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IB Approved Workshops
Biology (New Syllabus)
IB DP Category 2
Berlin, Germany, 23 - 25 August 2024
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Biology (New Syllabus)
IB DP Category 1
Online (IB Approved), 25 - 27 October 2024
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Find all InThinking Workshops at www.inthinking.net
Subscriber comments
- Dear Richard,Just to confirm:) Is it fine if the student's IA report is based only on collected data from a simulation?Thank you, Radka
- Dear Richard,one of my students would like to create a digital simulation himself to investigate the spreading of a virus.I told him, that the work creating the simulation would not be assessed just the biological part of using it. Is that...
- BarbaraThis sounds like a great idea but risky in terms of assessment as the work seems to be the creation of a simulation rather than using one. However, if it is sufficiently open ended (i.e. with sufficient variables to manipulate) he could...
- The second link for resources in the Webquest are not working. Could you please kindly provide an alternative?
- Dear David, Richard, Lucy,just to make sure:I have a student who would like to create an online simulation on modeling the spreading of a virus himself. Am I right to think that he will only be assessed by the biological aspects when using...
- are there suggested answers for the IB style questions? thanks
- are there suggested answers for the IB style questions? thank you!
- Good evening Has the mark scheme to Transport B3.2 been added elsewhere as MS is for molecular Biology? Thank you
- Q3 mistake
- No B3 or B4? It's May!
- Could you post the answers to the 'chromosome 2: see for yourself' activity? I cannot find them.
- Hi, thanks for the resources so far. Any updates on when we can expect more to be added? It would be great to get an updated timeline so we can know what to expect and when for our own planning. In particular, at this stage any word on B2.3,...
- Carly, HiThe D1.2 topic test is now available. Thanks for pointing this out.
- HI, This is a SL/HL test but polyploidy is only a HL topic. Thanks
- Dear DavidCould you put up the test for D1.2 Protein Synthesis please.Thanks Carly
- Hello David,Do you have activity/ resources for the HL content (A1.2.11- A1.2.15)?Thanks,L
- Same comment as above
- MikayelIt depends upon whether submission is 2024 or 2025.I think it a good idea to look at the exemplars for your submission year on the TSM, they are very useful, as is the advice on this site.In brieffor 1) does that imply that in the background...
- thank you very much Richard! This is certainly very helpful. May I ask you please some questions for clarification? for 1) does that imply that in the background information there shouldn't be any explanation of biological concepts...
- Good morning MikayelFor 2024 submissions, the present stricture of 12 pages is the limit and schools were informed not to go beyond 12 pages last year,The maximum word count of 3000 words is for 2025 submissions onwards and an excess will not...
- Hey. I have encountered an issue of having way too many for words. Few IAs that I already got as first drafts have about 5000 words (data tables, formulas, heading subheadings, captions all of that is not counted). How do others guide students...
- Hi Richard Scarr, I regret to inform you that it's quite frustrating that it has taken so long, yet almost half of the materials are still not uploaded.
- DeapoinaDavid is working very hard on the content for all the topics but, as you can see, it is taking more time than predicted. More updates at the weekend.
- Where are the other parts of Theme C? C2.2, C3.1 The site has really delayed to upload all of this info. I would have liked to see all themes and notes completed by now since some of us have started teaching inheritance (D3.2)!
- Where can I find the model answers?
- sorry found them in next tab apologies
- any chance of model answers to question please- referred to in teacher comments - but cannot see them - thank you very much
- Tanya and Pam. Thanks for pointing this out.The rationale was the difference between reaction rate slowing by a 5 degree drop and denaturation due to pH change but the question is insufficiently precise.
- Rose.I am afraid there are not model answers for this and we are working on 2025 at the moment.Perhaps it would be best to give the worksheet as a revision document for discussion.
- Cavell. Thank you for pointing this out.The definition of an organelle was taken as per the IB, as you point out.
- Hakan, Thank you.You are correct, I made typos in the answer scheme. 7 correct answer is B and 3 is II and IV which is not an option in the question. Apologies.
