Biology

Course summary

Have you ever marvelled at how the chemicals of life come together to form organisms that can grow, move and reproduce? Have you ever wondered how cells recognise each other and communicate to form tissues, or how such a vast and diverse world of living things can have evolved from simple single-celled organisms? If so, Biology is the subject for you! Some of the topics you will study in the OCR Biology A course include cell structure and function, biological molecules, exchange and transport, biodiversity, evolution, disease communication, homeostasis, energy, genetics, evolution and ecosystems. These topics will build upon your GCSE knowledge and you will develop a deep appreciation of the skills, knowledge and understanding of scientific methods. You will also develop competence and confidence in a variety of practical techniques. Mathematical skills are a significant feature of the course and the final examinations include at least 10%; studying mathematics alongside Biology is advisable. Much of the theory you learn will be supported by relevant practical work. There is no coursework, however, there are twelve compulsory practical activities to complete over the two years (although you will complete many more). Each practical is teacher-assessed as either pass or fail and you will be expected to record all your practical activities. If you successfully pass all practical activities you will achieve a Practical Endorsement certificate, reported separately; this will not count towards your final grade. Universities expect all students to have passed the practical endorsement and will specify this when making admission offers. The course also places a strong emphasis on scientific literacy and the application of biological knowledge to real-world issues. Students will explore the ethical implications of biological research, as well as the social and environmental impacts of scientific discoveries. You will be expected to complete independent study in and out of class, and all lessons are designed to be interactive. Everyone is encouraged to contribute their ideas. You will have the opportunity to participate in a range of enrichment opportunities, including a compulsory ecology field visit, a lecture day and The Biology Olympiad competition. In addition, there are clubs such as Dissection Club, BioMed Society and SciZmic, or you could get involved with producing Absolute Zero and Dr Dolphin magazines.