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IB Biology
A Unity and Diversity
A1.1 Water
A1.2 Nucleic acids
A2.1 Origins of cells
A2.2 Cell structure
A3.1 Diversity of organisms
A4.1 Evolution and speciation
A4.2 Conservation of biodiversity
B Form and Function
B1.1 Carbohydrates and lipids
B1.2 Proteins
B2.1 Membranes and membrane transport
B2.2 Organelles and compartmentalisation
B2.3 Cell specialisation
B3.1 Gas exchange
B3.2 Transport
B4.1 Adaptation to environment

A2.2 Cell structure

Cell structure connects microscopy, universal cellular organization, prokaryotic and eukaryotic diversity, specialized exceptions, differentiation, and evolutionary explanations for complex cells and multicellularity.

Syllabus
First assessment 2025
Topic
A2.2
Level
SL

Exam analysis

Chance of appearing61%of analysed past papers
Latest appearanceNovember 2025
Most common paperPaper1
Typical marks1

Most tested objectives

Common question formats

  • Definition or recall
  • Graph interpretation
  • Process explanation
  • Calculation

Recent exam appearances

November 2025Paper2 ["SL"] · TZ13(d)[ 1 ]A2.2.9—Atypical cell structure
November 2025Paper2 ["SL"] · TZ13(c)[ 1 ]A2.2.8—Differences in eukaryotic cells
November 2025Paper2 ["SL"] · TZ13(b)[ 1 ]A2.2.6—Eukaryote cell structure
Practice this topic

Coverage 2010–2025 · Updated 15 Jul 2026

Objective notes

3 learning objectives
A2.2.1Cells as basic structural unit

• Cells are the basic structural and functional units of living organisms

• Cells carry out essential life processes and are usually microscopic

A2.2.2Microscopy skills

• Use light microscopes to prepare mounts, stain specimens, and observe cells

• Measure cells with eyepiece graticules and stage micrometers

• Calculate magnification, actual size, and scale bars

A2.2.3Developments in microscopy

• Resolution, not only magnification, determines visible detail

• TEM reveals internal ultrastructure; SEM reveals surface detail

• Cryogenic EM, fluorescence, and immunofluorescence reveal molecules and specific structures