptive analysis, computer science emphasizes algorithmic thinking and problem solving, etc…  You can set yourself up for success by choosing your strengths. 

Subject-Specific Science Questions

Biology

Q: What’s the main content difference between AP and IB Biology?

A: IB has a much greater emphasis and depth of focus on anatomy and physiology compared to AP, while AP has an increased focus on concepts of evolution, energy & matter, information and integration of those concepts in systems.

Chemistry

Q: From a student perspective, what are the main differences between AP and HL Chemistry?

A: AP Chemistry is a university-level course. The content of AP Chemistry is broadly similar to that of HL but the AP Chemistry course is completed in only one year, as opposed to two years for HL. While there is a lab component to AP Chemistry, there is no internal assessment and the final score in AP is 100% test-based. The main day-to-day difference is that AP Chemistry is more focused on content, is much faster-paced and requires even more outside preparation than IB HL. These differences can be seen in the world-wide score distribution. In 2018, 55.9% of AP Chemistry students scored a 3 or above (out of 5) while 72.3% of HL Chemistry students scored a 4 or above (out of 7).

Q: What chemistry knowledge should I have mastered before coming into the AP Chemistry course?

A: The chemistry knowledge that must have been mastered prior to entry into AP Chemistry is contained within the Physical Science and Advanced Chemistry courses. The key components that students are assumed to know (and therefore will not be explicitly taught in the course) are:

• Bonding, structure and intermolecular forces 

• Measurements and uncertainty

• Ideal gas theory and gas laws

• Writing chemical formulas and writing and balancing equations

• Stoichiometry (chemical calculations) including mole-mass and limiting reagent calculations, percent yield and solution stoichiometry, such as molarity and titration problems.

Physics

Q: Do I need to be in higher level math to take higher level physics?

A: No, none of the content of higher level math is required in physics.  However, physics uses the language of math so a fluency and comfort with algebra and basic trigonometry is expected.

Q: What are the main differences between AP and IB physics?

A: While the physics level and content is broadly similar compared to IB there are several important differences:

• AP Physics 1 and AP physics 2 courses are 1 year only, IB is two. If a student takes AP Physics 2, it would be completed in grade 11 or 12.  

• AP courses are heavily algebraic with little use of a calculator in the free response exam.  

• There is no internal assessment in the AP, your final AP score is 100% AP exam. 

• AP questions tend to be more conceptual and less application based than IB.  

Q: Can I do AP physics 1 in grade 12?

A: Yes.  Students planning to study architecture in the USA often need AP physics 1 and score a minimum 3.  

Computer Science

Q: I don’t know much about Comp. Sci but would love to know some before graduating.  What should I take?

A: APCS Principles

Q: I am really into Computer Science, it will probably be my major. Which AP should I take?

A: Both if you can, APCS A preferably if you can only do one.

Q: I want to take APCS A and APCS P.  Which one should I take first?

A: If you took Physical Science and Life Science you can take them in any order. If you don’t have prior experience you should take Principles first.

Q: What is the difference between IBCS SL and HL?

A: SL will cover 5 big units (2 of them directly related to programming).  HL will require the same 5 units, plus 3 additional ones (Topics 5: Advanced programming with data structures, and 2 more conceptual units).  This means that the breadth of content covered in HL is much bigger.  It requires discipline and more than anything a legitimate interest in the area.

Q: What programming language do we learn in Computer Science?

A:  Physical Science and Life Science : Python
APCS A, and IB: Java

APCS P: Python

APCS P and IBHL: Any additional language you which to explore individually is encouraged

Sports Exercise and Health Science: 

Q: What’s material is in the SEHS course?

A: Generally it’s an Anatomy and Physiology course with some Chemistry and Physics topics as well. The core is - Anatomy, Exercise Physiology, Energy Systems, Movement Analysis, Skills in Sport and Measurement and evaluation of human performance. 

The HL component is - Further Anatomy, The Endocrine System, Fatigue, Friction and Drag, Skill Acquisition and Analysis, Genetics and Athletic Performance and Exercise and Immunity.

Q: What University courses can this subject lead to?

A: The main areas of study will be Kinesiology, Sports Science, Sports Medicine, Physiotherapy, Athletic Trainer, etc. 

Q: What are future job opportunities like for this course?

A: These areas are growing fields so there are possibly many future job opportunities in these fields in the years to come.

Electives (Investigative Science, Food Science, Earth and Planetary Science, Practical Physics, Computer Microarchitecture, Game Design & Development, Physical Computing)

Q: What does it mean that these will be offered every other year?

A: The goal is to provide more choices for students, and one of the ways to achieve this is to rotate offerings so that all students get an opportunity to take each class (but not every year).  So the three semester electives (Practical Physics, Earth and Planetary Science, and Computer Microarchitecture) will be offered on rotation, so Practical Physics will be offered in the 2025-2026 school year, and Earth and Planetary Science, and Computer Microarchitecture will be offered in the 2026-2027 school year.  Food science, Investigative Science, Game Design & Development, and Physical Computing will be offered every year.

Q: What would I study in Investigative Science?

A: Investigative science is a skills-based course, meaning you can choose any science topic that interests you!  The development of research skills, investigative skills, and analytical skills are the focus for the course, but you can do that in a context you choose.

Q: What do I need to study to prepare for these courses?

A: Absolutely nothing.  There are no prerequisites for these courses.  

Q: Where do these courses lead?

A: Nowhere.  These are stand-alone courses meant to provide an opportunity to explore science in a different context.  They can be good exposure for other university paths forwards in science but no JIS courses need them as prerequisites.