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International Baccalaureate · IB Diploma Programme

IB Diploma Programme Chemistry

Chemistry for IB Diploma Programme (syllabus DP Chemistry) — what the qualification covers, and the study material Marlbridge publishes for it.

Syllabus
DP Chemistry
Qualification
IB Diploma Programme

At a glance

Qualification
IB Diploma Programme Chemistry
Spec code
DP Chemistry
Does Marlbridge teach it?
Yes
Are resources available?
Yes — 9 published
Is enrolment open?
Enquire to join — no online enrolment yet
Where was this verified?
2026-09-04, official International Baccalaureate specification

Compiled and maintained by the Marlbridge Academic Team, checked against the official International Baccalaureate specification on 2026-09-04.

Spotted something wrong on this page? Report an error — see the corrections policy.

The qualification

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Chemistry

IB DP Chemistry is concerned with identifying patterns that help explain matter at the microscopic level, allowing its behaviour to be predicted and controlled at a macroscopic level, combining representative models and explanatory theories with an emphasis on scientific inquiry, at Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL). — International Baccalaureate, official syllabus page

First assessment 2025. Sourced from the freely public official subject brief plus the freely public official specimen exam papers, both directly fetched and read this session -- no licensed subject guide was needed. Six structure/reactivity topics plus an experimental programme including a scientific investigation. See the matching assessment record for the sourced paper-by-paper breakdown, modeled at Higher Level only.

Specifications change between examination series. Always confirm the current syllabus and assessment structure on the International Baccalaureate syllabus page for your examination year.

Assessment structure

Component-based qualification

Assessment components for International Baccalaureate Chemistry DP Chemistry
Component Duration Marks Weighting Type
Paper 1: Paper 1 -- Section A: Multiple Choice and Section B: Data-Based Questions and Questions on Experimental Work (HL) 2h 75 36% Multiple choice
Paper 2: Paper 2 -- Short-Answer and Extended-Response Questions (HL) 2h 30m 90 44% Written exam
Internal Assessment: Internal Assessment -- Scientific Investigation (HL) 24 20% Practical

Source: official International Baccalaureate specification, verified 2026-09-04. Higher Level only. The freely public official specimen-paper PDF (for first examinations 2025) was directly fetched and read this session, confirming real printed mark totals for the Higher Level papers -- Paper 1 (Section 1A multiple-choice, 40 marks, and Section 1B data-based questions and questions on experimental work, 35 marks, sat together in one 2-hour session, 75 marks combined, 36% of the final grade, calculator and data booklet permitted) and Paper 2 (short-answer and extended-response questions, 2 hours 30 minutes, 90 marks, 44%, calculator and data booklet permitted) -- but the same document could not be fully extracted through available tooling past the Higher Level Paper 2 markscheme, before reaching the Standard Level papers, which the document's own table of contents confirms it also contains. Standard Level is therefore not included here rather than estimated from the Higher Level figures. The Internal Assessment (an individual scientific investigation reported as a written report, maximum 3,000 words) is marked against four criteria -- Research Design, Data Analysis, Conclusion, Evaluation -- worth 6 marks each, 24 marks total, 20% of the final grade, internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB; this mark total was independently corroborated against a current, actively maintained third-party IB revision resource rather than read directly from the partially inaccessible primary specimen document. Weighting and duration figures throughout are read directly from the official public subject brief.

Assessment FAQs

How is International Baccalaureate Chemistry (DP Chemistry) assessed?

International Baccalaureate Chemistry (DP Chemistry) is assessed through: Paper 1 (Paper 1 -- Section A: Multiple Choice and Section B: Data-Based Questions and Questions on Experimental Work) — 2h, 75 marks, 36% of the qualification; Paper 2 (Paper 2 -- Short-Answer and Extended-Response Questions) — 2h 30m, 90 marks, 44% of the qualification; Internal Assessment (Internal Assessment -- Scientific Investigation) — no fixed duration, 24 marks, 20% of the qualification. It is a component based qualification. Source: official International Baccalaureate specification, verified 2026-09-04.

The subject

Chemistry teaching and study resources, organised by level and topic.

All Chemistry at Marlbridge

Syllabus topics

The 6 topics below are the official subject content of International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Chemistry, for the First assessment 2025 examination series, reproduced from the International Baccalaureate syllabus document.

A topic listed here is part of the syllabus. It does not mean Marlbridge has published material for it — topics with resources are marked. Marlbridge currently has resources for 2 of 6 topics.

  1. 1 Structure 1 -- Models of the particulate nature of matter

    3 Marlbridge resources

    Introduction to the particulate nature of matter · The nuclear atom · Electron configurations · Counting particles by mass: The mole · Ideal gases

  2. 2 Structure 2 -- Models of bonding and structure

    Syllabus topic · no resource yet
  3. 3 Structure 3 -- Classification of matter

    Syllabus topic · no resource yet
  4. 4 Reactivity 1 -- What drives chemical reactions?

    Syllabus topic · no resource yet
  5. 5 Reactivity 2 -- How much, how fast and how far?

    Syllabus topic · no resource yet
  6. 6 Reactivity 3 -- What are the mechanisms of chemical change?

    3 Marlbridge resources

Source: International Baccalaureate Organization, Diploma Programme Subject Brief -- Sciences: Chemistry, first assessment 2025, published January 2022 — First assessment 2025 series. Verified 2026-09-02. Always check the current syllabus for your examination year.

Study resources

Revision material

Exam preparation

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