AS/A2 Biology

Is it safe to eat genetically modified foods? Is it possible to clone a human being? Is there anything we can do about global warming? Will we ever be able to cure AIDS? Why are bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics? If you are interested in questions like these, then Biology is the subject for you. Biology is an increasingly important subject in the modern world. It touches everyone’s life through medical science, and promises solutions to many of the world’s problems, by genetically engineering new plants and drugs, devising fertility treatments, curing genetic diseases and developing new sources of food, to give just a few examples. It is such an enormous subject that it is now subdivided into many different fields such as genetics, microbiology, molecular biology, environmental biology, physiology and so on. Without doubt, the biologists of the 21st century are facing some exciting challenges. We offer two alternative AS and A Levels: Biology and Human Biology.  

 

 

The minimum entry requirements for these courses are BB in Core and Additional Science or B in separate Biology at GCSE for Biology. If you have taken a different Science course, such as Applied Science, or you have a grade C, we will consider your application for the Human Biology course. However, you are warned that both these courses are very demanding and you are likely to find the course very challenging unless you have at least grade B. You do not need to take A Level Chemistry in order to study Biology at A Level, but you are advised that a pass in A Level Chemistry is often required for careers and Higher Education courses in biological sciences. However, most students who take Human Biology do not study chemistry with it. 

 

Biology (AQA) – What will I study and how will it be assessed? 

 

The AS Biology course consists of two modules: Biology and Disease, and The Variety of Living Organisms. The first module covers infectious disease, cancer and heart disease, the digestive system, biological molecules, cells, enzymes, the control of breathing and heartbeat, and the immune system. The second module covers variation, DNA and cell division, haemoglobin, mass transport, classification, evolution and biodiversity.  20% of the AS marks will be awarded for practical and investigative skills, assessed by a written test. The first AS examination will take place in January of the first year, with the remaining examination being taken in June.

 

After this, students who wish to continue with Biology at A2 will start the A2 course in June of the Lower Sixth and continue through the Upper Sixth year. 

 

The A2 course consists of two modules: Populations and Environment, and Control in cells and in organisms. The first A2 module covers factors affecting population growth, photosynthesis, respiration, energy transfer and food production, nutrient cycles and succession, genetic inheritance, selection and speciation. 

 

The second A2 module covers the nervous system, muscles, homeostasis, the oestrous cycle, DNA, RNA and protein synthesis, gene expression, gene therapy, gene technology and genetic fingerprinting. 10% of the total A Level marks will be awarded for a written test, assessing practical and investigative skills.  The A2 examinations will take place in January and June of the Upper Sixth year.