WOO D L A N D S S C HOO L
2 0 11 S I X T H F O R M C U R R I C U L U M
Biology AS/A2 Level Examination Board: OCR Aims of Course What is Biology? It is different to each and every one of us. Biology is what makes us, it is how our body functions and it is all around us, Biology looks into the Microscopic detail of how we are made and into the world that surrounds us. A Biology A Level is a good foundation for a variety of jobs such as Medicine, Physiotherapy, Biotechnology, Environmental Health, Pharmacy and Psychology. You could be involved in research into disease, forensic science, crop improvement or conserving endangered species. Biology also develops transferable skills that could lead into Science journalism, wildlife photography and broadcasting.
Programme of Study at AS Level and A2 Level AS course content:
A2 course content:
F211- Cells, exchange and transport
F214- Communication, homeostasis and energy
F212- Molecules, biodiversity, food and health
F215- Control, genomes and environment
F213- Practical tasks
F216- Practical tasks
There are four assessment units to be completed during the two years. The first two will constitute the AS Level and will be completed in Y12 and the second two in Y13. There are also two practical units to complete, one in AS and the other in A2. These include three practical skill assessments which examine your qualitative and quantitative experimentation and the ability analyse and evaluate the data from the practical. This equates to 20% of the A Level. In A2 one of practical tasks will involve a week’s residential course, where we study different habitats, collect, identify and classify different organisms and carry out some statistical analysis and trends.
Approaches to Learning We engage learners through a variety of practical and electronic interactive activities mixed with extensive exam question analysis of the topics we study. We have text books which the pupils take home and are responsible for. You will be using advanced microscopes to study slides and sections of material that you have prepared yourself, and there will be dissections of organs. Furthermore we have a number of external visits to further biological understanding.
Who is this course aimed at? This course is aimed at people who want to know more about how the world works and how it can be studied to gain a better understanding of it. If you would like to know more about studying Biology at A Level, please see Dr Benskin, Mrs Pearson, Mr Ross or Mr Hallam.
Minimum entry requirement is a grade B in Science at GCSE and a grade B in Mathematics at GCSE.
E N H A N C E D B Y S P E C I A L I S T T E C H N O L O G Y, M A T H S A N D C O M P U T I N G S T A T U S