A Level Biology
Overview:
A Level Biology will give you an exciting insight into the contemporary world of Biology. It covers the key concepts of Biology, with the practical skills being integrated throughout the course. This combination of academic challenge and practical focus makes the prospect of studying A Level Biology highly appealing.
You will learn about the core concepts of Biology and about the impact of biological research and how it links to everyday life. You will learn to apply your knowledge and to solve problems in a range of unfamiliar contexts, whilst studying the modules required for this course.
To develop essential knowledge and understanding of different areas of Biology and how they relate to each other. A Level Biology is a stepping stone to future study in a variety of different disciplines. We aim to develop the skills that are needed and inspire interest in the content.
“Biology was my favourite subject, I really enjoyed the range of activities in lessons and it gave me a foundation for my choice of Degree. I found it challenging but rewarding and the teacher was always willing to help and made sure I understood the things I found difficult."
Course Structure and Content:
The course is taught in topics by two teachers, across five exam board modules:
- Module 1 - Cells, Molecules, Transport and Immunity Interactions of cells and their environments.
- Module 2 - Exchange and Mass Transport The exchange of materials and their transport around organisms.
- Module 3 - Ecology and Metabolism Distribution of organisms and their metabolic reactions.
- Module 4 - Responding to Stimuli Organisms responding to internal and external stimuli.
- Module 5 - Inheritance, Gene Expression and Technology Inheritance and evolution and the expression of DNA and development of genetic technologies. Six of the twelve required practical experiments are covered in the Lower 6th, and six in the Upper 6th.
Year 1
Modules 1 and 2 extend the work covered at GCSE and underpin the understanding of biology, biological molecules, cells, how organisms exchange substances with their environment and genetic information and variation.
Year 2
Modules 3 to 5 build on content covered in year 1. These topics include energy transfers in and between organisms, how organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environment and the control of gene expression
Click here to download a course flyer
Assessment:
At the end of the Lower 6th, students sit an exam on all of the Lower 6th content. This does not count towards the final grade, but assesses the content at this half-way point before progression to the Upper 6th.
The final A Level exams, at the end of the Upper 6th, are split into three separate papers and assess content from the whole two year course. There is also a separate, non-examinable Practical Endorsement which is assessed throughout the two years of the course.
- Assessment 1 - 35% 2 hour written paper Lower 6th content, including relevant practical skills (91 marks).
- Assessment 2 - 35% 2 hour written paper Upper 6th content, including relevant practical skills (91 marks). Assessment 3 - 30% 2 hour written paper Any content, including relevant practical skills (78 marks).
Examination Board:
The course followed is the AQA A Level Biology 7402
AQA A Level Biology (external link)
Complementary Courses:
Future career opportunities:
Biology leads to a broad range of future courses including;
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Applied Food Science
- Physiotherapy, Pharmacy and Pharmacology
- Neuroscience and Genetics
- Evolutionary Biology and Microbiology