Bio-SL entrance test

This test is just for students who want to take Bio-SL but who did not take Bio-2.   By taking and passing an entrance test you are showing that you have basic knowledge of these areas and are an independent learner who is likely to be successful in DP Biology.   If you have the potential we want you to participate in the DP program! but if DP is beyond your reach, then we want to make sure you study something that you will be successful doing.

Text

You can access (and print if you want!) the whole online Biology textbook we use for Bio1 and Bio2 on the internet.  When you click on the link then the book will upload (you may have to wait a few seconds) and you will see the unit numbers on the left of the page.  When you click a unit it will show you the individual chapters. 

The Test

Your test will be a textbook test; so it will be questions written by the textbook publisher.   The goal of the test is to check to see that students have familiarity with basic biology concepts, are able to use biological vocabulary in reading and writing and can apply basic biological principles.  There will be:

•  multiple choice questions

•  fill in the blank

•  short answer (1-3 point questions)

•  data and you have to interpret the data (like picture or graph or table) to answer the questions

•  2 "essay" questions (worth 5 - 10 points each)  Note that "essay" means writing a long answer worth 5-10 points but it does NOT mean an essay like you would do in English class.

How to study

     You should read all the required chapters & sections.  One very good idea is to do the worksheets in each section called "Reading and Study Workbook A" (which appear as icons on the upper left of the first page of each section).  I will not grade these worksheets, but it would be a simple and helpful method of studying to print the worksheet and complete the worksheet as you read the section.  This will help you get the most out of your study time; ie. learn efficiently.

     At the end of each chapter (like chapter 2), there is a section called "Assessment."  If you go to that page you will see icons with names like "Reviewing Content" and "Understanding Concepts" and "Critical Thinking."  Your test questions will look very similar to those and may, in some cases, even be the same question.  Do ALL of these questions IF they apply to a section you are studying.  In other words, at the end of chapter 18 do all of the questions that apply to section 18.1 because that is the only section you are studying in chapter 18.

     If you can complete the assessment questions at the end of each section successfully then you will do great on the test.  If you cannot complete the assessment questions at the end of each section successfully then you are unlikely to get into Bio SL.

What to Study

The test you take will be on the following chapters/sections (note they are not in numerical order, but rather in the order the IB recommends).  The following topics are what is studied in Bio 1 &2.  These areas below form the "core" of DP biology and we will study them in more detail in the IB.  The test will focus on the main concepts and facts in each section/chapter.  However, as you know from experience, the more you can recall the better

Cells

Chapter 7: Cell Structure and Function

     Study sections 7.1-7.4

Chapter 10:  Cell Growth and Division

     Study sections 10.1 - 10.2

Chemistry of Life

Chapter 2: Chemistry of Life

     Study sections 2.1-2.4

Chapter 12:  DNA and RNA

     Study sections 12.1-12.3

Genetics

Chapter 11:  Introduction to Genetics

     Study sections 11.1-11.3

Ecology

Chapter 5: Populations

     Study sections 5.1 - 5.3

Chapter 18: Classification

     Study sections 18.1