Biology (A level)

Welcome to the A level biology course here at The Sixth Form College Farnborough. Our A level biology qualification provides students with a broad study of the Biological world. It aims to inspire students, nurture their passion for the subject and lay the foundations for future study and the workplace.

Why study Biology A level?

Biology A level will give you the skills to make connections and associations with all living things around you. Biology literally means the study of life or living things - and if that’s not important, what is? But living things doesn't just mean animals and plants. You’ll also learn about the molecules that make these living things work, the cells that they’re made from, the systems within plants and animals, and the interconnections between organisms. Being such a broad topic, you’re bound to find a specific area of interest, plus it opens the door to a fantastic range of interesting careers. Many people use A level biology in their future studies or work. Even if you don’t decide to work in biology, studying it still develops useful and transferable skills for other careers outside of STEM. You’ll develop research, problem solving, mathematical and analytical skills, alongside independence, teamwork and communication. Universities and employers regard all of these very highly.

What exam board do we follow? AQA

Above is the textbook we use in class and recommend you buy your own copy of (ISBN: 9781782943143).

Have a look at the topics that we cover across the two years...

First Year:

Biological Molecules - Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Enzymes and Nucleic Acids
Cells - Cell Structure, Cell Membranes, Cell Cycle and The Immune System
Organisms Exchanging Substances with their Environment - Gas Exchange in animals and plants, Digestion, Mass Transport in animals and plants
Genetic Information, Variation and Relationships between organisms - DNA, Genes, Protein Synthesis, Genetic Diversity and Biodiversity

Second Year:

Energy Transfer in and between Organisms - Photosynthesis, Respiration, Energy and Ecosystems
Organisms Responding to Changes in their Environment - Response to Stimuli in animals and plants, The Nervous System and Nervous Coordination, Muscles and Homeostasis
Genetics, Populations, Evolution and Ecosystems - Inheritance, Evolution, Ecosystems
The Control of Gene Expression - Gene Expression and Recombinant DNA Technology

For more information, click here to look at the specification.

How much practical work is there?

Practical work is at the heart of biology, so it is placed at the heart of this specification.

Whilst your final A level grade will be based only on marks from written exams, a separate endorsement of practical skills will be taken alongside the A level, for which 12 core practicals will be carried out across the two years of your A level. These 12 core practicals will be assessed by teachers in class on direct observation of students’ competency in a range of skills and can also be assessed in written exams.

In addition to the 12 core practicals required for the practical endorsement, teachers often carry out many more additional practicals to aid explanation and learning.

Below are just a few of some of the practicals we do across the two years, ranging from microscopy, to dissections, to fieldwork. You'll get the chance to use lots of new equipment which you may not have used before.

How will you be assessed for the A level?

At the end of your second year you will sit three 2 hour papers:

Paper 1 - First year content, including relevant practicals (35%)
Paper 2 - Second year content, including relevant practicals (35%)
Paper 3 - First and second year content, including relevant practicals and a 25 mark essay (30%)

What does a typical lesson look like?

You will have three biology lessons per week
Every lesson lasts an hour and a half
Each lesson usually begins with a short recap exercise on the previous lesson, emphasising the importance of consolidation of material between lessons
Learning new content might involve a presentation, a demonstration, a practical, a video, an activity - every lesson is different!
The lesson usually finishes with practising applying that newly learnt content through an activity, a practical or practice exam questions