Biology A-Level

Module 1: Cells. All living organisms consist of cells. These are the fundamental units of life. Cell membranes allow cells to communicate with each other.

Module 2: Exchange and Transport. All living things need to gain certain substances from the environment. In this module, you will learn about how exchange surfaces work and how well adapted they are to their job. You will also learn about the ways in which large, multicellular plants and animals transport substances around their bodies.

Unit F212: Molecules, Biodiversity, Food and Health. 25% of total A level marks. 1 hour 45 minutes written paper.

Module 1: Biological Molecules. Proteins, Carbohydrate and lipids are all essential for life and exist in many different forms. Enzymes are proteins and are vital to living processes. Water is one very small but very important molecule. You will learn just how important to life this tiny molecule really is.

Module 2: Food and Health. Food is essential to provide us with energy and the building blocks we need for growth. The human body is well adapted to defending itself against infectious diseases but medical intervention can also help support these natural defences.

Module 3: Biodiversity. Biodiversity is the variety of life in all its forms with variation being the key. Conservation of species, habitats and genetic diversity are high on the agenda of modern biologists.

Unit F213: Practical Skills in Biology 1. 10% of total A level marks. A qualitative task (10 marks) is carried out and observations are made and recorded. A quantitative task (10 marks) is carried out to collect data and make accurate measurements. An evaluation task (20 marks) involves the interpretation of the data and commenting on its reliability.

Reading List: ·

  • OCR AS Biology student book and exam café CD-ROM: Pete Kennedy and Frank Sochacki. ISBN: 978-0-435691-80-6 ·
  • OCR AS Biology Revision Guide: ISBN: 978-0-435691-70-5

Biology A2 Level

A2 Specification number OCR H421

Unit F214: Communication, Homeostasis and Energy. 15% of the total A level marks. 1 hour written paper.

Module 1: Communication and Homeostasis: Homeostasis is the maintenance of the internal environment in a constant state despite changes in the environment. Most of the organs in the body are involved in homeostasis.

Module 2: Excretion. The kidneys are the main organs that can remove wastes from the blood and dispose of them. The kidneys filter the blood and the urine. Urine is used to remove a wide variety of wastes from the blood and therefore from the body.

Module 3: Photosynthesis: We all depend on photosynthesis for our existence. All the food we eat has originated from plants. Plants, animals and many microbes depend on the carbohydrates and oxygen made by photosynthesis.

Module 4: Respiration: All living organisms need energy to do work. Respiration is one of the fundamental biological processes taking place in all living organisms.

Unit F215: Control, Genomes and Environment. 25% of the total A level marks. 1 hour 45 minutes written paper.

Module 1: Cellular Control and Variation. In this module you will learn how genes control cells and hence whole organisms. You will also lean about Mendelian genetics, population genetics and how natural selection causes the evolution of new species.

Module 2: Biotechnology and Gene Technologies. In this unit you will learn how most plants naturally possess the ability to reproduce asexually and how this ability has been exploited in the production of genetically uniform crops. The Human Genome Project will also be considered.

Module 3: Ecosystems and Sustainability. In any ecosystem, organisms interact with each other. Ecosystems are dynamic – they change all the time. You will lean how humans can manipulate the flow of energy through ecosystems, and how they can damage ecosystems.

Module 4: Responding to the environment. All living organisms respond to changes in their environment which act as stimuli. A coordinated response requires the ability to detect the stimulus and to respond appropriately, in a coordinated way.

Unit F216: Practical Skills in Biology 2. 10% of total A level marks. A qualitative task (10 marks) is carried out and observations are made and recorded. A quantitative task (10 marks) is carried out to collect data and make accurate measurements. An evaluation task (20 marks) involves the interpretation of the data and commenting on its reliability.

Reading List: ·

  • OCR A2 Biology student book and exam café CD-ROM: Pete Kennedy and Frank Sochacki. ISBN: 978-0-435691-90-5 ·
  • OCR A2 Biology Revision Guide: ISBN: 978-0-435691-73-6