Stantonbury Campus AS/A2 A-Level Biology (2015-2016) · PDF fileStantonbury Campus A-Level...

Stantonbury Campus A-Level Biology Student Guide 2015-2016

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Stantonbury Campus

AS/A2 A-Level Biology

(2015-2016)


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Welcome Dear student,

Welcome to the A-Level Biology Course at Stantonbury Campus and congratulations on your decision to join us. We hope that you have an enjoyable and successful time studying Biology, the Science of Life.

What are the main differences between GCSE and A- Level Biology?

Although there is much overlap in topics and terms, there is quite a lot of new material that you won’t have met before. Also, you need to go into more detail regarding the topics you are already familiar with and your level of thinking and explaining has to be deeper. This is done through additional reading around the topics/concepts that are to be covered.

What is the course like?

A good starting point is to realise that you (not just your teacher!) should know the awarding body specification and check the topics, terms and definitions required. The specification and your textbook will highlight important things that you need to learn for the course. The Campus and your Biology teacher will support you with this.

Organising yourself during the course

Compared with your AS course, your GCSE course in school was less detailed and your progress was more structured. At AS you need to structure your own personal study. You need to organise yourself and do it in advance as much as possible. Everything from paper, pens, folders and a hole punch to textbooks and specifications, and finally, construct a time planner (daily, weekly and termly).

The enjoyment factor

Biology is the scientific study of life. We are living things ourselves so biology is about us too! Discovering how your body works and fits in with other living things is fascinating – hopefully you already enjoy this aspect of biology. During the study of your AS course, you will get the chance to delve deeper into why things are the way they are. It can be very satisfying to really grasp the more difficult concepts and the links between them.

Careers in Biology

Forensic Scientist

A forensic scientist works with law enforcement agencies to investigate crime. Forensic scientists might be responsible for collecting or analyzing evidence, analyzing a crime scene to determine what occurred or creating DNA profiles of victims and suspects.

Conservation Biologist

A conservation biologist is concerned with the preservation of natural resources and studies the impact of human beings on the environment.

Toxicologist

Toxicologists study the nature and effects of toxins on various organisms, including humans, plants and animals. Medical examiners often use toxicology reports to rule out causes of death, and many environmental and pharmaceutical companies employ toxicologists to conduct research on drug therapy.


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Geneticist

Geneticists study human, animal and plant genetics to determine the causes of diseases and defects. Geneticists conduct research in a number of different areas, including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, epidemiology and reproduction.

Environmental Consultant

Environmental consultants work with environmental organizations, businesses or federal agencies to formulate new environmental programs and ways to reduce environmental costs.

Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

Pharmaceutical sales representatives are responsible for promoting and selling pharmaceutical products to individuals and organizations within the health care industry. These representatives regularly interact with doctors, hospitals and medical organizations.

Zoologist

Zoologists are concerned with the study of animal biology and behaviour. Zoologists might work for a zoo or a wildlife reserve, or they may work independently, conducting research on specific behaviours or groups within the animal kingdom.

Marine Biologist

Marine biologists are concerned with the study of the plants and animals that live in marine environments. Marine biologists may work in a laboratory setting, on a research ship, or they may study specific marine environments such as wetlands or sea marshes.

AS/A2 Biology Specification (AQA Examination Board)

You can find the specification (at a glance) on the AQA website using the following link; http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/biology-7401-7402/specification-at-a-glance and download a pdf copy of the AQA specification with the following link; http://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/biology/specifications/AQA-7401-7402-SP-2015-V1-0.PDF

A pdf copy of the A-Level Biology Specification can be found using the links below. You are

expected to download and keep a copy of the specification. You are also expected to become

familiar with the content of the specification throughout the duration of the A-Level Course. This will

enable you to develop your understanding of how you will be assessed on the A-Level Biology

Course.


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Exam structure

You can find Past Papers and Mark Schemes for AQA AS/A2 Biology on the AQA website using the following link; http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/as-and-a-level/biology-7401-7402/assessment-resources


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Assessment Objectives On the course, you will be assessed against three Assessment Objectives - AO1, AO2 and AO3. These objectives are assessed both in the AS and A2 exams and the 12 required practicals you will undertake throughout the duration of the AS and A2 course. The component weightings (%) for each Assessment objective (AOs) vary for each Paper on both the AS and A2 A-Level course.