- What about making the IA example above bigger? We would really appreciate it..:)
- Hi, There are typos in questions 3 and 7 where the answers on the question sheet do not match the answers on the answer sheet.
- Never-mind, I see the reasoning as in the IB definition deems it as such.
- For Activity 1. The plasma membrane is described as an organelle but this is incorrect.
- is there an answer sheet to activity 2?
- Good morning, Do you have model answers for this option like the other options? Thank you!
- The question states a 5 degree change from the optimum so this would just slow the reaction.
- Dear All,Concerning the last three comments, the action phase is slated at 10 hours but, I agree, it is not always the case that the whole phase can be completed in this amount of time. I believe that one problem is overcomplex RQs but the...
- Which three are not human pathogens?
- Where are the answer keys to the pdf worksheets (like for the nurulation worksheet in Activity 1)
- :(
- No encuentro información para nivel medio.
- Hi Richard. Thank you for the work sheets. They really help. Are there any videos that we can use to supplement the class notes herein? Thank you for your hard work that is making work quite easy. Regards Simon Mwangi
- is always more than 10 hours!!!
- Answers to do match questions
- Is there a downloadable copy of this like with your tests for molecular topics? the students really love the model answers to help understand how to structure responses, and I would like to set as a peer marking class activity (no devices)
- Thank you for this excellent summary of the key parts of the unit.
- Please change question 3 as options B and C are the same and one of them needs to include label 3 as axon.Thank you
- Any updates on D 1.2 Protein Synthesis? Thanks
- I'm looking for C1.3 Photosynthesis. Just wanted to check it's not yet completed, or is there a link missing? It seems strange to have C1.1 and C1.2 but not C1.3.
- Is there an updated release schedule? Will all the A-D, 1-4 resources be released by the end of the school year or will some roll out during the second year? Thanks for any current information. I am about to start of an ecology unit and no...
- Dear Gillian, Thanks for your message. We had a little problem for a short time last week. But the slides are on the page now. Best wishes, David
- Has lesson 3 been added to the site yet? I cannot find a link to these activities.
- I also would like to find the answers for the guess who activity
- Please allow student access to this page. I wanted them to answer the 3 questions and was surprised to find that they can't access the presentation or the questions underneath it.
- or A4.2,C4.1?
- Good morning! The link to the model answers in the teachers' note does not link to the model answers for this protein assessment. Thank you!Cameron
- David,Thank you for not automatically making these visible to students as I am one of those who like to use them as a mini-test. I really appreciate it!Lisa
- Aquatic habits is showing as the answer sheet for Oestradiol and Progesterone in cell signaling? Please redirect to the correct answer key. Thank You!!
- Hello, when I click on the answers for the past two worksheets, I get the same answer sheet for aquatic habitats? Please let me know where I can access the correct answers. Thank you!!
- Helooo Links not working ..Please help
- Hi,Same here. i too tried and these links are taking to main page.
- I cant open the Gannt due to Microsoft mail
- replace fatty acids with glycerol and you should have a good MCQ.
- RuthApologies, the wrong page loaded. It will be corrected.
- GavinThanks for pointing this out, you are right, it will be changed
- GillianThanks for pointing this out - you are correct, it will be changed
- Question 3 multiple choice answer seems to be incorrect. Should the question actually be worded "Which of the following are correct features of a tundra biome but not for a taiga biome?
- I am not sure if it is just me but I am unable to find the slides mentioned in activity 1 or the answers for the work sheet. Please can you direct me to these? Thank you.
- Hi, isn't it the other way around for Taiga and Tundra biome, Question 4?
- Is there worksheets' answers?
- The linked solutions direct to the water topic test, not nucleic acids
- Hello David, the correct mark scheme can be seen on the navigation panel on the left, but the Teachers' Note still links to B1.2 Proteins - model answers.
- Hello David, has lessons on A4.2 been Made ? Thanks Christian
- amazing content.
- I was wondering if you had the full marking scheme for the sample 8 mark question above? "Explain how DNA is replicated within the cells of living organisms." Thanks.
