Biology
A Level - OCR
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Taught At
Hitchin Boys’ School, Hitchin Girls' School and The Priory School
Course Overview
Course Overview
The aim of the course is to gain an insight into the Science of Life. You will study exciting and sometimes controversial issues such as genetic engineering, recent medical developments, biotechnology and environmental issues. You will develop practical skills by planning experiments, collecting data, analysing experimental results and making conclusions.
Course Content
Course Content
This course is split into six modules and combined with the Practical Endorsement, constitutes the full A Level qualification.
The modules can be summarised as:
Development of practical skills in biology
Foundations in biology
Exchange and transport
Biodiversity, evolution and disease
Communication, homeostasis and energy
Genetics, evolution and ecosystems
Teaching of practical skills is integrated with theoretical topics and they are both assessed through the written exam papers. For the practical endorsement, your class teachers will assess your practical skills in lessons, with a minimum of 12 practical activities to be carried out over the 2 years. At the end of the course, this will be reported separately to the exam grade as a pass or fail.
Biology is essential for careers in medicine and veterinary sciences as well as in disciplines such as biochemistry, microbiology, ecology and environmental sciences. We recommend that Biology is taken in conjunction with complementary subjects such as the other Sciences and you must have confidence in basic mathematical methods.
Course Entry Requirements
Course Entry Requirements
6 or above in GCSE Mathematics
6 or above in GCSE Biology or 7/6 or above in GCSE Combined Science
Minimum APS of 5
Course Specification
OCR H420
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