Biology

Introduction

On February 28th, 1953, Francis Crick walked into the Eagle pub in Cambridge, England and, as James Watson later recalled, announced “we had found the secret of life”. Actually, they had. That morning, Watson and Crick had figured out the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA.

What will I study and learn? We might not have found the secret of life, but we are not far short of it on this A Level Course. It is relevant and challenging, and you will develop a wide range of skills. Biology is the study of living organisms, divided into many specialised fields that cover their morphology, physiology, anatomy, behaviour, origin, and distribution.

• Biological molecules
• Cells
• Organisms exchange substances with their environment
• Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms
• Energy transfers in and between organisms
• Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments
• Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems
• The control of gene expression

How will I be assessed?

By a mixture of short and long answer questions, extended response questions, a comprehension question, structured questions including practical techniques, critical analysis of given experimental data and one essay from a choice of two titles in 3 x 2-hour exams.

A Level exams will cover content from Year 1 and Year 2 and will be at higher demand. You will carry out practical activities throughout your course. There are twelve required practicals: six each year.

Paper 1: 2-hour examination
Paper 2: 2-hour examination
Paper 3: 2-hour examination

Further Opportunities

Biologists are in great demand. You can go on to study Biology at University or choose from an enormous range of related subjects. Biology graduates are found in careers ranging from Forensic Science to Food, Leisure to Land Management. Biologists from the Sixth Form have gone into Medicine, Nursing, Veterinary Medicine Dentistry and Genetic Engineering as well as many other careers.