Welcome to Biology A level

A level biology is a versatile stepping stone to many and diverse fields of work and study. It is a great choice of subject for people who want a career in health and medical professions, such as medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy veterinary science, nursing pharmacy and optometry. It could open the way to an exciting range of degree and higher education courses such as neuroscience, zoology, marine biology, microbiology or forensic sciences. In fact, the key skills of analysis, questioning, forming hypothesis and prediction are prerequisites for most higher education courses.

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Many of our students have gone on to study biology - based degrees and higher degrees at university.  Recently qualified students include those who have gone on to:

• Northumbria University – Biomedical Sciences

• Cambridge University - Veterinary Science

• Edge Hill University - Early Years Learning

• Surrey – Bioscience

• University of Hull – Industrial chemistry

• Newcastle University and QUB – Medicine

• University of Ulster - Mathematics and Sports Studies

 

In the A level biology course we study life at every level of organization - from biological molecules to organ systems, from the genetics of populations, to the interaction of organisms within ecosystems. Students develop a range of skills with the emphasis on thinking scientifically. Lesson based theoretical and practical work is supported by a lab book and a wide range of resource types for independent study is available to students on our virtual learning environment.

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A level biology outline

We follow the WJEC biology specification.

 AS biology (Year 13) has 2 units:

Unit 1: Basic Biochemistry and Cell Organisation

Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes (80 marks)

20% of qualification

A range of short and longer structured questions and one extended response.

 

Unit 2:Biodiversity and Physiology of Body Systems

Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes (80 marks)

20% of qualification

A range of short and longer structured questions and one extended response.

 

A Level (the above plus a further 3 units)

Unit 3: Energy, Homeostasis and the Environment

Written examination: 2 hours (90 marks)

25% of qualification

A range of short and longer structured questions and one extended response.

 

Unit 4: Variation, Inheritance and Options

Written examination: 2 hours (90 marks)

25% of qualification

Section A: 70 marks

A range of short and longer structured questions and one extended response.

Section B: 20 marks

 

Unit 5: Practical examination (50 marks)

10% of qualification

This unit comprises two tasks:

• Experimental Task (20 marks)

• Practical Analysis Task (30 marks)

Please visit the WJEC A-level Biology website for more information.