IB Group 4 subjects

The Group 4: Experimental sciences subjects of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme comprise the main scientific emphasis of this internationally recognized high school programme. They consist of seven courses, five of which are offered at both the Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL): Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Design Technology, and, as of August 2012, Computer Science (previously a group 5 elective course) is offered as part of the Group 4 subjects.[1] There are also two SL only courses: a transdisciplinary course, Environmental Systems and Societies, that satisfies Diploma requirements for Groups 3 and 4,[2] and Sports, Exercise and Health Science (previously, for last examinations in 2013, a pilot subject[3]). Astronomy also exists as a school-based syllabus. Students taking two or more Group 4 subjects may combine any of the aforementioned.

The Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Design Technology courses will be updated for first teaching in September 2014, with syllabus updates (including a decrease in the number of options), a new internal assessment component similar to that of the Group 5 (mathematics) explorations, and "a new concept-based approach" dubbed "the nature of science". A new, standard level-only course will also be introduced to cater to candidates who do not wish to further their studies in the sciences, focusing on important concepts in Chemistry, Biology and Physics.[4][5]

Structure and assessment

All group 4 subjects (except computer science and environmental systems and societies; see below) follow roughly the same format. Each subject has its Subject Specific Core (SSC), i.e., material taught at both the standard and higher levels. Students sitting the Higher Level examination study the Additional Higher Level (AHL) material. Lastly, there is a list of options for each subject from which two are chosen. Higher Level students are sometimes unable to choose certain options that are available to Standard Level students because the AHL already covers it. Ideally, students choose the options based on their own abilities and preferences, but in practice the options are usually chosen by the school (based on the school's scientific facilities as well as the discretion of the instructor). Students spend one-quarter of the 150 hours of SL instruction (240 hours for HL; however, both numbers are merely recommendations and are not enforced) doing practical work in the laboratory. Group 4 subjects at the Standard Level are tailored for students who do not see themselves in further science instruction after leaving the programme.[6]

Assessment of a Group 4 subject comprises the following:

At the Standard Level, the examinations are respectively 45 minutes, 1 hour and 15 minutes, and 1 hour long. At the Higher Level, they are 1 hour, 2 hours and 15 minutes, and 1 hour and 15 minutes long. Calculators are not permitted for Paper 1, but they (as well as a provided formula booklet and periodic table) are permitted for papers 2 and 3.

Physics (2009–2015)

Standard level

80 hours of instruction on 8 topics

with 30 hours of instruction on two optional subjects:

and 40 hours of practical work.[7]

Higher level

80 hours on Physics SL core subjects, with 55 hours on 6 additional topics:

and 45 hours of instruction on two optional subjects:

and 60 hours of practical work.[8]

Physics (2016–2022)

[9]

Topics

SL/HL core

HL extension

Options

Chemistry (2009–2015)

Standard level

80 hours of instruction on the topics:

and 30 hours on two options from the topics:

together with 40 hours of practical work.[10]

Higher level

80 hours on the core subjects of the Standard level course with 55 hours of instruction on these topics:

and 45 hours on two of the options in the standard course, and 60 hours of practical work.[11]

Chemistry (2016–2022)

[12]

Topics

SL/HL core and HL extension

Options

Biology (2009–2015)

Biology is the science of life and living organisms. Aside from instruction relevant to this, students are given the chance to learn complex laboratory techniques (e.g., DNA extraction) as well as develop mindful opinions about controversial topics in biology (e.g., stem-cell research and genetic modification). The syllabus lists thirteen topics, to be covered in an order varying from school to school:

Standard level

80 hours of instruction on 6 topics

with 30 hours of instruction on two options from:

Higher level

80 hours of instruction on 6 topics in the standard course and 55 hours on a further 5 topics:

with 45 hours of instruction on addition topics in the SL course plus:

Biology (2016–2022)

[15]

Topics

SL/HL core

HL extension

Options

Design technology (2009–2015)

Topics addressed in this course include:

with additional topics in the higher level:

Design technology (2016–2022)

[17]

Topics

SL/HL core

HL extension

Sport, exercise and health science (2014–2020)

[18]

Topics

Core

All candidates study the 6 core topics (80 hours):

Options

In addition, they also study two of the following four options (30 hours):

Environmental systems and societies (2010–2016)

[19]

Topics

All topics are compulsory (i.e. there are no options).

The remaining 30 hours are derived from the internal assessment (practical work), making a total of 150 teaching hours.

