This document provides instructional content for drawing and labeling diagrams essential for understanding various biological structures and processes relevant to the IB biology curriculum. It includes examples of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, diagrams of cellular processes such as mitosis and meiosis, and explanations of the structure of biomolecules. Additionally, the document emphasizes the use of correct labeling, clarity in drawings, and the importance of practicing these skills for effective revision.

1. Draw the Core
Label if you’re able
Annotate if you’re great
Stephen Taylor
http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 1

2. Draw the Core
http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 2
This presentation is for practice with assessment statements where
you need to draw, label, annotate or where a diagram would be very
helpful to describe, outline or identify.
One slide has the assessment statement. The next has the diagram
and the last has the diagram with labels.
How could you use it in your revision?
• QuickDraw flashcards – can you draw the item in the statement?
• Labeling practice – can you add the correct labels?
• Explain, outline, annotate, describe practice. Take the diagram or
image and use it to help in your treatment of objective 2 and 3
assessment statements.
This is a work in progress – but you might
find it useful. It will be updated later.
The diagrams in the presentation are all creative commons (unless otherwise noted), which means you can
share, edit and print them, as long as you cite the source as http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com.
Remember:
It’s an exercise in
clarity, not a
colouring-in
competition!
Assessment statements have been taken from the online IB Biology subject guide:
http://xmltwo.ibo.org/publications/migrated/production-app2.ibo.org/publication/7/part/2/chapter/2.html

3. Drawing in IB Biology Exams
http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 3
7. (a) Draw a labeled diagram showing the ultrastructure of a typical prokaryote. [4]
• You can use pencil and a ruler.
• You must not use coloured pencils.
As of 2011, exams will be scanned and look like this:
This bit gets cut off
The scanning machine only looks inside the boxes, so stay inside!
Use extra paper if needed, but include a note to that effect in this box.
Make sure the extra paper is labeled clearly.
• Draw clearly! Not too light or messy.
• Practice first on the scrap paper.

4. A Terrible Drawing…
http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 4

5. A Terrible Drawing…
http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 5
Too light
Unlabeled
Messy
Tiny

6. A Rubbish Drawing…
http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 6

7. A Rubbish Drawing…
http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 7
Where are these labels pointing?
The arrow heads are unnecessary
Unclear labels
Outside the scanning box
Messy shading
Criss-crossed label lines
Wiggly label lines

8. A Good Drawing…
http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 8

9. A Good Drawing…
http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 9
• Good use of space
• Clear strong lines
• Label lines are straight
• Labels clearly written
• Scale bar if appropriate
• Lines touch the labeled
structure
• No unnecessary shading
or colouring

10. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 10
2.2.1
Draw and label a diagram of the ultrastructure of Escherichia coli (E. coli) as an
example of a prokaryote.
All assessment statements taken from the online IB Biology subject guide:
http://xmltwo.ibo.org/publications/migrated/production-app2.ibo.org/publication/7/part/2/chapter/2.html

11. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 11
2.2.1
Draw and label a diagram of the ultrastructure of Escherichia coli (E. coli) as an
example of a prokaryote.
1µm

12. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 12
2.2.1
Draw and label a diagram of the ultrastructure of Escherichia coli (E. coli) as an
example of a prokaryote.
1µm
cell wall
plasma membrane
flagellum
pili
70S ribosomes
cytoplasm
nucleoid
Plasmids/ Loops of DNA

13. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 13
2.2.1
Draw and label a diagram of the ultrastructure of Escherichia coli (E. coli) as an
example of a prokaryote. 2.2.2 Annotate the diagram from 2.3.1 with the functions
of each named structure.
1µm
cell wall
Protects cell, holds structure
plasma membrane
Controls what goes in and out
of the cell
Flagellum
Movement
Pili
Attachment,
Exchange of
DNA
70S ribosomes
Protein synthesis
Cytoplasm
Contains solutes, enzymes
for metabolic reactions
Nucleoid
Contains:
Plasmids/ Loops of DNA
Genetic information

14. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 14
2.3.1
Draw and label a diagram of the ultrastructure of a liver cell as an example of an
animal cell.

15. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 15
2.3.1
Draw and label a diagram of the ultrastructure of a liver cell as an example of an
animal cell.
10µm

16. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 16
2.3.1
Draw and label a diagram of the ultrastructure of a liver cell as an example of an
animal cell.
10µm
Plasma membrane
Mitochondria
Free 80S ribosomes
Lysosomes
Cytoplasm
Golgi apparatus Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
Nucleus

17. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 17
2.3.1
Draw and label a diagram of the ultrastructure of a liver cell as an example of an
animal cell. 2.3.2 Annotate the diagram from 2.3.1 with the functions of each named
structure.
10µm
Plasma membrane
Controls what enters and leaves the cell
Mitochondria
Cell respiration
Free 80S ribosomes
Protein synthesis for use within the cell
Lysosomes
Contain enzymes for intracellular digestion
Cytoplasm
Solutes and enzymes for metabolic pathways
Golgi apparatus
Modifies and packages proteins for export
from the cell. Produces vesicles for exocytosis
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
Attached 80S ribosomes produce
proteins for export from the cell
Nucleus
Contains DNA in the
form of chromosomes

18. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 18
2.5.4
Describe the events that occur in the four phases of mitosis (prophase, metaphase,
anaphase and telophase). Try drawing this with a cell of n=2.

19. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 19
2.5.4
Describe the events that occur in the four phases of mitosis (prophase, metaphase,
anaphase and telophase). Try drawing this with a cell of n=2.

20. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 20
2.4.1 Draw and label a diagram to show the structure of membranes.

21. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 21
3.1.4 Draw and label a diagram showing the structure of water molecules to show their
polarity and hydrogen bond formation.

22. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 22
3.1.4 Draw and label a diagram showing the structure of water molecules to show their
polarity and hydrogen bond formation.
Large oxygen atom pulls shared
electrons closer to it, becoming
slightly negative.
Therefore hydrogen atoms
become slightly positive.
Covalent bond: shared electrons

23. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 23
3.1.4 Draw and label a diagram showing the structure of water molecules to show their
polarity and hydrogen bond formation.
Large oxygen atom pulls shared
electrons closer to it, becoming
slightly negative.
Therefore hydrogen atoms
become slightly positive.
Covalent bond: shared electrons
Hydrogen bonds
form between the slightly
positive hydrogens of one
water molecule and the
slightly negative oxygens of
the next.

24. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 24
3.2.2 Identify amino acids, glucose, ribose and fatty acids from diagrams showing their
structure.

25. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 25
Diagrams taken from the online IB Biology subject guide:
http://xmltwo.ibo.org/publications/migrated/production-app2.ibo.org/publication/7/part/2/chapter/4/page/3.html
3.3.1 Outline DNA nucleotide structure in terms of sugar (deoxyribose), base
and phosphate.
Phosphate ion
Deoxyribose sugar
Nitrogenous base:
• Adenine
• Thymine
• Guanine
• Cytosine

26. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 26
3.3.3 Outline how DNA nucleotides are linked together by covalent bonds
into a single strand.
Diagrams taken from the online IB Biology subject guide:
http://xmltwo.ibo.org/publications/migrated/production-app2.ibo.org/publication/7/part/2/chapter/4/page/3.html
Phosphate ion
Deoxyribose sugar
Nitrogenous base:
• Adenine
• Thymine
• Guanine
• Cytosine
1
23
4
5
Covalent bond between C3 of one molecule
and the phosphate of the next
Covalent bond between C3 of one molecule
and the phosphate of the next. New
nucleotides are added to the C3 each time.

27. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 27
3.3.5 Draw and label a simple diagram of the molecular structure of DNA.
Diagrams taken from the online IB Biology subject guide:
http://xmltwo.ibo.org/publications/migrated/production-app2.ibo.org/publication/7/part/2/chapter/4/page/3.html
Deoxyribose sugar
1
23
4
5
Covalent bond
Phosphate ion
Antiparallel strands
adenine thymine
guanine cytosine
Hydrogen bonds between
complementary base pairs
(A&T; G&C)

28. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 28
3.8.4 Outline the differences in absorption of red, blue and green light by chlorophyll.

29. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 29
3.8.4 Outline the differences in absorption of red, blue and green light by chlorophyll.

30. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 30
3.8.8 Outline the effects of temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration
on the rate of photosynthesis. The shape of the graphs is required.

31. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 31
3.8.8 Outline the effects of temperature, light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration
on the rate of photosynthesis. The shape of the graphs is required.
Temperature
At low temperature:
Increase in temperature
increases rate of reaction.
At high temperature:
Increase in temp. leads to
sharp decline in rate as
enzymes are denatured.
Rateofreaction
Rateofreaction
Rateofreaction
Light intensity
At low light intensity:
Increase in light intensity
increases rate of reaction.
At high light intensity:
Increase in light intensity
has no effect on rate of
reaction – plateau.
CO2 concentration
At low [CO2] :
Increase in [CO2] increases
rate of reaction.
At high [CO2] :
Increase in [CO2] has no
effect on rate of reaction –
plateau as all active sites are
filled.

32. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 32
4.2.3
Outline the process of meiosis, including pairing of homologous chromosomes and
crossing over, followed by two divisions, which results in four haploid cells. Try
drawing this with a cell of n=2.

33. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 33
4.2.3
Outline the process of meiosis, including pairing of homologous chromosomes and
crossing over, followed by two divisions, which results in four haploid cells. Try
drawing this with a cell of n=2.

34. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 34
5.1.4 Describe what is meant by a food chain, giving three examples, each with at least
three linkages (four organisms).

35. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 35
5.1.4 Describe what is meant by a food chain, giving three examples, each with at least
three linkages (four organisms).
Food chains show the flow of energy through the trophic levels of a feeding relationship.
PRODUCER PRIMARY CONSUMER SECONDARY CONSUMER TERTIARY CONSUMER
“eaten by”
Yellow iris moth caterpillar great tit sparrowhawk
Phytoplankton krill cod seal
diatoms freshwater shrimp bream osprey

36. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 36
5.1.8 Construct a food web containing up to 10 organisms, using appropriate information.

37. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 37
5.1.8 Construct a food web containing up to 10 organisms, using appropriate information.
Arrows show flow of energy.
Some species can be classified in two or more trophic levels, e.g. marine omnivores

38. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 38
5.2.1 Draw and label a diagram of the carbon cycle to show the processes involved.

39. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 39
5.2.1 Draw and label a diagram of the carbon cycle to show the processes involved.

40. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 40
5.3.1 Outline how population size is affected by natality, immigration, mortality and
emigration.

41. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 41
5.3.1 Outline how population size is affected by natality, immigration, mortality and
emigration.

42. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 42
5.3.3 Draw and label a graph showing a sigmoid (S-shaped) population growth curve.

43. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 43
5.3.3 Draw and label a graph showing a sigmoid (S-shaped) population growth curve.
time
population
K
Transition phase
Exponential phase
Plateau phase

44. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 44
5.3.3 Draw and label a graph showing a sigmoid (S-shaped) population growth curve.
5.3.4 Explain the exponential, transition and plateau phases.
time
population
K
Transition phase
I + N > E + M (but less so)
Increased competition as space
and resources are used up. Rate
of population growth slows.
Exponential phase
I + N > E + M
Abundant space and resources. Very little
competition so reproduction is high.
Plateau phase
I + N = E + M
High competition as space and
resources are limited. High effect
of natural selection.

45. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 45
6.1.4 Draw and label a diagram of the digestive system.

46. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 46
6.1.4 Draw and label a diagram of the digestive system.
mouth
esophagus
stomach
small intestine
large intestine
rectum
liver
gall bladder
pancreas
anus

47. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 47
6.1.7 Explain how the structure of the villus is related to its role in absorption and
transport of the products of digestion.

48. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 48
6.1.7 Explain how the structure of the villus is related to its role in absorption and
transport of the products of digestion.

49. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 49
6.1.7 Explain how the structure of the villus is related to its role in absorption and
transport of the products of digestion.
Single-cell epithelium
Short diffusion path for digested
molecules
Lacteals
Absorption and transport
of lipid molecules
Rich network of capillaries
Transport of molecules. Maintains
high concentration gradient
between lumen of gut and blood.
Mitochondria
Active transport of
digested food molecules
Microvilli
Further increase
in SA:Vol ratio

50. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 50
6.2.1 Draw and label a diagram of the heart showing the four chambers, associated blood
vessels, valves and the route of blood through the heart.

51. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 51
6.2.1 Draw and label a diagram of the heart showing the four chambers, associated blood
vessels, valves and the route of blood through the heart.

52. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 52
6.2.5 Explain the relationship between the structure and function of arteries, capillaries
and veins.

53. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 53
6.2.5 Explain the relationship between the structure and function of arteries, capillaries
and veins.

54. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 54
6.3.4 Outline how phagocytic leucocytes ingest pathogens in the blood and in body
tissues.

55. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 55
6.3.4 Outline how phagocytic leucocytes ingest pathogens in the blood and in body
tissues.

56. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 56
6.4.3 Describe the features of alveoli that adapt them to gas exchange.

57. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 57
6.4.3 Describe the features of alveoli that adapt them to gas exchange.

58. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 58
6.4.4 Draw and label a diagram of the ventilation system, including trachea, lungs, bronchi,
bronchioles and alveoli.

59. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 59
6.4.4 Draw and label a diagram of the ventilation system, including trachea, lungs, bronchi,
bronchioles and alveoli.

60. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 60
6.5.2 Draw and label a diagram of the structure of a motor neuron.

61. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 61
6.5.2 Draw and label a diagram of the structure of a motor neuron.

62. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 62
6.5.2 Draw and label a diagram of the structure of a motor neuron.
Dendritic end terminal end
dendrites
axon
axon hillock
cell body
nucleus
myelin sheath
Nodes of Ranvier
motor end plates
muscle tissue

63. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 63
6.6.1 Draw and label diagrams of the adult male reproductive system.

64. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 64
6.6.1 Draw and label diagrams of the adult male reproductive system.

65. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 65
6.6.1 Draw and label diagrams of the adult male reproductive system.
sperm duct
bladder
semen gland
prostate gland
urethra
epididymis
penis
testis

66. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 66
6.6.1 Draw and label diagrams of the adult female reproductive system.

67. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 67
6.6.1 Draw and label diagrams of the adult female reproductive system.

68. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 68
6.6.1 Draw and label diagrams of the adult female reproductive system.
vagina
cervix
muscle wall
endometrium
uterus
ovary
Oviduct/
Fallopian tube
bladder
urethra

69. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 69
6.6.3
Annotate a graph showing hormone levels in the menstrual cycle, illustrating the
relationship between changes in hormone levels and ovulation, menstruation and
thickening of the endometrium.

70. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 70
6.6.3
Annotate a graph showing hormone levels in the menstrual cycle, illustrating the
relationship between changes in hormone levels and ovulation, menstruation and
thickening of the endometrium.
Day 0 5 14 28

71. http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com Draw the Core 71
6.6.3
Annotate a graph showing hormone levels in the menstrual cycle, illustrating the
relationship between changes in hormone levels and ovulation, menstruation and
thickening of the endometrium.
Day 0 5 14 28
Day 0-5 Endometrium is broken down
(menstruation) as progesterone falls.
Day 5-14 Estrogen rises, endometrium builds.
Day 14-28 Endometrium maintained by high
progesterone levels to prepare for fertilisation.
endometrium
Day 0-14 FSH and LH stimulate development
of the oocyte (egg) in the ovary.
Day 14 peak of LH causes ovulation.
Day 15-28 FSH and LH inhibited by estrogen
and progesterone, preventing further release
of eggs.
Day 0-14 estrogen increases, building the
endometrium.
Day 14-18 estrogen drops, progesterone
peaks, maintaining endometrium and
inhibiting FSH and LH.
Day 28 Progesterone drops if the egg is not
fertilised and does not implant onto
endometrium.
Luteinising hormone (LH)
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
estrogen
progesterone

72. For more IB Biology resources:
http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com
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