IB Biology Study Plan: Week-by-Week Schedule | LearnByTeaching.ai
This 10-week IB Biology revision plan covers all core topics for both SL and HL students, with HL extensions clearly marked. The plan builds from molecular-level concepts to organism and ecosystem-level topics, with integrated past paper practice and data analysis skills throughout. Begin this plan 10 weeks before your May exams.
10
weeks
10
hrs / week
100
total hours
Weekly Plan
Rest & Review Strategy
Take one full day off per week from IB Biology revision. If you are studying multiple IB subjects, alternate your rest days. On rest days, avoid all biology materials to prevent burnout. If revision fatigue sets in, swap a session for watching a Cheryl Hickman video rather than doing questions.
Adjustment Tips
- 1
If you are SL only, skip the HL extensions and use that time for additional past paper practice on core topics.
- 2
If your IA is still in progress, allocate 2 hours per week to IA work and extend this plan to 12 weeks.
- 3
If genetics is your strongest topic, condense Week 3 and reallocate the time to human physiology or ecology.
- 4
If you struggle with extended response questions, add 30 minutes of essay practice twice per week starting in Week 5.
- 5
If you are also revising for other IB exams, reduce this plan to 8 hours per week and prioritize past paper practice over content review.
Final Week Protocol
Day 1
Monday: Take a final Paper 1 (MCQ) under timed conditions to sharpen quick recall.
Day 2
Tuesday: Review errors from the Paper 1 — focus on patterns, not individual facts.
Day 3
Wednesday: Practice drawing all key diagrams from memory: cell structure, heart, DNA replication, photosynthesis, and respiration.
Day 4
Thursday: Light review of summary sheets — skim each topic for 5 minutes.
Day 5
Friday: Review exam logistics: which papers are on which day, time limits, and what materials to bring.
Day 6
Saturday: Rest completely — no studying. Relax and get a good night of sleep.
Day 7
Sunday (Exam Day): Read each question carefully, pay attention to command terms, and allocate time per mark (approximately 1 minute per mark on Paper 2).