Useful Information
Biology is the fastest growing and most popular Science. It
has been at the forefront in protecting the environment and in the leading
developments in agriculture and health.
The course allows students to see the impact of Biology on
their daily lives and helps them make informed decisions as we move into the
twenty first century. The course moves from the microscopic to the whole-planet
view of living organisms. It touches on all the major biological disciplines
with the emphasis on applied knowledge.
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Course Overview
The A Level qualification is made up of 3 examinations,
which are all taken at the end of the two year course.
- The Natural Environment and Species Survival worth 33% (2
hr written exam) covering components 1,2 and 3.
- Energy, Exercise and Co-ordination worth 33% (2hr written
exam) covering components 1, 2 and 4.
- Synoptic paper called General and Practical
Applications in Biology worth 33% (2hr written exam) covering all four
theory components.
In addition, at A Level, a record is produced of the
student’s observed practical skills as either Pass or Fail; this is recorded in
the certificate but does not contribute to the overall grade. The A Level is
made up of 4 compulsory theory components.
- Component 1 – Lifestyles, Transport, Genes and
Health
- Component 2 – Development, Plants and the
Environment
- Component 3 – The Natural Environment and Species
Survival Component 4 – Energy, Exercise and
Co-ordination.
Students will enjoy this course and be successful if
they:
- Have a genuine interest in the living world
- Are committed and work hard
- Enjoy researching new ideas
- Have good problem solving and communication
skills
Students should be good at problem solving and working with
numbers.
The Biology course is 100% exam based, although the A Level
requires a Scientific Practical Endorsement. The exam board for this A Level is
Pearson Edexcel.
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Course Highlights
Course Specific Trips & Visits
The College runs a number of educational experiences each
year to enable students to contextualise their learning. These experiences
include trips and presentations by visiting speakers.
It is expected that students will be engaged in study for at
least 5 hours per week outside the classroom. As part of their studies all
students take part in fieldwork with a residential fieldtrip
(approximate cost £300).
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Career Opportunities & Further Study
A Biology qualification is ideal for degree courses such
as: Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Pharmacology,
Radiography, Physiotherapy, Nursing, Nutrition, Biotechnology, Biochemical
Engineering, Biochemistry, Horticulture, Agriculture, Sports
Science.
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Assessment
The Biology course is 100% exam based, although the A
Level requires a Scientific Practical Endorsement.
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Entry Requirements
Students wishing to include A Levels in
their programme need to have (or expect to achieve) at least five GCSEs at grade
4 or above, including English at grade 6 and mathematics at grade
7.
Students
will need a satisfactory school reference and also meet the following minimum
GCSE requirement:
- Grade 7 in Core and Additional Science or a Grade 7 in
Biology, and any other Science if taken.
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Web Category
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