Group 4: Biology
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Course Description
Biology is a fascinating and rapidly developing science which can lead to careers in the medical field, animal care, and environmental studies among many others.
During the course, your knowledge and understanding of Biology will develop across a broad range of subject areas from small scale molecular cell biology, to environmental biology. You will develop your understanding of how the living world interacts from a cellular level to whole organisms. You will learn about how a dynamic equilibrium needs to be maintained whilst balancing ethical, moral, environmental, economic and political concerns.
The biology course is designed so that you can develop critical research and evaluation skills rather than just learning facts by rote. Your practical skills will improve through greater involvement in the planning, completion, analysis and evaluation of experiments.
Internationalism will play a key role in the course; you will look at scientific developments through different global civilizations, the relationship between science and politics and religion, and global issues such as HIV and climate change.
Course Content
The core topics include statistics, cells, biochemistry, genetics ecology, evolution and health and physiology. The majority of this is an extension of topics already studied at GCSE, but going into much greater depth.
As part of the course you will complete a project working together with students from other Group 4 subjects (Chemistry, Environmental Systems and Societies). The aim of this is to encourage collaborative working and an understanding of the relationships between scientific disciplines.
In addition we have chosen to study two exciting option modules about neurobiology and behaviour and ecology and conservation.
Assessment
Internal assessment is worth 24% of your grade. There are two types of internal assessments - the large group 4 project and several shorter assessments of practical work. The external assessments will take place at the end of the second year, and will consist of three exam papers.
Paper one: A multiple-choice question paper assessing the core material.
Paper two: This includes questions on data handling and extended answer questions.
Paper three: Examination on the option units.