National 5

Entry into National 5 Biology

Entry from S3 will normally depend on your attainment in the S3 Biology course. Your S3 Biology teacher will advise you on whether National 5 is an appropriate level for study for you.

Entry from S4 will depend on successful completion of the National 4 Biology course.

Studying National 5 Maths/National 5 Application of Maths is recommended.

Course content: what will you learn?

Cell biology

You will learn about:

· cell structure; transport across cell membranes; DNA and the production of proteins; proteins; genetic engineering; and respiration.

Biology: multicellular organisms

You will learn about:

· producing new cells; control and communication; reproduction; variation and inheritance; transport systems — plants; transport systems — animals; and absorption of materials.

Biology: life on Earth

You will learn about:

· ecosystems; distribution of organisms; photosynthesis; energy in ecosystems; food production; and evolution of species.

Teaching – what will you do?

Much of the course will be teacher-led but you will also be involved in a variety of tasks including practical experiments & investigations, written work, research and presentation tasks.

Assessment – how will you be assessed?

The course assessment has two components worth 120 marks:

· Component 1: question paper – worth 100 marks (two sections, section 1 worth 25 marks and section 2 worth 75 marks)

· Component 2: assignment – worth 20 marks.

For the assignment component, you will be asked to choose a relevant topic to research, plan and carry out relevant experimental work / fieldwork, process and present this, compare information and data, and draw your conclusion. You will present your findings in a report. The assignment component will be set and externally marked by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA).

The question paper will be set and marked externally by the SQA.

The grade awarded is based on the total marks achieved across all course assessment components.

The course assessment is graded A–D.

Homework

You will be given regular homework tasks, e.g. practice questions, research and revision tasks.

Progression – what can you do next?

Students who achieve a pass in National 5 Biology (Grade A-C) would be recommended to progress to Higher Biology or Higher Human Biology. Studying Higher Mathematics is also recommended.

Careers

Biology qualifications are essential for many careers including Medicine, Dentistry, Marine Biology, Zoology and many more.