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.
What are the entry requirements?
The minimum entry requirements for these courses are BB in Core and Additional Science or B in separate Biology and one other science subject at GCSE. Ideally you should also have at least grade B in GCSE Mathematics. 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 Applied Science course. 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.
What will I study and how will it be assessed?
We follow the AQA specification.
The AS Biology course consists of two modules: Biology and Disease, and The Variety of Living Organisms. The first module covers infectious disease and heart disease, the digestive system, biological molecules, cells, enzymes, 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 practical and written investigative skills assessment.
The A2 examinations will take place in January and June of the Upper Sixth year. In the classroom, much of your time will be spent learning about the aspects of Biology outlined above. There will also be practical sessions, and you will need to use these sessions to develop skills for the written examination, and to collect data needed for this assessment.
In addition, we offer optional workshops from time to time, and many of our students choose to take part in these. In the past, we have organised workshops on genetic engineering techniques, the polymerase chain reaction (a method of making many copies of a DNA sample), and heart dissection. We also visit places of interest, such as the Nowgen Centre in Manchester and Marshall’s Arm Nature Reserve. We also have a regular programme of lunchtime seminars, offered by speakers from local universities and organisations. Optional extension classes are offered on Friday lunchtimes for students aiming for degree courses at Oxbridge, or in medicine, veterinary medicine, and dentistry.
At the start of the course, you will be set short, frequent homework tasks, similar to the kind of assignments you were set at GCSE. As time goes on, we expect you to take more responsibility for your own learning, and cope with less frequent, longer pieces of work. We will expect you to answer past examination questions; make structured notes on specific topics; research an area for yourself; produce leaflets or posters about a particular issue; or work through self-study material. We also expect you to review your work at regular intervals.
Whatever you may be thinking about doing in the future, we believe that Biology is an up-to-date and exciting area to study. If you feel that you would like to take this subject beyond GCSE, we look forward to meeting you in September.
