Internal Assessment: IB Biology
What in the world is Internal Assessment?
Teacher-based or Internal Assessment (IA) makes up 24% of your mark for IB Biology (what the college
receives). Each IB Group 4 Experimental Science student maintains a portfolio (“Practical Scheme of Work”
or PSOW in IB lingo). This portfolio contains laboratory work that I have graded (internally assessed) using
IB’s scoring rubric. The IB Organization (IBO) mandates the number of hours we spend in the laboratory but
not the number or topics of Internally Assessed lab reports. IBO does stipulate that, in a two-year Higher
Level (HL) course, student work must be judged against three main criteria at least twice. If any of the
criteria are assessed more than twice, then the student will be awarded the two highest scores. The three
formative Internal Assessment Criteria are:
• Design
• Data Collection and Processing
• Conclusion and Evaluation.
Each of the criteria is subdivided into three aspects. Descriptions are provided on my website to indicate
what is needed to meet the requirements of a given aspect completely (2 pts), partially (1 pt), or not at all (0
pts). These judgments are then translated into a score out of a maximum of 6 for each of the three criteria
(see example below). Since each criteria is assessed twice, you can earn up to 36 points from your written
lab reports.
Example: Lab Report #2
DESIGN
Aspect 1
Defining the problem and
selecting variables
Formulates a focused
problem/research question and
identifies the relevant
variables.
Formulates a problem/research
question that is incomplete OR
identifies only some relevant
variables.
Does not identify a
problem/research question AND
does not identify any relevant
variables
Level/Marks
Complete/2
Partial/1
Not at all/0
Final Mark out of possible 6 =
Aspect 2
Controlling the Variables
Designs a method for the
effective control of the
variables.
Aspect 3
Developing a method for collection of
data
Develops a method that allows for the
collection of sufficient relevant data.
Designs a method that makes
some attempt to control the
variables.
Develops a method that allows for the
collection of insufficient relevant
data..
Designs a method that does
not control the variables.
Develops a method that does not allow
for any relevant data to be collected.
4
Example: Lab Report #5
DATA COLLECTION AND PROCESSING (DCP)
Level/Marks
Complete/2
Partial/1
Not at all/0
Aspect 1
Recording raw data
Records appropriate quantitative and
associated qualitative raw data,
including units and uncertainties
where relevant.
Records appropriate quantitative and
associated qualitative raw data, but
with some mistakes or omissions.
Does not record any appropriate
quantitative raw data OR raw data is
incomprehensible.
Final Mark out of possible 6 =
4
Aspect 2
Processing raw data
Processes the quantitative
data correctly.
Aspect 3
Presenting raw data
Presents processed data appropriately
and, where relevant, includes error bars
and uncertainties.
Processes quantitative data,
but with some mistakes
and/or omissions.
No processing of quantitative
raw data is carried out OR
major mistakes are made in
processing.
Presents processed data appropriately,
but with some mistakes and/or
omissions.
Presents processed data inappropriately
OR incomprehensibly.
Example: Lab Report #5
CONCLUSION AND EVALUATION (CE)
Level/Marks
Complete/2
Partial/1
Not at all/0
Aspect 1
Concluding
States a conclusion, with
justification, based on a reasonable
interpretation of the data.
States a conclusion based on a
reasonable interpretation of the
data.
States no conclusion OR the
conclusion is based on an
unreasonable interpretation of the
data.
Final Mark out of possible 6 =
5
Aspect 2
Evaluating Procedure(s)
Evaluates weaknesses and
limitations.
Identifies some weaknesses
and limitations, but the
evaluation is weak or missing.
Identifies irrelevant
weaknesses and limitations.
Aspect 3
Improving the Investigation
Suggests realistic improvements in
respect of identified weaknesses and
limitations.
Suggests only superficial improvements.
Suggests unrealistic improvements.
TOTAL: 13/18
Besides the three formative IA criteria, IBO asks teachers to judge student performance in two other areas:
Manipulative Skills and Personal Skills. Each of these criteria can earn a maximum of 6 points bring your
total possible IA score to 48 points. Remember, these 48 points are worth 24% of your overall IB score.
Manipulative Skills are evaluated in the lab during experiments throughout the course and include such
things as following instructions accurately, competency with lab equipment, and lab safety. Personal Skills
are evaluated once during the independently conducted Group 4 Experiment in late winter.
How do I write IB Laboratory Reports?
Every time we do an experiment (as opposed to a paper activity), you will write a laboratory report. Follow
the format on the handout titled: Honors/IB Biology Lab Report Format. Your report will be read and
assessed on one or all three of the formative IA criteria.
**Please write “Moderator Friendly” lab reports. This means:
- type up the lab report;
- no plastic jackets;
- no pencil unless used for a sketch;
- white paper;
- single-sided;
- affix added paper (such as a square of graph paper) to a report by taping around
it on all four sides;
- your complete IB number on the top right corner of every page.
Because the IBO selects portfolios for moderation at a moment’s notice, portfolios MUST be maintained in
ready-to-mail condition. At the latest, all portfolios will be completed and ready to mail off by the beginning
of March.
NOTE: All new content will be completed by early April. This will be followed by an intense review of as
much material as possible in preparation of the exam (external assessment) in May.
External Assessment: IB Biology
What in the world is External Assessment?
The External Assessment is the exam taken in May and it makes up 76% of your mark for IB Biology (what
the college receives). What you need to study for this exam depends on whether you are taking the
Standard Level (SL) exam or the Higher level exam (HL). If you are a full IB candidate, you will need to take
3 HL exams (the other 3 exams can be SL). Both Honors Biology (Year 1) and IB Biology (Year 2) are
taught at the HL level. In order to help you decide which exam you should take, as well as to help you focus
your studying in May, the differences between SL and HL are outlined below.
The IB exam is broken into 3 “papers” or parts. Paper 1 is a multiple choice test which consists of either 30
(SL) or 45 (HL) questions. Paper 2 will be taken the same day as Paper 1 and in this part of the exam, you
will be interpreting scientific data based on your knowledge of Biology (questions come from the “Topics” for
your level- see below). The format for the answers is short answer or sketches with accompanying labels.
Paper 3 will be taken the next day and will test your knowledge on two of the Options listed below (you will
be given a choice as to which two you want to address).
TOPICS
SL and HL:
Topic 1: Statistical Analysis
Topic 2: Cells
Topic 3: The Chemistry of Life
Topic 4: Genetics
Topic 5: Ecology & Evolution
Topic 6: Human Health & Physiology
OPTIONS
SL only:
Option A: Human Nutrition & Health
Option B: Physiology of Exercise
Option C: Cells & Energy
HL only:
Topic 7: Nucleic Acids & Proteins
Topic 8: Cell Respiration & Photosynthesis
Topic 9: Plant Science
Topic 10: Genetics
Topic 11: Human Health & Physiology
SL and HL:
Option D: Evolution
Option E: Neurobiology & Behavior
Option F: Microbes & Biotechnology
Option G: Ecology & Conservation
HL only:
Option H: Further Human Physiol.
As you can see, Year 1 of IB Biology (Honors Biology) is very important!! Do not wait to review these topics
in May!! You may be taking several exams and as a result, study time becomes very precious and is never
enough. Time management is going to be essential to your success! Also, when you allocate study time in
May, you should focus on IB’s detailed syllabus. You can access this syllabus through my website:
www.nphsscience.com (look under “resources”). For example, since you will not have time to study all the
material for every option, focus on two you feel most comfortable with in order to prepare for Paper 3.
NOTE: All students, regardless of whether they are SL or HL, will be expected to learn the material taught in
this class. Class exams are not differentiated by level.