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The Biology course follows the AQA GCSE Specification. This includes three sections – Biology 1,2 & 3. Some of the course is covered in year 9 but the bulk of it is taught in years 10 & 11. The course includes some assessment of practical skills and also of ‘How Science Works’ in short formal exams called ISAs ( Investigative Skills Assessments) There is an exam ( 45mins) on the first section (Biology 1 ) in May / June of year 10 and a further two exams (45mins each ) the following year on Biol;ogy 2 & 3.
The course is supported by two texts – AQA Science / Biology from Nelson Thornes and a revision guide from Coordination Group Publications.
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The subject content is shown below;
8.1 How Science Works
10.1 The thinking behind the doing
10.2 Fundamental ideas
10.3 Observation as a stimulus to investigation
10.4 Designing an investigation
10.5 Making measurements
10.6 Presenting data
10.7 Using data to draw conclusions
10.8 Social aspects of scientific evidence
10.9 Limitations of scientific evidence
8.2 Biology 1/1a
11.1 How do human bodies respond to changes inside them and to their
environment?
11.2 What can we do to keep our bodies healthy?
11.3 How do we use/abuse medical and recreational drugs?
11.4 What causes infectious diseases and how can our bodies defend
themselves against them?
Biology 1b
11.5 What determines where particular species live and how many of them
there are?
11.6 Why are individuals of the same species different from each other? What
new methods do we have for producing plants and animals with the
characteristics we prefer?
11.7 Why have some species of plants and animals died out? How do new
species of plants and animals develop?
11.8 How do humans affect the environment?
8.3 Biology 2
12.1 What are animals and plants built from?
12.2 How do dissolved substances get into and out of cells?
12.3 How do plants obtain the food they need to live and grow?
12.4 What happens to energy and biomass at each stage in a food chain?
12.5 What happens to the waste material produced by plants and animals?
12.6 What are enzymes and what are some of their functions?
12.7 How do our bodies keep internal conditions constant?
12.8 Which human characteristics show a simple pattern of inheritance?
8.4 Biology 3
13.1 How do dissolved substances get into and out of plants and animals?
13.2 How are dissolved materials transported around the body?
13.3 How does exercise affect the exchanges taking place within the body?
13.4 How do exchanges in the kidney help us to maintain the internal
environment in mammals and how has biology helped us to treat
kidney disease?
13.5 How are micro-organisms used to make food and drink?
13.6 What other useful substances can we make using micro-organisms?
13.7 How can we be sure we are using micro-organisms safely?
The first two sections (Biology 1 & 2) are covered by all students. Biology 3 is also covered by those studying the three separate sciences.
W J Corke
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