BIOLOGY

The OCR Biology syllabus A has been selected to provide an enjoyable and rewarding course, which ensures a wide breadth of knowledge.

Students study:

• core principles such as cell structure and biochemistry (year one)
• exchange and transport (year one)
• biodiversity, evolution and disease (year one)
• communication, homeostasis and energy (year two)
• genetics and ecosystems (year two)

The ability to recall factual material and to learn new vocabulary is important; however, there is much emphasis on the application of knowledge and the understanding of how science works. Biology offers students the opportunity to develop their ability to express complex scientific ideas in structured extended answers.

Practical work plays an important role throughout the course and students visit the University of Kent to use the equipment and laboratories in the School of Biological Science and attend a three-day residential course to study ecology (for which there is a charge).

Assessment:

Paper 1

Biological processes
37% of the A-level
Written exam (2h 15 minutes) 100 marks

Paper 2

Biological diversity
37% of the A-level
Written exam (2h 15 minutes) 100 marks

Paper 3

Unified Biology
26% of the A-level
Written exam (1h 20 minutes) 70 marks

This paper will assess any content taught throughout the two years as well as practical skills and data analysis.