Course Specific Entry Requirements:

High level 6 in Science and level 6 in Maths.

 

Course Content:

Year 1 Units:

• Skills of planning, implementing, analysis and evaluation

• Cell structure; Biological molecules; Nucleotides and nucleic acids; Enzymes; Biological membranes; Cell division; cell diversity and cellular organisation

• Exchange surfaces; Transport in animals; Transport in plants

• Communicable diseases, disease prevention and the immune system; Biodiversity; Classification and evolution

 

Year 2 Units:

• Communication and homeostasis; Excretion as an example of homeostatic control; Neuronal communication; Hormonal communication; Plant and animal responses; Photosynthesis; Respiration

• Cellular control; Patterns of inheritance; Manipulating genomes; Cloning and biotechnology; Ecosystems; Populations and sustainability

 

 

First Year Assessment

 

Paper 1: Breadth in biology

Contributes 50% to the final AS grade

Written examination lasts 1 hour 30 minutes

Multiple choice and structured questions

 

Paper 2: Depth in biology

Contributes 50% to the final AS grade

Written examination lasts 1 hour 30 minutes

Structured and extended response questions

 

 

Second Year Assessment

 

Paper 1: Biological processes

Contributes 37% to the A level grade

Written examination lasts 2 hours 15 minutes

Multiple choice, structured, and extended response questions

 

Paper 2: Biological diversity

Contributes 37% to the A level grade

Written examination lasts 2 hours 15 minutes

Multiple choice, structured, and extended response questions

 

Paper 3: Unified biology

Contributes 26% to the A level grade

Written examination lasts 1 hour 30 minutes

Structured and extended response questions

 

Non-exam assessment: Practical endorsement for biology

Teacher assessment of practical skills relevant to biology

 

 

 

Progression into careers via:

Biology students progress to a broad variety of career areas because of the range of skills and knowledge they gain. Career choices include: medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, radiography, forensic science, nursing, marine biology, pharmaceuticals (biological chemical industry), environmental management, teaching, biomedical sciences, biotechnology, and genetic research.

 

Length of Course:

AS : 1 year   A2 : 2 years

Examination Board:

OCR

Periods Per Week:

5 x 1 hour lessons