AQA GCSE Biology

About this course

This is the new Biology course for first teaching this year – 2011/12. If you are studying the old specification, there’s plenty of information on the AQA website. Make sure you know which course you’re following!

Exam dates

Unit 1 (core science) can be taken for the first time in January, 2012, and then in June and January from then on.

Unit 2 (additional science) can be taken for the first time in the Summer (June) of 2012 and then in June and January each year.

Unit 3 (Extension module) can be taken for the first time in the summer (June) of 2013 and then in June and January each year.

Unit 4 (Controlled Assessment) – can be carried out at any time, but the first certification is June 2013 – along with the extension module.

Exam papers and other resources

From the AQA ScienceLab website:

On the resources page:

Exam papers and marking schemes – one set of specimen papers (it’s a new course, so there are no past papers)
Specification – Details of the course, its content and structure. The contents section can be used as a check-list to make sure you’ve covered all the topics. It’s a large file, so print it at your peril! Apart from the contents section and the course structure summary, the rest is mainly of interest to teachers.
Specimen examples of completed controlled assessment papers with examiners comments and advice.
Schemes of work – my favourite resource! Contains details of all topics along with learning outcomes, suggestions for homework, exam hints and tips and links to relevant websites.
Homework and lesson ideas – another great resource of questions and answers.
Assessing progress – a collection of worksheets testing knowledge of all the topics.

On the controlled assessment page – go here and then scroll to the bottom of the page for the following link:

Guide to quality of written communication – specimen examples of students descriptions of their tasts along with examiners comments and advice.
Glossary of terms – a list of words and phrases used in the controlled assessments. Essential!
Guide to command words – Examples of exam papers showing the use of command words, the mistakes students make, and advice on interpreting them correctly.

Course content

Biology GCSE consists of four Units. The first is studied when following Core Science. The second is followed when studying Additional Science. Then an Extension unit is taken to convert ‘double science’ into triple, separate sciences. The fourth unit is the controlled assessment. Each unit accounts for 25% of the total marks.

Unit 1 – Topics from Core Science:

B1.1 Keeping healthy
B1.2 Nerves and hormones
B1.3 The use and abuse of drugs
B1.4 Interdependence and adaptation
B1.5 Energy and biomass in food chains
B1.6 Waste materials from plants and animals
B1.7 Genetic variation and its control
B1.8 Evolution

Unit 2 – Topics from Additional Science:

B2.1 Cells and simple cell transport
B2.2 Tissues, organs and organ systems
B2.3 Photosynthesis
B2.4 Organisms and their environment
B2.5 Proteins – their functions and uses
B2.6 Aerobic and anaerobic respiration
B2.7 Cell division and inheritance
B2.8 Speciation

Unit 3 – Topics from the Extension module:

B3.1 Movement of molecules in and out of cells
B3.2 Transport systems in plants and animals
B3.3 Homeostasis
B3.4 Humans and their environment

Unit 4 – Controlled Assessment:

In this unit, candidates use a range of practical skills and knowledge in one investigation chosen from those supplied by AQA.

Study resources

…coming soon…

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