IB BIOLOGY: CLASSIFICATION KEY
PREDICTED CERTIFICATION SCRIPT
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ What are the major themes covered in biology?.
Answer: Unity and Diversity, Form and Function, Interaction and
Interdependence, Continuity and Change.
◍ Why do biologists classify organisms?.
Answer: To show relationships of organisms.
◍ What is the significance of the themes of biology?.
Answer: They are applicable to all levels of biological organization.
◍ What are the levels of biological organization from least to most complex?.
Answer: Molecular, Cellular, Organismal, Ecological.
◍ What is classification?.
Answer: The grouping of objects or information based on similarities.
◍ Define biotic and abiotic..
Answer: Biotic refers to living things, while abiotic refers to non-living
things.
◍ What is taxonomy?.
Answer: The branch of biology that groups and names organisms based on
studies of their different characteristics.
◍ Who studies taxonomy?.
Answer: Biologists who study taxonomy are called taxonomists.
◍ What is an emergent property?.
, Answer: A new property that emerges at each level of biological
organization.
◍ Give an example of an emergent property at the cellular level..
Answer: The ability of a neuron to transmit signals.
◍ What processes are common to all life forms?.
Answer: Metabolism, Homeostasis, Excretion, Growth, Nutrition,
Movement, Reproduction, Response to stimuli.
◍ Define metabolism..
Answer: The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms.
◍ What is homeostasis?.
Answer: The ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal
environment.
◍ What is the morphological species concept?.
Answer: A definition of species based on physical characteristics.
◍ Approximately how many species have biologists named?.
Answer: About 1.8 million species.
◍ What is taxonomy?.
Answer: The science of classifying organisms.
◍ List the levels of classification in the traditional hierarchy of taxa..
Answer: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
◍ What is binomial nomenclature?.
Answer: A two-part naming system for organisms consisting of genus and
species.
◍ What are the four rules of binomial nomenclature?.
Answer: 1. Genus name is capitalized, 2. Species name is lowercase, 3. Both
names are italicized or underlined, 4. The genus name can be abbreviated
after the first use.
◍ What is the estimated total number of species on Earth?.
PREDICTED CERTIFICATION SCRIPT
2026 QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS
GRADED A+
◍ What are the major themes covered in biology?.
Answer: Unity and Diversity, Form and Function, Interaction and
Interdependence, Continuity and Change.
◍ Why do biologists classify organisms?.
Answer: To show relationships of organisms.
◍ What is the significance of the themes of biology?.
Answer: They are applicable to all levels of biological organization.
◍ What are the levels of biological organization from least to most complex?.
Answer: Molecular, Cellular, Organismal, Ecological.
◍ What is classification?.
Answer: The grouping of objects or information based on similarities.
◍ Define biotic and abiotic..
Answer: Biotic refers to living things, while abiotic refers to non-living
things.
◍ What is taxonomy?.
Answer: The branch of biology that groups and names organisms based on
studies of their different characteristics.
◍ Who studies taxonomy?.
Answer: Biologists who study taxonomy are called taxonomists.
◍ What is an emergent property?.
, Answer: A new property that emerges at each level of biological
organization.
◍ Give an example of an emergent property at the cellular level..
Answer: The ability of a neuron to transmit signals.
◍ What processes are common to all life forms?.
Answer: Metabolism, Homeostasis, Excretion, Growth, Nutrition,
Movement, Reproduction, Response to stimuli.
◍ Define metabolism..
Answer: The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms.
◍ What is homeostasis?.
Answer: The ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal
environment.
◍ What is the morphological species concept?.
Answer: A definition of species based on physical characteristics.
◍ Approximately how many species have biologists named?.
Answer: About 1.8 million species.
◍ What is taxonomy?.
Answer: The science of classifying organisms.
◍ List the levels of classification in the traditional hierarchy of taxa..
Answer: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.
◍ What is binomial nomenclature?.
Answer: A two-part naming system for organisms consisting of genus and
species.
◍ What are the four rules of binomial nomenclature?.
Answer: 1. Genus name is capitalized, 2. Species name is lowercase, 3. Both
names are italicized or underlined, 4. The genus name can be abbreviated
after the first use.
◍ What is the estimated total number of species on Earth?.