The component weightings (%) for each Assessment objective (AOs) vary for each Exam Assessment Paper on both the AS and A2 A-Level course.


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10% of the overall assessment of AS and A2 A-level Biology will contain mathematical skills equivalent to Level 2 (Higher GCSE) or above. At least 15% of the overall assessment of AS and A2 A-Level Biology will assess knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to the practical work undertaken on the course.

Practicals You will develop your scientific investigation and enquiry skills further in AS biology. You will have to ensure you have used the scientific apparatus and undertaken all of the techniques below (ATa – ATl) within the 12 practicals. Exam papers will assess knowledge and understanding of key scientific practical skills and application of scientific apparatus from the 12 practicals.

Overall there is various opportunities to ensure you have successfully passed all key scientific practical techniques and used various scientific apparatus (ATa – ATl).


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The following 12 practicals must be carried out by all students taking the Biology A-Level Course. You will complete 6 practicals during the AS year and 6 in the A2 year. You will have to keep a labbook/labfolder that shows evidence that you have undertaken and engaged with all key scientific practical techniques and used various scientific apparatus (ATa – ATl).

Required activity Apparatus and technique reference

1. Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of an enzyme-

controlled reaction

a, b, c, f, l

2. Preparation of stained squashes of cells from plant root tips; set-up and use

of an optical microscope to identify the stages of mitosis in these stained

squashes and calculation of a mitotic index

d, e, f

3. Production of a dilution series of a solute to produce a calibration curve

with which to identify the water potential of plant tissue

c, h, j, l

4. Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the permeability of

cell-surface membranes

a, b, c, j, l

5. Dissection of animal or plant gas exchange or mass transport system or of

organ within such a system

e, h, j

6. Use of aseptic techniques to investigate the effect of antimicrobial

substances on microbial growth

c, i

7. Use of chromatography to investigate the pigments isolated from leaves of

different plants eg leaves from shade-tolerant and shade- intolerant plants

or leaves of different colours

b, c, g

8. Investigation into the effect of a named factor on the rate of

dehydrogenase activity in extracts of chloroplasts

a, b, c

9. Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of respiration

of cultures of single-celled organisms

a, b, c, i

10. Investigation into the effect of an environmental variable on the

movement of an animal using either a choice chamber or a maze

h

11. Production of a dilution series of a glucose solution and use of colorimetric

techniques to produce a calibration curve with which to identify the

concentration of glucose in an unknown ‘urine’ sample

b, c, f

12. Investigation into the effect of a named environmental factor on the

distribution of a given species

a, b, h, k, l


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Passing the Practicals You will be assessed on a pass/fail basis for all 12 practicals and you must pass all key scientific practical techniques and use of various scientific apparatus to be accredited with your AS and A2 A-Level

What if I miss a practical? To fulfil the requirements of the endorsement, every student must carry out 12 practicals. A student who misses one of the required practicals must carry out another practical to be able to gain the endorsement.

If a student misses this required practical activity5

5they won’t have covered this apparatus and technique (ATa – ATl)..

Other practicals within an A-level Biology course involving this skill

2. Preparation of stained squashes of cells from plant root tips; set-up and use of an optical microscope to identify the stages of mitosis in these stained squashes and calculation of a mitotic index.

d. use of light microscope at high power and low power, including use of a graticule

Examination of permanent mounts of any tissue, related to specification content, in which students use both high- and low-power objectives of an optical microscope and use a stage micrometer and eyepiece graticule to measure the actual size of cells.

7. Use of chromatography to investigate the pigments isolated from leaves of different plants, eg leaves from shade-tolerant and shade-intolerant plants or leaves of different colours.

g. separate biological compounds using thin layer/paper chromatography or electrophoresis

Separation of any aqueous mixture related to specification content, eg, sugars or amino acids, by paper or thin layer chromatography. Extraction of 'chlorophyll' from a plant or alga and separation of its constituent pigments by paper or thin layer chromatography. Separation of DNA fragments by electrophoresis.

12. Investigation into the effect of a named environmental factor on the distribution of a given species

k. use sampling techniques in fieldwork

Use of random quadrats to investigate the pattern of distribution of a named sessile organism. Examples include daisies in a school playing field, epiphytes on the bark of a tree and limpets on a rocky shore. Use of the mark-release-recapture technique to estimate the size of a population of woodlice in a garden or school playground.


