Biology
- Board: AQA
- Syllabus: AS – 1411; A2 – 2411
Modules
AS Biology and disease – Knowledge of basic human physiology will help you understand how diseases caused by micro-organisms and non-communicable diseases have a significant impact on human health and you will discover how the defensive functions of the blood and drugs help limit the spread and effect of disease.
The variety of living organisms – This involves investigating how intraspecific variation is influenced by genetic and environmental factors and studying how classification systems clarify relationships between organisms.
Investigative and Practical Skills – An internal assessment that includes making observations and measurements, analysing and evaluating results.
A2 Populations and environment – You will study how living organisms form structured communities within dynamic but essentially stable ecosystems, through which energy is transferred and chemical elements are cycled. The emphasis here is on how human activity affects ecological balance directly and indirectly.
Control in cells and organisms – You will learn how multi-cellular organisms detect stimuli and stimulate appropriate effectors and this will enable you to understand how they increase their chances of survival and maintain optimal conditions for their metabolism. Studying how some common ailments result from a breakdown of control mechanisms will lead to learning how DNA technology is used to diagnose and treat human diseases.
Investigative and Practical Skills – An internal assessment that includes making observations and measurements, analysing and evaluating results.
Method of Assessment
AS Written exams of 1 hour 15 mins (16.67%) and 1 hour 45 mins (23.33%) and one Centre Assessed Unit (10%) in Investigative and Practical Skills
A2 Written exams of 1 hour 30 mins (16.67%) and 2 hours 15 mins (23.33%) and one Centre Assessed Unit (10%) in Investigative and Practical Skills
Further information
The exams mainly contain short answer questions with some longer questions requiring continuous prose involving comprehensions, analysis of data, ‘How Science Works’ and essays. Centre Assessed Units (10%) consist of PSA (Practical Skills Assessment) continuous throughout each year and one ISA (Investigative Skills Assignment) completed under controlled conditions.
You will probably need a B or higher in GCSE Biology and Chemistry or a B in Core and Additional Science and grade C or above in Maths.
Biological topics overlap significantly with Chemistry, Geography and PE. Potential medics, vets, nurses, physiotherapists or students of marine biology, environmental sciences or sports science will want to choose Biology but it can also be studied with a combination of science or arts subjects.