Assessment

There are two external assessment components and one internal assessment component.

External assessment

Calculators are required for both papers.

Internal assessment

Candidates will need to complete 30 hours of practical work throughout the course. Each of the three criteria - planning (Pl), data collection and processing (DCP) and discussion, evaluation and conclusion (DEC) - are assessed twice, while the fourth criterion - personal skills (PS) - is assessed summatively throughout the course. The maximum raw mark is 42, which contributes 20% of the course.

Computer science (2014–2020)

[20] The computer science course was recently updated and moved from Group 5 (as an elective course) to Group 4, becoming a full course, from first examinations in 2014. The structure and assessment of the course has changed to greater emphasize problem solving rather than Java program construction.[21] The curriculum model for the course still differs from other Group 4 subjects however.

Topics

Standard Level candidates study the SL/HL core (80 hours) and the core of one option (30 hours), while Higher Level candidates study the SL/HL core (80 hours), HL extension (45 hours), an annually-issued case study (30 hours) and the whole of one option (30 + 15 hours). The remaining 40 hours for both Standard and Higher Level comes from the internal assessment component, for a total of 150 teaching hours at SL and 240 hours at HL.

SL/HL core

HL extension

Options

Assessment

There are three external assessment components and two internal assessment components.

External assessment

Unlike other Group 4 subjects, calculators are not permitted in any computer science examination.

Internal assessment

Both SL and HL candidates must complete the following:

Both components carry a weightage of 30% (SL) or 20% (HL) of the computer science course.

Group 4 project

All students of the Diploma Programme in any of these subjects, with the exception of environmental systems and societies, will compulsorily complete an inter-disciplinary and collaborative investigation called the Group 4 project. The Group 4 project assessment is included in the internal assessment marks. Students undertaking two or more group 4 courses will obtain the same mark for all of the courses.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ "Diploma Programme curriculum: Group 4, Experimental Sciences". ibo.com. Retrieved 3 Jul 2009.
  2. ↑ "Diploma Programme curriculum". ibo.com. Retrieved 2009-06-26.
  3. ↑ Sports, Exercise, & Health subject guide 2007, p. 4.
  4. ↑ "Group 4 Curriculum Review - AEM Annual Conference" (PDF). International Baccalaureate Organization. The Hague. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  5. ↑ Allott, Andrew. "The 2014 IB Science changes". Oxford University Press. Retrieved 8 February 2014.
  6. ↑ Diploma programme assessment, IB, retrieved June 5, 2011
  7. ↑ IB physics standard level subject brief (PDF), IB, retrieved June 5, 2011
  8. ↑ IB physics higher level subject brief (PDF), IB, retrieved June 5, 2011
  9. ↑ IB Diploma Programme Physics guide (first assessment 2016) (PDF). Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom: International Baccalaureate Organization (UK) Ltd. February 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  10. ↑ IB chemistry standard level subject brief (PDF), IB, retrieved June 5, 2011
  11. ↑ IB chemistry higher level subject brief (PDF), IB, retrieved June 5, 2011
  12. ↑ IB Diploma Programme Chemistry guide (first assessment 2016) (PDF). Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom: International Baccalaureate Organization (UK) Ltd. February 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  13. ↑ IB biology standard level subject brief (PDF), IB, retrieved June 5, 2011
  14. ↑ IB biology higher level subject brief (PDF), IB, retrieved June 5, 2011
  15. ↑ IB Diploma Programme Biology guide (first assessment 2016) (PDF). Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom: International Baccalaureate Organization (UK) Ltd. February 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  16. ↑ Syllabus, SL/HL core content, DesTech Wiki, retrieved June 6, 2011
  17. ↑ IB Diploma Programme Design technology guide (first assessment 2016) (PDF). Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom: International Baccalaureate Organization (UK) Ltd. February 2014. Retrieved 21 April 2014.
  18. ↑ IB Diploma Programme Sport, exercise and health science guide (first examinations 2014). Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom: International Baccalaureate Organization. March 2012.
  19. ↑ IB Diploma Programme Environmental systems and societies guide (first examinations 2010). Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom: International Baccalaureate Organization. January 2008.
  20. ↑ IB Diploma Programme Computer science guide (first examinations 2014). Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom: International Baccalaureate Organization. January 2012.
  21. ↑ "Changes to the IB Diploma Programme computer science courses: A guide for universities" (PDF). International Baccalaureate Organization. December 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2013. Retrieved 16 November 2013.

References

External links

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