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What news items have you seen or heard of in the last week that has mentioned BIOLOGY? Biology is a developing Science. Career opportunities are huge, the skills developed as a Biologist are vital for many professions. E.g team work, data recording, analysing and evaluating. You will need a grade B at GCSE in Additional Science or Biology and a C in English Language and Maths to be accepted on to the A level course.

Results 2013 At AS: (59 students) 20% achieved a grade A*- A 63% achieved a grade A*-C 88% achieved a grade A*-E At A2: (35 students) 18% achieved grade A*-A 74% achieved grade A*-C 100% achieved grade A*-E

Work load and help Usually 2 teachers; 1 for 3 hours and 1 for 2 hours per week We expect you to do approximately 2-3 hours of work per week out of school Internal assessment after every topic Class sites on the MLE with web links, power points and past questions Lots of practicals We loan or sell you a text book We sell revision guides at a discount price We are available for 1:1 assistance when needed We will contact parents if we have concerns

Changes The course content has not changed for AS and A2 exams both now take place in the summer.

AS Specification Unit 1 Biology and disease Content; Pathogens, lifestyle, digestive system, proteins, enzymes, carbohydrates, cells, plasma membranes, movement of substances into and out of cells, cholera, lung function, lung disease, heart and heart disease, principles of immunology. Examination; written paper 60 raw marks, 1¼ hours. 33⅓% of the total AS marks 16⅔% of the total A2 marks

Unit 2 The Variety of Living Organisms Content; variation and causes of variation, DNA structure, chromosomes and genes, DNA replication, cell cycle, cell differentiation, specialised exchange surfaces, mass transport systems, water movement in plants, principles of taxonomy, behaviour, theory of evolution, measuring diversity. Examination; written paper 85 raw marks, 1 3/4 hours 46 ⅔ % of the total AS marks 23⅓% of the total A2 marks

Unit 3 Investigative and practical skills Content; students will need to..  Demonstrate and describe ethical, safe and skilful practical techniques  Record and communicate reliable and valid observations and measurements  Analyse and interpret, explain and evaluate the methodology and results. Exam board-Assessed; Practical skills 6 marks and Investigative skills 44 marks. Total 50 raw marks. 20% of the total AS marks 10% of the total A2 marks

A2 Specification Unit 4 Populations and environment. Unit 5 Control in cells and in organisms Unit 6 Investigative and practical skills

Exam board-Assessed; Practical skills 6 marks and Investigative skills 44 marks. Total 50 raw marks. 10% of the total A2 marks

Protein structure – GCSE language Every protein has a different order of amino acids.

Protein structure – A level language Proteins are made up from one or more polypeptide chains. Polypeptide chains form when peptides join together by peptide bonds via condensation reactions which involve the removal of water molecules from the amino and carboxyl groups of the peptide. The same amino acids in same sequence ensure that bonds (e.g. disulphide bridges, ionic bonds, hydrogen bonds) between R- groups always form in the same place ensuring that each polypeptide has a specific 3 dimensional structure.