Course Description

Biology is the study of life and living things and is an enormous rapidly developing subject involving many allied disciplines such as Chemistry, Geology and Psychology.

Contact:	Miss I Barwick	Exam Board:	OCR
QAN:	60142601	Subject Code:	Bi

The Course at A Level

• The course is entirely examined, with three papers completed.
• As the course develops and builds upon itself, all three examinations expect students to be able to see links between topics covered across the two years.
• You will also complete practical activities across the two years, which cover 12 key areas of Biological practical skill. Competent completion of these will result in a PASS in practical skills.

Module 1 – Development of practical skills in Biology

Module 2 – Foundations in Biology

Module 3 – Exchange and transport

Module 4 – Biodiversity, evolution and disease

Module 5 – Communication, homeostasis and energy

Module 6 – Genetics, evolution and ecosystems

At A Level, a minimum of 10% of exam marks will come from minimum Level 2 maths skills (higher than GCSE).

A minimum of 15% of exam marks will come from practical investigation based questions.

Possible Subject Combinations

• Chemistry (essential if wishing to pursue a career in Biological Sciences).
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Psychology
• Geography

What do the students say?

"This course is fascinating as it gives in depth answers to interesting and complex workings of the body and world"

"Biology A Level is not only interesting, but also a useful subject for many career paths"

"The course is interesting and challenging, but the faculty are very helpful and offer lots of support"

Where can Biology take me?

You will need A Level Biology to study Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Science, Physiotherapy or Nursing. The range of skills can lead to many options as diverse as oceanography, archaeology, agriculture and brewing. A degree in Biology would also give you access to a range of Post-Graduate training in a range of sectors as the transferable skills, including observation and data handling, are highly regarded.

Assessment