- Hi David, any update on when we can expect resources for A2.3 (Viruses) and all of A3 and A4?Thanks
- Are there any model answers for the Focusing Research Question worksheet? THanks!
- Dear David, thanks, these materials are great! Lots of variety.
- Mr. David, where can I find the model answers for Separating incompatible functions
- amazing cotent
- Lauren Good afternoonThanks for this, it will be edited.
- Very true. In Ghana all IB schools are private
- I share the same sentiments. Especially when pretesting has to done and adjustments has to be made and experiments have to be done again.
- Hello! Thanks for making this, My student pointed out a typo for Q4 where there are 2 'I only' options (A&D)
- DaveThank you for your comment - it is what we have to work with. I feel that the content is slightly reduced but with the application of skills is a challenge to get it done in the time allocated.
- FrancescaThank you for your comment. Agreed, it will be changed.
- Question 5: it is complementary not complimentary
- Thanks for locating the rationale and sharing it. I would suggest it was quite ill considered though. The previous specification wasn't perfect, but the new one is content heavy and nonsensical in places.
- SaidFront page, record of experimental work.https://resources.ibo.org/data/d_4_gen4d_form_2303_2a_e.pdf
- MarilynAgreed, risk analysis is needed for all investigations with the appropriate research (also see new criteria clarification for RD).
- Hello Richard, can you tell me how can I find it? I am on MyIB but it is not clear at all! Thank you
- 25 February, IB ressources for each topic are not completed... Why we are paying??
- Simulation is not working...
- Health and safety is my major concern. The participant's finger was irritated. The experiment should not harm anyone. No risk analysis so experiment should not have happened
- Where are the answers to the activity questions, Please
- where are the answers to activity 2 ? Non-disjunction summary questions these are the answers for activity 1. Thanks
- LynnThanks for the comment. I assume that the ability of light microscopy to observe living specimens is crucial here in eg, the role of the flagella in movement.
- Hello! Fo me it is impossible to do it in only 2 hours! I have prepared my slides (around 40) and just talking about each sub parts, it is very long, so adding the activity I need at least 3 hours! Do you have some tips to be more efficient...
- Q2 answer is B. But explanation below says B incorrect, C correct. Please verify
- Please post the answers to task 2?
- Hi David,I was wondering how can a student perform an experiment in only 3 hours?In our case, we usually spend 4-5 days, including preparation of solutions, incubation time of microorganisms, repetitions of experiment when it fails, etc.Thank...
- Where?
- Hi, I was looking at the comments for MCQ Q2 and I was wondering if light microscopy is sufficient to determine the functions of the organelles when most of the smaller organelles can't be seen without EM? I felt that option A would be...
- The links for these activities don't seem to work; can I find them somewhere? Thanks!
- Hello the image of the example IA looks great is it possible that we can see it better?
- Dear Despoina, Thanks for your comment about the agarose gel. In the Bio guide it states, students should understand "the basis of separation of DNA fragments in gel electrophoresis." So you are right, the students don't need to know...
- Dear Iman, Thanks for pointing out this broken link. I have repaired it today. Best wishes, David
- Dear Sujana, Thanks for pointing out this broken link. It was caused by a behind-the-scenes update, I think. I have repaired it today. Best wishes, David
- Dear Lauren, Thanks for spotting this. I agree 'Cell division' would be best, as it includes both mitosis and cytokinesis. I would accept either, but mitosis alone would not be quite precise enough. Best wishes, David
- Can you please check - for Part a) B should refer to cell division and not mitosis. I don't believe mitosis (division of the nucleus) includes cytokinesis (division of the remaining cell parts) as a stage, but very happy to be corrected.
- do you have answer keys for both the:- Biomes Student Activity sheet- Biomes - IB style questions?
- Hi,Activity 2 and 3 work sheet links are not working. May I request you to check and share the links again.Thank you.
- Q1 (III) (structured questions): I don't think students need to know if the gel is made of agarose or acrylamide! It is an exaggeration!
- hi