IB Chemistry
The Diploma Programme chemistry course includes the essential principles of the subject but also, through selection of options, allows some flexibility.
The course is available at both higher level and standard level, and therefore accommodates students who may wish to study science in higher education and those who do not.
The Course Content
The syllabus for the IB chemistry course is divided into three parts, the core, the additional higher level (AHL) material and the options.
The following units are studied by both higher and standard level students. Within each unit the higher level students cover additional material that is conceptually more demanding and which contains a higher degree of mathematical analysis.
Options for the standard level
A Higher physical organic chemistry
Options for standard or higher level
B Medicines and drugs
C Human biochemistry
D Environmental chemistry
E Chemical industries
F Fuels and energy
Options for higher level only
G Modern analytical techniques
H Further organic chemistry
Standard level candidates are required to study any two options from A to F.
Higher level candidates are required to study any two options from B to H.
What will the written examinations be like?
Assessment is by means of written examinations (76%) and practical work (24%) for both higher and standard level chemistry courses. At higher level there are three written examination papers:
Paper 1 (20%): 1 hour consists of 40 multiple choice questions. Calculators are not allowed but a periodic table is provided.
Paper 2 (36%): 2 hours 15 minutes consists of five structured questions and a choice of two from four longer answer questions. Calculators are allowed and a data booklet is provided
Paper 3 (20%): 1 hour 15 minutes consists of three questions form each of two selected options. The paper presents eight option choices. Calculators are allowed and data booklets are provided.
At standard level there are three written examination papers:
Paper 1 (20%): 45 minutes consists of 30 multiple choice questions. Calculators are not allowed but a periodic table is provided
Paper 2 (36%): 1 hours 15 minutes consists of some structured questions and a choice of one from three longer answer questions. Calculators are allowed and a data booklet is provided
Paper 3 (24%): 1 hour consists of two questions from each of two selected options. The paper presents eight option choices. Calculators are allowed and data booklets are provided.
Will I be assessed on my practical work?
The simple answer is yes. This is assessed by means of a practical course consisting of a series of experiments which you will carry out and write reports on in a separate laboratory exercise book. The reports are assessed according to the following eight criteria. These are:
You will be assessed at least twice on each of the eight criteria. The two marks for each of the criteria are added together to determine the final mark out of 48 for the internal assessment component. This will then be scaled by the board to give a total out of 24%.
Higher level students are required to spend 60 hours, and standard level students 40 hours, on practical activities (excluding time spent writing up work). These times include 10 to 15 hours for the group 4 project.
Each of the assessment criteria can be separated into two or three aspects.
Descriptions are provided to indicate what is expected in order to meet the requirements of a given aspect completely [c] and partially [p].
A description is also given for circumstances in which the requirements are not satisfied, not at all [n].
The Group 4 Project
The Group 4 project allows you to appreciate the environmental, social and ethical implications of science. The emphasis is on interdisciplinary cooperation and the processes involved in scientific investigation, rather than the products of such an investigation.
The exercise is a collaborative experience where concepts and perceptions from across the group 4 disciplines are shared. The intention is that you will analyse a topic or problem which can be investigated in each of the science subjects. The topic can be set in a local, national or international context.
Project Stages
The 10-15 hours allocated to the group 4 project can be divided into four stages:
Planning
This crucial stage should last about 2-4 hours and should consist of a single session, or two or three shorter ones. All science students will meet to ‘brainstorm’ and discuss the central topic, sharing ideas and information. After selecting a topic or issue, the activities to be carried out must be clearly defined before moving from the planning stage to the action and evaluation stages.
Definition of Activities
A possible strategy is that you define specific tasks for yourselves, either individually or as members of a group, and investigate various aspects of the chosen topic.
Action
This stage should take 6-8 hours in total and may be carried out over one or two weeks in normal scheduled class time. Alternatively a whole day could be set aside if, for example, the project involves fieldwork.
You will investigate your chosen topic from the perspective of the individual science disciplines. The emphasis during this stage is on collaboration; findings of investigations should be shared with others working on the project.
Evaluation
The emphasis during this stage, for which 2-4 hours is probably necessary, is on you sharing your findings, both successes and failures, with other students. The exact nature of this will be decided later in the year, although possible solutions involve:
Each student must show evidence of their participation in the project.
When will the project take place?
The project will take place towards the latter end of the lower sixth in the summer term.
The Final IB grades
The final grade awarded for chemistry is on a numbered scale form 1 to 7. What could I go on to do at the end of my course?
