You can get free IB DP Biology notes, organised by topic, on the Tutopiya Learning Portal, for both SL and HL. The table below links each part of the course to its notes. Use them to learn the content, then practise with past-paper-style questions and markschemes.

Key takeaways

• Free Biology notes are on the portal at SL and HL.
• The course was restructured for exams from May 2025, so check any older notes against the current subject guide.
• The internal assessment counts towards your final grade, so plan it alongside your content revision.
• Notes alone rarely secure a 7. Combine them with active recall and timed practice.

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How IB DP Biology is assessed

Component	Level	What it involves
Paper 1	SL and HL	Paper 1A multiple choice and Paper 1B data-based questions
Paper 2	SL and HL	Data-based, short-answer and extended-response questions
Internal assessment	SL and HL	Scientific investigation, 20% of the grade

Free Biology notes by topic

The current IB Biology course, first examined in May 2025, is organised into four themes. The links below go to the portal’s pages for each theme.

Topic	Free notes
Theme A: Unity and diversity	Free notes
Theme B: Form and function	Free notes
Theme C: Interaction and interdependence	Free notes
Theme D: Continuity and change	Free notes
Tools and skills	Free notes
Inquiry process	Free notes

What good Biology notes look like

• Organise by theme and level of organisation. The current course links molecules, cells, organisms and ecosystems, so your notes should too.
• Diagrams from memory. Cell structures, membranes, the heart and the nephron should be drawn without looking.
• Data skills. Paper 1B and Paper 2 test data analysis, so practise with graphs and tables.

How to revise with free notes

1. Start from the subject guide. Tick off each topic as you finish its notes, at your level.
2. Read, then close the notes. Write down what you remember, then check the gaps.
3. Practise questions. Use past-paper-style questions for each topic, then full timed papers closer to the exam.
4. Mark with markschemes. Add missing key terms and steps to your notes.
5. Protect IA time. Schedule internal assessment work so it doesn’t crowd out revision.

Common mistakes

• Using notes written for the old syllabus without checking coverage
• Skipping data-based question practice
• Vague wording where precise terms are expected

Other free and low-cost IB sources

• Your school’s subject guide and specimen papers: the definitive list of what is assessed. IB past papers are sold through the IB’s official store, so ask your school what it already has.
• Revision Village, Clastify and similar platforms: useful for practice questions and IA examples, with free and paid tiers. See websites like Save My Exams for IB.
• Our IB resources hub: free IB study materials, formula sheets and past papers.

When notes aren’t enough

If one topic or paper keeps costing marks, a one-to-one IB tutor who teaches your subject and level can find the gap quickly. Tutopiya tutors set their own rates, plans start from 4 hours a month, and the trial lesson is free with no card required.

Related

• Save My Exams alternative for IB Biology
• IB Biology grade boundaries
• IB Biology IA: topic ideas and criteria
• IB Biology Revision Guide: Complete Study Tips for HL and SL Students
• Free IB notes for every subject
• Websites like Save My Exams for IB

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Frequently asked questions

Where can I get free IB Biology notes? +

The Tutopiya Learning Portal has free IB DP Biology notes for SL and HL, organised by topic and linked on this page. Your school's subject guide and specimen papers are the other essential free source.

Are old IB Biology notes still useful? +

Partly. Much of the content carries over, but the current course, first examined in May 2025, is organised by themes and has a different assessment structure. Check old notes against the current subject guide.

Are free notes enough for a 7 in IB Biology? +

Rarely on their own. Use notes to learn the content, practise with past-paper-style questions and markschemes, and plan the internal assessment early.

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