At a glance
- Ages
- About 11 to 16
- Criteria
- A to D, each 0 to 8
- Final grade
- 1 to 7
- eAssessment
- Biology, chemistry, physics or integrated sciences, 2 hours
- Leads to
- IB Diploma Biology, Chemistry, Physics and other sciences
The four MYP Sciences criteria
| Criterion | What it assesses | Typical task |
|---|---|---|
| A: Knowing and understanding | Scientific knowledge and applying it to familiar and unfamiliar situations | Tests and structured questions |
| B: Inquiring and designing | Writing a testable question and hypothesis, and designing a method with variables controlled | Planning an investigation |
| C: Processing and evaluating | Presenting and interpreting data, and evaluating the method and the hypothesis | Lab report analysis and evaluation |
| D: Reflecting on the impacts of science | Explaining how science is applied and its effects on society, the environment or ethics | Research essay or report |
Each criterion is scored 0 to 8. The total out of 32 converts to a grade from 1 to 7 using the same boundaries as other MYP subjects.
How MYP Sciences connects to the Diploma
The IB Diploma sciences changed for first assessment in 2025, putting more weight on data-based questions and investigation skills. Criteria B and C in the MYP build exactly those skills: a student who can design a fair test, handle data and evaluate a method arrives in DP1 ready for Paper 1B and the scientific investigation.
Content gaps matter too. Students who move into Diploma Chemistry or Physics without secure algebra, units and graph skills find the first term hard. Year 5 is the time to close those gaps.
Where MYP science students lose marks
- Untestable research questions in criterion B. A good question names the independent and dependent variables and how they will be measured.
- Methods without control. Students list equipment but do not explain how other variables stay constant.
- Graphs and data in criterion C. Missing units, wrong axes, and conclusions that do not use the data.
- Shallow evaluation. "We could have been more careful" is not an evaluation; specific weaknesses and improvements are.
- Criterion D written as general opinion rather than balanced, sourced discussion of a scientific application.
How one-to-one MYP Science lessons work
A tutor who teaches MYP sciences works from your child's current unit and its assessed criteria. For criterion A, lessons explain concepts with diagrams on the shared whiteboard and practise unfamiliar-context questions. For B and C, the tutor walks through designing an investigation and analysing a real data set, then gives feedback on the student's own lab reports against the criteria descriptors.
For older students, tutors begin to introduce Diploma-style data questions and the subject-specific vocabulary they will need, which makes the step into DP1 much smoother.
Use the criteria descriptors
Ask your child's teacher for the task-specific clarifications for each assessed piece. They describe what a 7 or 8 looks like, and they are the best checklist for revising a lab report.
Common questions
Does my child study separate sciences in the MYP?
It depends on the school. Some teach integrated science throughout, others split into biology, chemistry and physics in later years. The criteria are the same either way.
Are MYP science on-screen exams compulsory?
No. Schools choose whether to enter year 5 students. The exams are 2 hours and available in biology, chemistry, physics and integrated sciences.
What is criterion D in MYP Sciences?
Reflecting on the impacts of science: how science is applied, and its effects on society, the environment or ethics. It is usually assessed through a researched written task.
How can my child prepare for Diploma sciences?
Strengthen algebra, units and graph skills, and practise designing investigations and analysing data. These match what the new Diploma papers and the scientific investigation reward.
How much do MYP science lessons cost?
$15 a lesson, the same rate for every subject and level, on a weekly plan of 1 to 5 lessons billed monthly. Lessons are 60 minutes, one to one and online, and the first lesson is free.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.