Biology

Assessment

Pupils will sit three 2-hour exams at the end of year 13. Paper 1 will examine topics studied during year 12; Paper 2 covers Year 13 content. Paper 3 includes all content across the 2 years culminating in a 25-mark synoptic essay. This A-Level is 100% exam-based with no coursework Year 1 Course Content: Year 1 Course Content: Topic 1: Biological molecules Topic 2: Cells Topic 3: Organisms exchange substances with their environment. Topic 4: Genetic information, variation, and relationships between organisms. Practical work will be integrated throughout topics 1-4 but this is not assessed. Year 2 Course Content Three examinations (2 hours each) ranging across topics 1 – 8. No coursework. Content is as topics 1-4 plus: Topic 5: Energy transfers in and between organisms. Topic 6: Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments. Topic 7: Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems. Topic 8: The control of gene expression Assessed practical work will be integrated throughout topics 1-8. This does not contribute to your grade.