Biology subject report · November 2009

November 2009 extended essay reports Page 1 © International Baccalaureate Organization 2009 BIOLOGY Overall grade boundaries Grade: E D C B A Mark range: 0 - 7 8 - 15 16 - 22 23 - 28 29 - 36 General comments The performance of candidates using the current Extended Essay Guide (first examinations 2009) was assessed for the first time in the May 2009 session. According to the current guide, extended essays in all subjects are assessed against the same eleven criteria which are interpreted on the basis of subject guidelines (the subject specific guidelines for biology can be found in the current EE guide on pages 46 to 51). Marking in the November 2009 session was preceded by a series of online training sessions for examiners aimed at ensuring consistency in marking and in the interpretation of the guide. It is rewarding and encouraging to see that the extended essay in biology continues to be a popular choice (despite the challenges it poses for candidates as well as for the supervisors). It is also rewarding to see that, in most cases, candidates are being encouraged to adopt a practical approach to their research, using a combination experimentation and/or field work. As was the case in the May 2009 session, the work submitted for November 2009 revealed a high level of enthusiasm for biology as well as well as ample evidence of independen ce and insight on the part of the candidates. The new guide is more explicit in terms of the roles of the school and the supervisor and it is clear that the majority of schools and supervisors are meeting these demands and that schools are providing an app ropriately structured and safe environment for candidates to conduct their research. However, examiners report that in some cases candidates (and possibly their supervisors) do not appear to be familiar with the new guide with the result that the work does not address the criteria adequately. The remainder of this report will deal primarily with those areas where candidates are in need of guidance and supervision and where the attention of both candidates and supervisors needs to be more clearly focused on the new criteria. There can be no