Biology is the study of living organisms in their environments. The A-level course also leads on to the application of this knowledge in areas such as gene technology and environmental biology. Over the course of the two years of study, students will examine 8 topics spanning fundamental areas in the subject. These topics are: Biological molecules Cells Organisms exchange substances with their environment Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms Energy transfers between organisms Homeostasis Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems The control of gene expression
To gain entry onto the Biology A-level course students will need to attain a grade 6 in Combined Science or the Biology element of a Triple Science course. Ideally students will also have a grade 6 in maths.
At the end of the course there will be three examinations, each of 2 hours in duration. Paper 1—content from topics 1-4 Paper 2—content from topics 5-8 Paper 3—content from any topic, plus a synoptic essay and data handling task. Practical assessment: There is no longer any controlled assessment in the A-level sciences, however there are 12 practical tasks that all students must undertake as part of the course, and student competency in these areas is reported alongside their A-level grade simply as a pass or fail.
About Education Provider
| Region | Yorkshire and the Humber |
| Local Authority | York |
| Ofsted Rating | Good |
| Gender Type | Mixed |
| Address | Haxby Road, New Earswick, York, YO32 4BZ |
Biology is the study of living organisms in their environments. The A-level course also leads on to the application of this knowledge in areas such as gene technology and environmental biology. Over the course of the two years of study, students will examine 8 topics spanning fundamental areas in the subject. These topics are: Biological molecules Cells Organisms exchange substances with their environment Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms Energy transfers between organisms Homeostasis Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems The control of gene expression
To gain entry onto the Biology A-level course students will need to attain a grade 6 in Combined Science or the Biology element of a Triple Science course. Ideally students will also have a grade 6 in maths.
At the end of the course there will be three examinations, each of 2 hours in duration. Paper 1—content from topics 1-4 Paper 2—content from topics 5-8 Paper 3—content from any topic, plus a synoptic essay and data handling task. Practical assessment: There is no longer any controlled assessment in the A-level sciences, however there are 12 practical tasks that all students must undertake as part of the course, and student competency in these areas is reported alongside their A-level grade simply as a pass or fail.
