Biology is wide-ranging in its topics: it helps us understand aspects of everyday human systems, the developing importance of DNA technology in disease control, how we affect ecosystems and populations around us, and how to conserve the biodiversity we rely on. Biology answers how, why, and where reactions occur in living things and begin to uncover the secrets of managing disease and the environment. Practical work is at the heart of the course and allows us to study exciting topics ranging from bioenergetics to ecosystems and microscopes to dissections. Year 1: The four main units of study are: 1. Biological molecules. 2. Cells. 3. How organisms exchange substances with their environment. 4. Genetic information, variation, and relationships between organisms. The first paper (covered in Year 12) has short answer questions and has either a comprehension question or an extended writing question (like the six-mark questions at GCSE). Skills tested include a critical awareness of current social and environmental issues and an understanding and respect for living things, analytical, evaluative, and synoptic skills, and practical skills, including the ability to plan and manipulate data. The practical work tested will be based on six core experiments that all students will carry out. It is also worth noting that a strong mathematical ability is required to excel at this subject. Year 2: Students will complete a further six required practicals and build on the topics learned in the first year, as well as learn four new units: 5. Energy transfers in and between organisms. 6. How organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments. 7. Genetics, populations, evolution, and ecosystems. 8. The control of gene expression.