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St Margaret Ward
Catholic Academy
St Margaret Ward
Catholic Academy
What is the level of course I will take?
A Level Biology with AQA.
What level of GCSEs do I need to take this course?
Minimum of 5 GCSEs Grade 5, including a Grade 6 minimum in GCSE Biology or Grade 6-6 in Combined Science.
How will I be assessed?
3 written exams are in year 13. Throughout the 2 years students are also assessed for their practical skills. A pass in this is required by most Universities, regardless of your choice in course.
Written assessments include questions about practicals, a range of question types, including extended answers, comprehension, critical analysis and an essay.
Biological molecules: Structure and function of the building blocks of life including monosaccharide’s, DNA, ATP
Cells: the structure of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and how scientists study them.
Organisms exchange substances with their environment: Gas exchange, digestion and absorption and mass transport in plants.
Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms: Cell division, mutations, protein synthesis, adaptations,
diversity in environments.
Energy transfers in and between organisms: Photosynthesis, respiration, food chains and nutrient cycles.
Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments: Nervous coordination and homeostasis.
Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems: Inheritance, evolution and ecosystems.
The control of gene expression: Transcription ,translation, recombinant DNA technology, DNA and cancer and DNA fingerprinting.
Careers for biologists exist in areas other than medicine, veterinary science, dentistry or farming. Biologists find employment in horticulture, pharmacy, biochemistry, microbiology, brewing and distilling. For courses in medicine and veterinary science it is not sufficient to be good at Biology, you must excel in all your sciences at A-level and across the board at GCSE. For medicine some universities require you to take Biology alongside the compulsory Chemistry A-level.
