Biology Past Papers 2026
Browse all available Biology sessions from 2003-2026. This archive currently includes 1,006 official papers and 12 donated papers.
40
Sessions
1,018
Papers
1,006
Official
2003-2026
Years
May 2026
Latest Session
40
Sessions
2003–2026
330
Question Papers
139
Markschemes
42% coverage
Components & time pressure
Marks per minute = how fast you have to write. Anything above 0.85 is tight; above 1.0 is brutal.
| Paper | Component | Marks | Duration | Marks / min | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1A | Multiple Choice | 40 | HL: 2h (40 MCQs) / SL shares ~22 common questions | 0.25 | Steady |
| Paper 1B | Data-based and Skills | 35 | Included in Paper 1 time (HL: 35 marks) | 1.00 | Very high |
| Paper 2 | Structured and Extended Response | 80 | HL: 2h 30m (80 marks) | 0.53 | Steady |
Components: 7 papers, up to 5 variants each. Component data extracted from 4 official IB subject reports (2024, 2025).
May 2026
Latest Session
40
Sessions
2003–2026
326
Question Papers
178
Markschemes
55% coverage
Components & time pressure
Marks per minute = how fast you have to write. Anything above 0.85 is tight; above 1.0 is brutal.
| Paper | Component | Marks | Duration | Marks / min | Pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1A | Multiple Choice | 30 | SL: 1h 30m (30 MCQs) | 0.33 | Steady |
| Paper 1B | Data-based and Skills | 25 | Included in Paper 1 time (SL: 25 marks) | 1.00 | Very high |
| Paper 2 | Structured and Extended Response | 50 | SL: 1h 30m (50 marks) | 0.56 | Steady |
Components: 5 papers, up to 5 variants each. Component data extracted from 4 official IB subject reports (2024, 2025).
Yearly Exam Sessions
What IB examiners say about Biology
Verbatim quotes from 4 official IB subject reports (2025–2024). Every quote is attributable to a specific paper and session — these are the things IB markers flag year after year.
Imprecise biological terminology
Detail matters in biology; key terms must be precise.
Evaluation criterion (IA)
Weakest criterion. Few weaknesses noted; generic ones given. Most described weaknesses but few explained them. Almost none considered relative impact.
Confusing related biological concepts
Common confusion of transcription with DNA replication.
About IB Biology
IB Biology is a Group 4 science covering cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, ecology, evolution and biodiversity, and human physiology. HL students additionally study nucleic acids, metabolism, plant biology, genetics and evolution in depth, and animal physiology. The subject emphasises experimental work, scientific inquiry, and real-world applications.
Our IB Biology past paper archive spans sessions from 2010 to 2025, with question papers and mark schemes for both SL and HL. Past paper practice across all three paper types is critical for achieving high grades, particularly for Paper 3's data-based questions which test skills that can't be learned from textbooks alone.
Exam Format
Paper 1 (SL: 45 min / HL: 1 hr)
Multiple-choice questions. SL: 30 questions; HL: 40 questions. Tests recall and application of core concepts.
Paper 2 (SL: 1 hr 15 min / HL: 2 hr 15 min)
Short-answer and extended-response questions. HL paper includes additional HL-only questions.
Paper 3 (SL: 1 hr / HL: 1 hr 15 min)
Section A: data-based question set around experimental data. Section B: option topic questions.
SL vs HL
IB Biology SL covers the core topics and one option. HL requires the same core plus five additional HL topics and a deeper option. HL students write significantly more in Paper 2, and the data-based questions in Paper 3 are more complex.
Study Tips for IB Biology
- ✓Draw and label diagrams for every major biological process — diagrams appear in nearly every exam.
- ✓Learn the command terms: 'state', 'outline', 'explain', 'evaluate' require different depths of answer.
- ✓For Paper 3 Section A, read the resource material carefully before answering — answers must reference the data.
- ✓Revise definitions precisely — IB Biology mark schemes are strict about biological terminology.
- ✓Make flashcards for all 'Understandings' listed in the syllabus guide.
- ✓Practise drawing graphs and calculating rates from data — common Paper 3 question types.
- ✓Focus on molecular biology and genetics — these topics carry the most marks across all papers.
Questions, answered.
Core topics include cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, ecology, evolution and biodiversity, and human physiology. HL adds nucleic acids, metabolism, plant biology, genetics and evolution, and animal physiology.
Three written papers (80%) plus Internal Assessment — individual investigation (20%). Paper 1 is multiple-choice; Papers 2 and 3 are structured and extended-response.
Yes. Most sessions in our archive include both the question paper and mark scheme. HL and SL papers are stored together in each session folder.
Students choose one of four options: A – Neurobiology and Behaviour, B – Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, C – Ecology and Conservation, or D – Human Physiology. Paper 3 Section B tests the chosen option.
IB grades are 1–7. A grade of 4 is considered a pass. For university entry, most institutions require 5–6 in HL Biology for science-related programmes.