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All About IB Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics & Beyond

If Group 3 is all about understanding people and society, Group 4 is where you dive into the natural world i.e atoms, cells, forces, ecosystems, and the very building blocks of life.

Whether you're a future engineer, doctor, researcher, or just someone who loves understanding how things work, Group 4 offers a suite of science subjects that train your mind to observe, hypothesize, experiment, and evaluate.

All about IB Group 4 IB Sciences: Biology, Chemistry, Physics & Beyond. HL and SL comparison and test structure.

Let’s break down the curriculum, assessment format, and unique features of IB Sciences, all in a student-friendly, conversational style.


What Subjects Fall Under Group 4?


Here’s your science menu:

Subject

What It Covers

Biology

Living organisms, ecosystems, cells, genetics, evolution

Chemistry

Structure of matter, chemical reactions, bonding, stoichiometry

Physics

Motion, energy, waves, electricity, fields, quantum theory

Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS)

A hybrid science + humanities course (counts as Group 3 or 4)

Computer Science

Software, logic, problem-solving, system fundamentals

Design Technology

Innovation, systems thinking, product development

Sports, Exercise and Health Science (SEHS)

Human anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, nutrition

Most students choose from Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. ESS is ideal for those who want a science with a broader environmental lens and less intense math.

What Do You Study?


Let’s use Biology/Chemistry/Physics as our core example, but most Group 4 subjects follow a common structure:


1. Core Topics (SL and HL)

Shared across all students in the subject. For example, in IB Physics:

  • Mechanics

  • Waves

  • Electricity and Magnetism

  • Thermal physics


2. Additional HL Topics

HL students study extra material in greater depth. For example, HL Physics adds:

  • Quantum and nuclear physics

  • Fields

  • Electromagnetic induction


3. Practical Work + Internal Assessment

Every science student conducts experiments, collects data, and draws conclusions, all while documenting in a lab notebook or digital journal.



Assessment Structure: How You're Graded


External Assessments (80%)

Paper

What It Tests

Duration (SL/HL)

Paper 1

Multiple choice on core topics

45 min / 1 hr

Paper 2

Short and long-answer questions (core + HL)

1 hr 15 / 2 hr 15

Paper 3

Data-based + optional topic questions

1 hr / 1 hr 15

Note: You are allowed a data booklet in most Group 4 exams.

Internal Assessment (IA) – 20%


You’ll conduct a personal scientific investigation and write a report (~6–12 pages). This can be a lab experiment, a field study, or even a simulation.

Examples:

  • “How does temperature affect enzyme activity?”

  • “Measuring the acceleration due to gravity using a pendulum”

  • “The effect of salt concentration on boiling point”

You design the method, analyze data, and discuss uncertainties. It’s your mini research project!



The Group 4 Project (Collaborative Science)


This is one of the coolest things about IB Science. Students from all Group 4 disciplines work together on a collaborative, interdisciplinary science project, typically based around a global theme (like sustainability, energy, or pollution).

It’s not graded but it builds teamwork, communication, and creativity, and many schools treat it like a mini science fair.


SL vs HL: What’s the Difference?

Feature

SL

HL

Hours of instruction

~150

~240

Depth of content

Core only

Core + extension topics

Math level

Moderate

More derivations & quantitative analysis

Career prep

General

Stronger foundation for STEM pathways

Choose HL if you're eyeing:

  • Medicine

  • Engineering

  • Research science

  • Data science

  • Environmental science

SL is perfect if you want a solid understanding but don’t plan on continuing science post-IB.



Real-Life Benefits & University Recognition


Science is a universal language and IB Science builds:

  • Lab competence and data analysis skills

  • Scientific literacy (a big deal in the age of AI, pandemics, and climate change)

  • Academic readiness for university-level science

Universities often give course credit for HL science, especially in the US. And in the UK, HL Biology and Chemistry are typically required for medicine or biomedical degrees.



All About IB Sciences


IB Sciences are hands-on, thought-provoking, and challenging — but in a way that pushes you to ask questions about the world, not just memorize it.

Whether you’re dissecting a leaf, analyzing an electric field, or modeling a chemical reaction, Group 4 is about learning how the universe ticks.

Just don’t forget your lab goggles!

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