IB Science - Multiple choice questions

Multiple choice questions come up on practically every Group 4 IB subject - be it physics, chemistry, biology, ecosystems, sports sciences and so on....... Hence thats a lot of marks given as a gift - if you know the right techniques ;)!

Firstly, get familiar with the several types of questions:

Sequence type questions

Sequences are best addressed by reading down the first item in the sequence to eliminate the choices and then proceeding across the sequences until you have only one choice remaining.

For example:

What is the correct order of taxonomic categories from largest to smallest?

1. kingdom--> order--> class--> phylum --> species


2. species--> order--> phylum--> kingdom--> class


3. kingdom--> phylum--> class--> order--> species


4. species--> order--> class--> phylum--> kingdom

Now you have only to choose between the two.  Next look down the second item of the sequence to eliminate the false choice.

1. kingdom--> order--> class--> phylum --> species


2. 
   


3. kingdom--> phylum--> class--> order--> species


4. 
   

Finally you have the answer!

1. 
   


2. kingdom--> phylum--> class--> order--> species


3. 
   

Table type questions

Frequently, it is easier to read down one of the columns and eliminate the items that are not correct.

The questions usually are comparative of structures or functions.

Which of the following shows the correct features of arteries and veins?

artery vein a thick elastic wall thin inelastic wall b thin elastic wall thick inelastic wall c thin inelastic wall thick elastic wall d thick inelastic wall thin elastic wall
so if you read down you can eliminate: artery vein a thick elastic wall thin inelastic wall b thin elastic wall thick inelastic wall c
d and finally:
artery vein
a thick elastic wall thin inelastic wall

Genetics questions

Various type of genetic crosses, pedigrees will be shown here.  How to identify genotypes and inheritance patterns will be illustrated.

• Crosses


• Monohybrid ( single trait)


• Dihybrid (two traits)


• Non-Mendelian crosses


• Sex-linked


• blood types


• codominant- dihybrid


• Polygenic ( multiple genes)

Data based question strategies

See the more detailed post on data response questions.

Graphical presentation questions

See the more detailed post on how to interpret graphs.

I, II, III- type

These questions give you  a combination of three or four options.  The best way to attack is to eliminate the options (I, II, III, IV) you know (feel) are incorrect and then eliminate any answers with those options.  Be ready to accept all the options!

Which of the following are required for proper blood clotting?
I.       Release of thrombokinase from platelets and damaged tissues
II.     Damage to leucocytes
III.   Prothrombin in the plasma
IV.    Fibrinogen in the plasma
A. I only
B. III and IV only
C. I, III and IVonly
D. I, II, III and IV

Since leucocytes are not involved in blood clotting, this option is not required so any answer choice with II is wrong- eliminate D.

Since thrombokinase, prothrombin and fibrinogen are all needed, then C is correct answer.

Image interpretation

The IB will present diagrams, drawings and electronmicrographs in questions.  You will be asked to interpret the image for knowledge about specific details:

-- structure and function of organelles

-mitochondria

-- structure and function of  cells- acini, epithelial (microvilli)

-- prokaryotic vs eukaryotic cells

-- plant vs animal cells

You should be able to accurately measure and calculate the magnification or actual size given relevant information.

Other images to interpret:

-- organs or systems- structure and function

-- food chains, pyramids, cycles

-- metabolic pathways and processes

-- DNA profiles, karyotypes, pedigrees