How to score 7 in IB Biology SL? Here's the top tricks to achieving it before exam.

Sandy Asawaprecha
Sep 3, 2018 · 5 min read

Before we start, let me tell you one thing. My name is Sandy and I received my IB result on Nov 2016 so it was a while back when I took IB. When I was in highschool I wasn't the brightest in Bio class nor the most hardworking. Truthfully, I have lost my motivation to study Bio somewhere around year 5 (grade 11) and in my mind I know right away that I am doomed to score 4–5 in Bio SL.

So what has spiked up my score from predicted 4 to 7 in year 6(grade 12). Well thanks to my friend tutoring (I went to study with her 2–5 times at her house and cafe and gained loads of tricks). Plus, I got a new textbook and the new textbook kinda change my life. So listed below are the tricks and tips that you could use to gain more understanding about the topics in Bio SL. Because Bio is a reading subject they said so it's a must to be able to understand and breakdown things in order on your own.

  1. Mcgraw-Hill animation website or its youtube channel
Mcgraw-Hill Education website
This is the example of the animation from McGraw-Hll Education. Youtube is easier to access but it doesn't seem to contain all videos.

This website has a free section for Biology animation where all the important process in Biology SL as well as some in HL are explained in animation. This give you an overview of the process and is really helpful for the exam. Try to watch it again and again and note down the key points in the process.

link for website

http://highered.mheducation.com/olc/dl/120060/ravenanimation.html

link for youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxUHVv2k31uTOiCm4njuRfQ

2. Draw flow chart

Biology can be understood better in picture. Sometimes reading text in textbook can make you feel redundant and lose motivation. Try to breakdown the process. Only write the key points on the flow chart and draw it out. Use less words and picture it more. This way, you will understand better. Flow chart is a way to put everything you acquire from different sources together in a single DIY diagram. A month before exam, I took flowcharts from my file and put them on the wall inside my room so that I can always memorise them.

3. Use flashcards

Use handy ones like these flashcards so it will be easy to carry around. Ofc other brands is ok too.

I was a bit against using flashcards when my Bio teacher told the whole class to start jotting down keywords and points into flashcards. I mean, who will use flashcards in secondary school. Flashcards is so childish. But then here I was 3 months before exam. I decided to create my own sets of flashcards. I had two set that I kept with me and revise it on and off the bus, on the way to school, on the way back from school. I spent every minutes of my free time revising for Biology.

4. Change textbook

If you cannot make sense of the information in the textbook, fred not! you are not alone. I was in the same shoes before and I suggest that you try to look for alternative textbooks to textbook that your school use for Bio SL. Thankfully, IB Biology textbooks have a few variety of versions to choose from. So I bought a new (just released at that time) textbook to read alongside my school textbook. This is because some textbooks maybe more detailed but also wordy and has less infographics that can visualise the process in Biology. While another textbooks are. So, I recommend you using one alongside another to increase your chance of getting a 7. You go, man!

My highschool use these textbooks as the main resource for my Biology SL. Although the textbook is detailed and the information in the textbook actually came out in the exam (Nov 2016 Bio SL), it didn't suit me well. I don't always understood what was written in the book. So when the new textbook came out I changed to this which include more infographics.

All in all, you should read the books alongside each other.

5. join a study group

Find someone who is good at the subject and is willing help you. Join study group!

In terms of study group, it doesn't neccessarily has to be a big group. Maybe just a casual group of 2–3 people will do just fine. Try to find at least someone who is good at the subject as he/she can give advices to you. Before joining a study group with my friend, I always made lengthy notes (almost copy the whole paragraph from textbook) and look at videos on khan academy (but I didn't improve much from watching them).But after the study group I was advised to look at Mcgraw-Hill high education and draw flowchart, which really helps! So try to find your own group of peers and study together.

That's all. Thanks for reading my article so far. I hope it could be a little help for you to acheive grade 7 in Biology SL, cheers!

and remember that. It's alway seems impossible until it's done. Fighting!

Sandy Asawaprecha

Written by

UK management student.Traveller. Writer. Dreamer.

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