Biology

Assessment

A Level of Biology introduces you to areas that you will not have experienced before. Some of the topics covered include biochemistry, cell biology, immunology, human physiology, epidemiology, ecology, neurobiology and genetics. All exams will take place at the end of the Upper Sixth year and there is no coursework or practical examination component. Instead, students will complete several required practical assessments (six in the Lower Sixth and six in the Upper Sixth) which will be assessed on a pass-or-fail basis by classroom teachers. This endorsement of practical skills will be separate from the A Level award. A Level Biology is a "hands-on" learning adventure that addresses many of the questions you've always wanted to know the answers to. Students are encouraged to synthesise plausible explanations for some of life's more puzzling questions such as: How exactly does the human heart keep beating for up to 3 billion times in a lifetime? Why do I seem to catch a cold every winter? How on earth can humans share 98% of their genes with apes? You will be expected to work hard, to work independently, to write essays, to calculate and interpret statistics, to formulate your ideas, to challenge accepted thought and to achieve to the best of your ability. Biology is a difficult A-Level subject and should never be considered an easy science...just an exciting one!