Biology - A Level

Assessment

How will I be assessed? Practical Assessment There are 16 core practicals that cover all of the 12 techniques required for the practical competency measure. Knowledge of all the core practicals can be tested within exam papers. Core practicals form part of the practical competency assessment. Paper 1 – Advanced Biochemistry, Microbiology and Genetics (30%) 90 marks that covers half the A level topics and some AS content AO1 - 11-13% AO2 - 12-14% AO3 - 5-7% Total for AOs - 30% Overview of content This paper will examine the following topics: Topic 1: Biological Molecules Topic 2: Cells, Viruses and Reproduction of Living Things Topic 3: Classification and Biodiversity Topic 4: Exchange and Transport Topic 5: Energy for Biological Processes Topic 6: Microbiology and Pathogens Topic 7: Modern Genetics Overview of assessment Assessment is 1 hour 45 minutes. The paper consists of 90 marks. The paper may include multiple-choice, short open, open-response, calculations and extended writing questions. The paper will include questions that target mathematics. A minimum of 10% of the marks across the three papers will be awarded for mathematics at Level 2 or above. Paper 2 – Advanced physiology, evolution and ecology (30%) 90 marks that covers half the A level topics and some AS content AO1 - 11-13% AO2 - 12-14% AO3 - 5-7% Total for AOs - 30% Overview of content This paper will examine the following topics: Topic 1: Biological Molecules Topic 2: Cells, Viruses and Reproduction of Living Things Topic 3: Classification and Biodiversity Topic 4: Exchange and Transport Topic 8: Origins of Genetic Variation Topic 9: Control Systems Topic 10: Ecosystems Overview of assessment Assessment is 1 hour 45 minutes. The paper consists of 90 marks. The paper may include multiple-choice, short open, open-response, calculations and extended writing questions. The paper will include questions that target mathematics. A minimum of 10% of the marks across the three papers will be awarded for mathematics at Level 2 or above. Paper 3 – General and Practical Principles in Biology (30%) 90 marks that covers half the A level topics and some AS content AO1 - 8-10% AO2 - 16-18% AO3 - 13-15% Total for AOs - 40% Overview of content This paper will assess topics 1-10. Experimental methods (including questions on core practicals) Overview of assessment Assessment is 2 hours 30 minutes. The paper consists of 120 marks. The paper may include short open, open-response, calculations and extended writing questions. The paper will include synoptic questions that may draw on two or more different topics. The paper will include questions that target mathematics. A minimum of 10% of the marks across the three papers will be awarded for mathematics at Level 2 or above. The paper will include questions that target the conceptual and theoretical understanding of experimental methods.