IB Biology HL1

Welcome to IB Biology HL1

IB Biology is year 1 of a 2-year college level course.

Biology is the study of life. The vast diversity of species makes biology both an endless source of fascination and a considerable challenge. Biologists attempt to understand the living world at all levels from the micro to the macro using many different approaches and techniques. Biology is still a young science and great progress is expected in the 21st century. This progress is important at a time of growing pressure on the human population and the environment. 

By studying biology students should become aware of how scientists work and communicate with each other. While the scientific method may take on a wide variety of forms, it is the emphasis on a practical approach through experimental work that characterizes the sciences. Teachers provide students with opportunities to design investigations, collect data, develop manipulative skills, analyze results, collaborate with peers and evaluate and communicate their findings. 

Topics covered in IB Biology HL1 include: Data and Statistics, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Biotechnology, Evolution and Ecology

Students will also participate in the IB Collaborative Sciences project during year 1.  

The Collaborative Sciences Project is a field trip where students from different IB Science subjects, within or between schools, work together. It allows for concepts and perceptions from across disciplines to be shared while appreciating the environmental, social and ethical implications of science and technology. It can be practically or theoretically based and aims to develop an understanding of the relationships between scientific disciplines and their influence on other areas. The emphasis is on interdisciplinary cooperation and the scientific processes