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Practical Skills to be Assessed in Written Exam Papers The written Exam papers will assess your knowledge and understanding of the key scientific practical techniques and use of various scientific apparatus from the 12 practicals. Overall, at least 15% of the marks for an A-Level Biology qualification will require the assessment of practical skills. In order to answer these questions, you need to have developed a good understanding of practical skills 1.1 to 1.4 (shown below) throughout the course.


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Mathematics for Biological Scientists Mathematics is fundamental to all scientific disciplines. In order to develop your skills, knowledge and undertsanding in Biology throughout the course, an understanding and application of mathematical skills (MS 0.1- MS 3.4) set out below is required. These mathematical skills will be at least the standard of Higher GCSE (Level 2 mathematics). Overall, at least 10% of the marks for an A-Level Biology qualification will require the assessment of mathematical skills (MS 0.1 to MS 3.4) in assessed written exam papers.

Mathematical Skill (MS) Description of Mathematical Skill

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MS 0.1 Recognise and make use of appropriate units in calculations

MS 0.2 Recognise and use expressions in decimal and standard form

MS 0.3 Use ratios, fractions and percentages

MS 0.4 Estimate results

MS 0.5 use calculators to find and use power, exponential and logarithmic functions

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MS 1.1 Use an appropriate number of significant figures

MS 1.2 Find arithmetic means

MS 1.3 Construct and interpret frequency tables and diagrams, bar charts and histograms

MS 1.4 Understand simple probability

MS 1.5 Understand the principles of sampling as applied to scientific data

MS 1.6 Understand the terms mean, median and mode

MS 1.7 Use a scatter diagram to identify a correlation between two variables

MS 1.8 Make order of magnitude calculations

MS 1.9 Select and use a statistical test

MS 1.10 Understand measures of dispersion including standard deviation and range

MS 1.11 Identify uncertainties in measurements and use simple techniques to determine uncertainty when data are combined

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MS 2.1 Understand and use the symbols: =, <, <<, >>, α, ~

MS 2.2 Change the subject of an equation

MS 2.3 Substitute numerical values into algebraic equations using appropriate units for physical quantities

MS 2.4 Solve algebraic equations

MS 2.5 Use logarithms in relation to quantities that range over several orders of magnitude

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MS 3.1 Translate information between graphical, numerical and algebraic forms

MS 3.2 Plot two variables from experimental or other data

MS 3.3 Understand that the following equation represents a linear relationship; y = mx+c

MS 3.4 determine the intercept of a graph

MS 3.5 Calculate rate of change from a graph showing a linear relationship

MS 3.6 Draw and use the slope of a tangent to a curve as a measure of rate of change

Geometry and

Trigonometry MS 4.1

Calculate the circumferences, surface area and volumes of regular shapes


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Useful sources of information

www.biozone.co.uk This is an excellent gateway to many other websites with useful material to support topics in both AS and

A2. Click on Biolinks on the home page. www.biologymad.com/ This site is full of useful notes to support AS and A2 topics and also useful web links and advice for

students. www.s-cool.co.uk Many web pages of structured notes

www.biology.com/ Click on The Biology Place and find tutorials, animations and tests on a variety of topics including common A level Biology practicals.

www.who.ch Use this website to find up-to-date information on infectious and non-infectious diseases.

http://www.examstutor.com/biology/

Fantastic revision website which even has podcasts for all the topics! Also a great revision planner.


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Useful textbooks and further/extended reading resources

GOOD LUCK IN YOUR STUDIES – WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE COURSE!

AQA A-Level Biology Toole, G and Toole, S. (2015) A-Level Biology for AQA

Student Book. Oxford University Press.

This is the core textbook that all students will be given at the start of the year. You will be expected to bring it with you to every lesson.

A-Level Biology Statistics Book Bill Indge. (2004) Data and Data Handling for A2 Level Biology. Hodder Education.

This statistics textbook could be used to help you prepare with the statistics used throughout the course. Overall, the application of Mathematical skills in the 12 assessed practicals and assessed Exam Papers is worth 10% of the AQA A-Level Biology Course

Head Start to AS Biology ‘Bridging the gap between GCSE and AS Level’ Green, B. (2008) Head Start to AS Biology. Coordination Group Publications.

This introductory to AS A-Level Biology text book covers the basics of what you need to know during the start of the AS A-Level Biology Course. It has been designed to build slowly on biological concepts and topics covered during you GCSE course.

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