IB Biology HL · 2025

1.6 Diversity of organisms

14 past paper questions from 10 papers across 4 exam sessions. See what repeats, then practise the same skills with AI marking.

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HL archive · 2025 to 2026

1.6 Diversity of organisms

Latest exam session: May 2026

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By year10micro-topics

Micro-topics in 1.6 Diversity of organisms

In syllabus order. The ring is the share of papers each appears in. 5 of them have no matching questions in this archive.

  • 0

    1.6.1

    Variation between organisms as a defining feature of life

    No question tagged to this topic in the 18 Biology HL papers analysed

    No matches in this archiveRevise it
  • 0

    1.6.2

    Species as groups of organisms with shared traits

    No question tagged to this topic in the 18 Biology HL papers analysed

    No matches in this archiveRevise it
  • 17

    1.6.3

    Binomial system for naming organisms

    3 questions · in 17% of papers

    Regular

    last May 26 P1 TZ1

  • 6

    1.6.4

    Biological species concept

    1 question · in 6% of papers

    Less common

    last May 25 P1 TZ3

  • 0

    1.6.5

    Difficulties distinguishing between populations and species

    No question tagged to this topic in the 18 Biology HL papers analysed

    No matches in this archiveRevise it
  • 6

    1.6.6

    Diversity in chromosome numbers of plant and animal species

    1 question · in 6% of papers

    Less common

    last Nov 25 P2 TZ1

  • 6

    1.6.7

    Karyotyping and karyograms

    1 question · in 6% of papers

    Less common

    last May 25 P1 TZ1

  • 0

    1.6.8

    Unity and diversity of genomes within species

    No question tagged to this topic in the 18 Biology HL papers analysed

    No matches in this archiveRevise it
  • 0

    1.6.9

    Diversity of eukaryote genomes

    No question tagged to this topic in the 18 Biology HL papers analysed

    No matches in this archiveRevise it
  • 6

    1.6.10

    Comparison of genome sizes

    1 question · in 6% of papers

    Less common

    last Spec 25 P1

  • 6

    1.6.11

    Current and potential future uses of whole genome sequencing

    1 question · in 6% of papers

    Less common

    last May 26 P2 TZ3

  • 6

    1.6.12

    Difficulties applying the biological species concept

    1 question · in 6% of papers

    Less common

    last Nov 25 P2 TZ3

  • 6

    1.6.13

    Chromosome number as a shared trait within a species

    1 question · in 6% of papers

    Less common

    last May 26 P2 TZ2

  • 6

    1.6.14

    Developing a dichotomous key for local species

    1 question · in 6% of papers

    Less common

    last Spec 25 P1

  • 17

    1.6.15

    Identification of species from environmental DNA using barcodes

    3 questions · in 17% of papers

    Regular

    last May 26 P1 TZ3

Exam pattern

How often each micro-topic has been examined, year by year. Each label is explained under the grid.

Does it repeat?

Top 4 of 10 micro-topics for the next sitting. Numbers are questions per year.

fewermore

Micro-topic20252026
2Binomial system for naming organisms, 2025: 2 questions1Binomial system for naming organisms, 2026: 1 question
1Identification of species from environmental DNA using barcodes, 2025: 1 question2Identification of species from environmental DNA using barcodes, 2026: 2 questions
·Chromosome number as a shared trait within a species, 2025: 0 questions1Chromosome number as a shared trait within a species, 2026: 1 question
·Current and potential future uses of whole genome sequencing, 2025: 0 questions1Current and potential future uses of whole genome sequencing, 2026: 1 question

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Questions on 1.6 Diversity of organisms, by exam session

Which papers asked about 1.6 Diversity of organisms, and which question numbers. Open a paper to see them highlighted.

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Frequently asked questions

Short answers about this page.

Which Biology HL exam sessions are covered for 1.6 Diversity of organisms?

4 exam sessions from 2025 to 2026, the latest May 2026. Every Paper 1 and 2 in every timezone is read and classified in full, which gives 10 papers in this archive.

Which 1.6 Diversity of organisms topic comes up most?

Binomial system for naming organisms (1.6.3): in 17% of papers, last seen May 26 P1 TZ1. Usually "Identify", worth about 1 marks in a paper that includes it.

Can I see the original question and mark scheme?

No. The wording belongs to the IB. You get the citation, the marks, the command term and the skill tested, plus our own matched practice questions with worked answers and AI marking.

What do "banker", "due" and "rising" mean?

Banker: examined in at least one sitting in four and still appearing. Due: regular before, but absent for the last two exam sessions. Rising: clearly more common in the last two years. Our classification of real papers, not an IB statistic.

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