Biology

Requirements

Grade 7 to 9 in GCSE Biology or GCSE Science – Double Award; GCSE Chemistry is useful.

Biology goes particularly well with all the other Science subjects and with Geography and helps with some of the physiological aspects of the PE course. If studied as the only science, extra work will be needed to practise scientific methodology. Care should be taken to ensure that the combination of subjects is suitable for a proposed career choice – Biology is strongly recommended for prospective students of medicine and other medically related subjects. The course covers much of the GCSE Biology material and this is reviewed to ensure that everyone begins from the same point. All areas are covered in more detail and require greater understanding of the principles and concepts. There is a large amount of detailed factual material, which must be learned thoroughly. Homework time will be allowed for this, but will also include regular essays, note making, writing accounts of experiments and problem-solving exercises. There is a weekend residential field course at the beginning of the summer term of Year 12 (costing approximately £290).

Form of Examination and Course Content

Details of the course content and examinations are available at the examination board’s website – www.aqa.org.uk – from which the following outline is an extract:

Subject content

n Biological Molecules; n Cells; n Organisms exchange substances with their environment; n Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms; n Energy Transfers in and between organisms; n Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments; n Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems; n The control of gene expression.

Assessment

Assessment is wholly by written examination taken at the end of the course, usually the end of Year 13. There is no coursework component. Practical skills will be assessed during normal practical lessons and this assessment will used to decide the award of a practical skills endorsement to the A Level.

Paper 1

Any content from topics 1–4, including relevant practical skills. n Written exam: 2 hours n 91 marks n 35% of A Level n 76 marks: a mixture of short and long answer questions n 15 marks: extended response questions

Paper 2

Any content from topics 5–8, including relevant practical skills. n Written exam: 2 hours n 91 marks n 35% of A Level n 76 marks: a mixture of short and long answer questions n 15 marks: comprehension question

Paper 3

Any content from topics 1–8, including relevant practical skills. n Written exam: 2 hours n 78 marks n 30% of A Level Questions n 38 marks: structured questions, including practical techniques n 15 marks: critical analysis of given experimental data n 25 marks: one essay from a choice of two titles