Biology - Advanced Higher
SCQF Framework
SCQF Level: 7
SCQF Credit Points: 32
Skills Framework
Delivering Centre
Consortia - Centre to be confirmed.
Purpose and Aims
The course develops a systems approach to the study of biological science. It allows candidates to integrate their learning, and to appreciate the global dimension of life on Earth and the importance of understanding biological issues in society.
The course encourages candidates to become scientifically literate citizens, who are able to make rational decisions based on scientific evidence and information. It gives them further experience in independent investigative work.
Candidates improve their scientific literacy by designing and carrying out their own investigation, analysing and evaluating scientific publications and media reports, and producing scientific reports and communications. Opportunities to generate new ideas when planning and designing investigations and experiments also develops candidates’ creativity.
The course aims to:
- Develop a critical understanding of the role of biology in scientific issues and relevant applications, including the impact these could make on the environment and society
- Extend and apply knowledge, understanding and skills of biology
- Develop and apply the skills to carry out complex practical scientific activities, including the use of risk assessments, technology, equipment and materials
- Develop and apply scientific inquiry and investigative skills, including planning and experimental design
- Develop and apply analytical thinking skills, including critical evaluation of experimental procedures in a biology context
- Extend and apply problem-solving skills in a biology context
- Further develop an understanding of scientific literacy using a wide range of resources in order to communicate complex ideas and issues and to make scientifically informed choices
- Extend and apply skills of autonomous working in biology
Recommended Entry
Candidates should have achieved the Higher Biology or Higher Human Biology course or equivalent qualifications and/or experience prior to starting this course.
Progression
- A Higher National Diploma (HND) or degree in biology or a related area, such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, professions allied to medicine, horticulture, pharmacology, environmental science, or health
- A career in a biology-based discipline or a related area, such as health sector, agricultural science, or education, environmental services
- Further study, employment and/or training
Career Options
Further Information
Course Content
The course content includes the following areas of Biology:
Cells and proteins
The key areas covered are:
- Laboratory techniques for biologists
- Proteins
- Membrane proteins
- Communication and signalling
- Protein control of cell division
Organisms and evolution
The key areas covered are:
- Field techniques for biologists
- Evolution
- Variation and sexual reproduction
- Sex and behaviour
- Parasitism
Investigative biology
The key areas covered are:
- Scientific principles and process
- Experimentation
- Reporting and critical evaluation of biological research
Course Assessment Structure
Question paper - 100 marks
The question paper assesses breadth, challenge and application of skills, knowledge and understanding from across the course. It assesses the application or extension of knowledge and/or skills in unfamiliar situations, practical and theoretical contexts. It also assess scientific inquiry skills, analytical thinking skills, and problem-solving skills.
The question paper has 100 marks. This is scaled by SQA to represent 75% of the overall marks for the course assessment. Marks are distributed proportionally across the course content.
The question paper has two sections.
Section 1 contains multiple-choice questions and has 20 marks.
Section 2 contains structured and extended-response questions and has 80 marks.
The majority of the marks are awarded for demonstrating and applying knowledge and understanding. The other marks are awarded for applying the skills of scientific inquiry, scientific analytical thinking and problem solving.
The question paper gives candidates an opportunity to demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and understanding:
- Demonstrating knowledge and understanding of biology by making accurate statements, describing information, providing explanations and integrating knowledge
- Applying biology knowledge to new situations, interpreting information and solving problems
- Planning or designing experiments/investigations, including safety measures, to test given hypotheses or to illustrate particular effects
- Selecting information from a variety of sources
- Presenting information appropriately, in a variety of forms
- Processing information/data (using calculations and units, where appropriate)
- Making predictions and generalisations based on evidence/information
- Drawing valid conclusions and giving explanations supported by evidence/justification
- Identifying sources of error and suggesting improvements to experiments
Project - 30 marks
The project has 30 marks. This is scaled by SQA to represent 25% of the overall marks for the course assessment.
The project allows candidates to carry out an in-depth investigation of a biology topic and produce a project report.
Candidates are required to individually plan and carry out a biology investigation. Candidates should keep a record of their work as this will form the basis of their project report. This record should include details of their research, experiments and recorded data.
The project assesses the application of skills of scientific inquiry and related biology knowledge and understanding.
It gives candidates an opportunity to demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and understanding:
- Extending and applying knowledge of biology to new situations, interpreting and analysing information to solve complex problems
- Planning and designing biological experiments/investigations, using reference materials and including risk assessments, to test a hypothesis or to illustrate particular effects
- Carrying out complex experiments in biology safely, recording systematic detailed observations and collecting data
- Selecting information from a variety of sources and presenting detailed information appropriately in a variety of forms
- Processing and analysing biological information/data (using calculations, significant figures and units, where appropriate)
- Making reasoned predictions and generalisations from a range of evidence/information
- Drawing valid conclusions and giving explanations supported by evidence/justification
- Critically evaluating experimental procedures by identifying sources of error and suggesting and implementing improvements
- Drawing on knowledge and understanding of biology to make accurate statements, describe complex information, provide detailed explanations and integrate knowledge
- Communicating biological findings/information fully and effectively
- Analysing and evaluating scientific publications and media reports
Project overview
Candidates carry out an in-depth investigation of a biology topic.
Candidates choose their topic and individually investigate/research its underlying biology. Candidates must discuss potential topics with their teacher and/or lecturer to ensure that they do not waste time researching unsuitable topics.
This is an open-ended task that may involve candidates carrying out a significant part of the work without close supervision. Throughout the project candidates work autonomously, making independent and rational decisions based on evidence and interpretation of scientific information, which involves analysing and evaluating results. Through this, candidates further develop and enhance their scientific literacy skills.
The project offers challenge by requiring candidates to apply skills, knowledge and understanding in a context that is one or more of the following:
- Unfamiliar
- Familiar but investigated in greater depth
- Integrating a number of familiar contexts
Candidates will produce a project report that has a logical structure.
Refer to the Advanced Higher Biology Coursework Assessment Task for detailed advice on the content of the project report.