Why study Biology?
Biology allows you to ask questions about the world that we live in, and understand the living things that make it up, in greater detail. The skills that you develop during this course provide an excellent grounding for a wide variety of future degree courses and employment. Biology is an A-level that opens many different doors. It offers a diversity of opportunity leading to further studies in life science, medicine, environmental science or forensic science, through biological based employment such as biotechnology or the food industry.
The qualification builds on the knowledge and practical skills students have gained in GCSE Core Science and GCSE Additional Science, or GCSE Biology.
Course Content
The course offers students the opportunity to further develop their practical skills and to learn about the applications and implications of biology, the benefits and risks that research brings and the ways in which society uses biology to make decisions. OCR Biology A-level is split into six modules: modules one to six, combined with the practical endorsement, constitute the full A-level. The modules can be summarised as:
Module 1: Development of Practical Skills
This module, studied in Year 12 and Year 13, underpins the whole of the specification. and GCSE covers the practical skills that students should develop throughout the course. The practical skills in this module are assessed in the written examinations and within the Practical Endorsement. GCSE Science prepares students for the practical skills required in the course.
Module 2: Foundations in Biology
This module studied in Year 12 and Year 13 introduces students to the concepts required for all the other modules.
Modules studied in Year 12 Modules 3: Exchange and Transport
This module covers exchange surfaces, transport in animals and transport in plants.
19 Module 4: Biodiversity, Evolution and Disease
This module covers communicable diseases, disease prevention, the immune system, biodiversity, classification and evolution.
Modules studied in Year 13 Modules 5: Communication, Homeostasis and Energy
Covers communication, homeostasis, excretion as an example of
homeostatic control, neuronal communication, hormonal communication, plant and animal responses, photosynthesis and respiration.
Module 6: Genetics, Evolution and Ecosystems
This module covers cellular control, patterns of inheritance manipulating genomes, cloning, biotechnology, ecosystems, populations and sustainability.
A-level Assessment
Paper 1: Biological Processes examines content from modules 1, 2, 3 and 5 Assessment: 2¼ hour written exam. Worth 100 marks - 37% of A-level mark.
Paper 2: Biological Diversity examines content from modules 1, 2, 4 and 6
Assessment: 2¼ hour written exam. Worth 100 marks - 37% of A-level mark.
Entry Requirements
The minimum requirements are a Grade A in both GCSE Core Science and GCSE Additional Science, or Grade A in GCSE Biology.
10% of the marks available within written examinations will be
for assessment
of mathematics (in the context of biology) at a Level 2 standard, or higher. Therefore, students with a Grade 6 Mathematics, as well as those studying A-level Mathematics would be at an advantage.
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