Biology preparation

A LEVEL BIOLOGY

Induction Booklet

Kenilworth School

1. TEACHING STAFF

Mr R. Knee (Head of Biology)

Mrs E Ridler

Miss E Lee

Miss J Davies

Mrs J Barr

Miss R Carter

2. COURSE STRUCTURE

Exam board: OCR

You will learn about all aspects of Biology during 5 hours of teaching time per week. This will include all the important foundation concepts of Biology and expand on your understanding of circulation, breathing, immunity, evolution and ecology.

Biology no longer includes a coursework element with your final AS and A2 grade being awarded solely on you end of year written exams.

During the course you will be expected to complete core practical tasks from 12 sections. You will need to complete one from each section to achieve a pass in the practical component of the course.

The topics you will study are as follows:

YEAR 1

Module 1 – Development of practical skills in Biology

Module 2 – Foundations in Biology

• Cell Structure
• Biological Molecules
• Nucleotides and nucleic acids
• Enzymes
• Biological membranes
• Cell division, cell diversity and cellular organisation

Module 3 – Exchange and transport

• Exchange surfaces
• Transport in animals
• Transport in plants

Module 4 – Biodiversity, evolution and disease

• Communicable diseases, disease prevention and the immune system
• Biodiversity
• Classification and evolution

YEAR 2

Module 5 – Communication, homeostasis and energy

• Communication and homeostasis
• Excretion as an example of homeostatic control
• Neuronal communication
• Hormonal communication
• Plant and animal responses
• Photosynthesis
• Respiration

Module 6 – Genetics, evolution and ecosystems

• Genetics and evolution
• Cellular control
• Patterns of inheritance
• Manipulating genomes
• Cloning and biotechnology
• Ecosystems
• Populations and sustainability

3. EXAMINATION STRUCTURE

END OF YEAR 1

Each student will sit the following exams at the end of year 1.

Breadth in Biology – 70 marks, 1hr 30mins

                                       50% of total AS level

Depth in Biology – 70 marks, 1hr 30mins

50% of total AS level

Both are written papers and contain a mixture of knowledge from modules 1-4. The exams for these papers will be completed during June/July with internal assesments.

END OF YEAR 2

Only those students wishing to complete the full A level will continue into year 2.

Biological processes – 100 marks, 2hrs 15mins (modules 1, 2, 3 and 5)

                                            37% of total A level

Biological diversity – 100 marks, 2hrs 15mins (modules 1, 2, 4 and 6)

                                         37% of total A level

Unified biology – 70 marks, 1hr 30mins (1 to 6)

                                 26% of total A level

Practical endorsement in biology – non-exam assessment which will be given a pass or fail at the end of the year

4. READING LIST

The following revision guides, textbooks, workbooks and study support guides are available to purchase from the Biology department.

It is recommended that you purchase some of these publications to support your understanding of the new concepts you will be taught. Biology A level will give you a new set of topics and concepts to understand including new mathematical skills.

In addition, for those students wishing to extend their knowledge and understanding or those who enjoy reading scientific literature we recommend the following books:

Magazines, Newspapers and journals

• New Scientist
• Scientific American
• Nature
• Science
• Biological Sciences Review
• British Medical Journal

Books

Richard Dawkins

• The Selfish Gene
• The Blind Watchmaker
• Unweaving the Rainbow
• Climbing Mount Improbable
• The Ancestor’s Tale

Steve Jones

• Y: The Descent of Men
•  In the Blood: God, Genes and Destiny
• Almost Like a Whale: The 'Origin of Species' Updated 
• The Language of the genes

Matt Ridley

• Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters
• The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature
• The Language of Genes
• Francis Crick: Discoverer of the Genetic Code
• Nature Via Nurture: Genes, Experience and What Makes Us Human 

James Watson:

• DNA: The Secret of Life
• The Double Helix: Personal Account of the Discovery of the Structure of DNA

Sam Keane

• The Violinists Thumb

Charles Darwin: The origin of species

Armand Marie Leroi: Mutants: On the Form, Varieties and Errors of the Human Body

David S. Goodsell: The Machinery of Life

Ernst Mayr: This Is Biology: The Science of the Living World

Edward O Wilson: The Diversity of Life

Richard Leaky: The Origin of Humankind

Biological Molecules.pdf

YEAR 11 - QUESTIONS.pdf

YEAR 11 - QUESTIONS MARK SCHEME.pdf

Heart structureBlood Vessel structure

Linnaeu's system of classification

1. Essential Maths Skills for A- Level Biology &  Head Start to Biology. These two books may help a year 11 prepare for their A Level Biology studies. The Maths skills book is less important as it may scare some of them with the level of statistics they have to do. The more they can read the better they will be.           
2. Completing the exam papers they were given before they left school will help them refresh their understanding of GCSE Biology.
3. I have attached some of the more difficult GCSE style exam questions for them to try. They are all based on GCSE topics that are revisited in year 12 but to a harder level.
4. The Biology A level specification is also attached so they can have a look at the quantity and level of work they will be required to do. The exam board for Biology is OCR and they will be taught the A specification.