Biology

A Level Biology (AQA)

https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/biology-7401-7402


A-level Biology is a challenging, rewarding course that helps students develop skills and knowledge necessary for a successful career. It offers opportunity for independent progression from GCSE Science. Biology is fundamentally an experimental subject. The new specifications provide numerous opportunities to use practical experiences to link theory to reality, and equip students with the essential practical skills they need. A minimum of 12 practicals will be covered over the 2 year course which will be examined in the exams in the summer. AS Biology is now a standalone qualification and does not count towards the overall A level qualification.

A level Biology will study 8 topics over the two year course. This will be assessed at the end of the course and consists of three written papers which will include questions on relevant practical skills. The students will continue to be assessed on a 6 week cycle and there will be an end of Year 12 exam, the results of which will help with predicted grades for UCAS applications.

These qualifications are linear. Linear means that students will sit all the A-level exams at the end of their A-level course. Further information on the full specification can be found at AQA.org.uk via the link above.

Summary: 

In Year 12 Students will cover 4 main topics and the practicals that are associated with them.  At the end of the Year 12 course, the summer exam will be used to help form the UCAS grade for University application.

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Biological Molecules

Cells

 

Exchange

Mass Transport

Genetic Information, Variation and Relationships

Revision and Exam Preparation

Summary:

The Year 13 course builds on the foundation topics covered in Year 12. There are 4 key topics that will be covered including the associated practicals. Year 13 will also be covering essay writing skills throughout the year, as this will be examined in Paper 3

Autumn

Spring

Summer

Energy transfer in and  between organisms

Nervous coordination

 

 

Organisms respond to changes in their environments

Genetics, populations, ecosystems and evolution

Control of gene expression

Exam Preparation

Additional Reading:

Richard Dawkins: The Selfish Gene 

Steve Jones: Y: The Descent of Men

 Nature Via Nurture: Genes, Experience and What Makes Us Human

 

James Watson: DNA: The Secret of Life

 Barry Gibb: The Rough Guide to the Brain (Rough Guides Reference Titles)

 Charles Darwin: The origin of species

 Ernst Mayr: This Is Biology: The Science of the Living World
  George C. Williams: Plan and Purpose in Nature

 Steve Pinker: The Language Instinct

 Richard Leaky: The Origin of Humankind

 Magazines, Newspapers and journals

New Scientist

Scientific American

Nature

Science

Biological Sciences Review

British Medical Journal

Useful websites:

http://nature.com 
The site of the scientific journal

http://royalsociety.org 
Podcasts, news and interviews with scientists about recent scientific developments

http://www.nhm.ac.uk 
The London Natural History Museum’s website with lots of interesting educational material

http://www.bmj.com 
The website of the British Medical Journal

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science_and_environment 
The BBC news page for Science and the Environment