Extended Response Questions: Necessary
knowledge.
By Hannalie
Here is a detailed look into what exact topics you need to know for the extended response
questions to maximize your studying. The information was taken from several sources,
including manually looking at the Extended Response questions of papers from the past 10
years. Please note that the questions might mix different topics into one question, so you’ll
have to make connections between them on your own. HL Beware: I have noticed that the
Extended response questions rely HEAVILY on Topic 11 and Topic 8. If you don't have
much time to study for the extended response questions, prioritize these!!
● Respiration (Anaerobic and Aerobic for SL. Glycolysis, Krebs cycle and
Photosynthesis for HL) (Topic 2 and 8)
● Cell Cycle (endosymbiotic theory, role of cyclins, cell theory) (SL) (Topic
1)
● Photosynthesis and Growth ( Basic Photosynthesis for SL,
Transpiration, Water uptake, Polyploidy and Phloem Transport for HL)
(Topic 2 and Topic 9)
● Movement of Energy (Trophic levels, Carbon Cycle and Nutrient Cycle)
(Topic 4)
● Evolution and Speciation (Classifications, advantages and disadvantages
of evolutionary tactics, speciation) (Topic 5 and topic 10)
● Therapeutic Cloning and Genetic Modification (Topic 3 and 7)
● Replication, Transcription and Translation (Basically everything, but
you HAVE to know how these differ in Prokaryotes vs Eukaryotes.
(Topic 3 and 7)
● Heart rate and blood circulation (Structure of heart, Double circulation,
Pressures in cardiac cycle, control of heart rate for both SL and HL,
Topic 6)
● Respiration (Ventilation and Gas exchange, Emphysema)(Topic 6)
● Neurons (Structure of Neuron, Neuron Pathways, Synaptic cleft,
Neurotransmitters) (Topic 6 and 11)
● Kidney (The entire thing. Yeah. HL only)(Topic 11)
● Spermatogenesis and Oogenesis (These basically need to be memorized
by heart. HL Only)(Topic 11)
● Movement (Muscle Contraction, Insect muscles came up in several
papers, so study human vs insect muscle)(HL Only)(Topic 11)
● Honorary Mentions
● Defences against infectious disease as well as digestion (SL + HL). While
not present in any of the past papers that I looked at, you do not want to
miss out on this one. (Topic 6 and 11)
● Enzyme Inhibition. Came up as simpler extended questions, not the 8
mark questions. (Topic 8)