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Course Description
This particular course will offer both these approaches in combination, so students will benefit from a ‘mixed’ approach; this is more appropriate for distance learning students as there is a need for flexibility. The assessment criteria and structure is the same for both approaches. After each topic there will be a tutor marked assignment, this can be emailed to your tutor as an attachment in Word, Works or RTF format. You will be sent a welcome letter by your tutor, as soon as you make contact, which will outline assignment submission in more detail.
There is a project element to the AS award which expects distance learning students to reflect on practical biological knowledge as well as theoretical. This project will be based upon a field visit but does not require students to have laboratory access.
Your project will be marked and moderated by an independent coursework marker at the centre where you sit your examinations. There may be a fee for the marking. All distance learning students should download the Private Candidates Handbook form Edexcel’s website which gives you guidance on finding an examination centre and registering. Likewise, International students need to download the specific handbook for them, which will give alternative examination arrangements etc.
The web site is: www.edexcel.org.uk
Your tutor will give you various resource sites to visit and there is extra material on the student common room. In addition there are several supporting texts books for this course but again this depends on which approach you are following and which book best suits your individual needs:
Biology for AS by C.J. Cleg; ISBN 978-0-340-96623-5
This book is for the context-led approach and comes with a CD-ROM for which there is a single user licence and this gives you extensive animated diagrams, material and an electronic glossary.
Edexcel AS Biology (Student’s Book) ISBN 978-1-4058-9632-0
This is for the concept-based approach and again has an accompanying CD-ROM which allows you to access additional material.
The whole course is assessment objectives based and combines a number of ‘learning outcome’ expectations. The assessment objective weightings for the AS award are as follows:
AO1
Knowledge and understanding of science and of
How Science Works
30-34%
AO2
Application of knowledge and understanding of
AO3 science and of How Science Works
34-40%
AO3
How Science Works
28%
Total
100%
The UnitsUnit 1: Lifestyle, Transport, Genes and Health -Unit code 6B101This unit carries 40% of the total AS marks and 20% of the total GCE marks
The unit is externally assessed.
Availability: January and June
Content summary
Structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins; enzyme action
Structure and properties of cell membranes; passive and active transport
Structure and role of DNA and RNA
Replication; protein synthesis
Monohybrid inheritance
Gene mutations
Principles of gene therapy; social and ethical issues
Assessment
This unit is assessed by means of a written examination paper which lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes:
Objective questions
Structured questions
Short answer questions
How Science Works
Practical-related questions
Unit 2: Development, Plants and the Environment - Unit code 6B1202 This unit carries 40% of the total AS marks and 20% of the total GCE marks
The unit is externally assessed Availability: January and June
Content summary
Cell structure and ultra structure of eukaryote and prokaryote cells: cell specialisation
The role of meiosis
Genotype and environmental influence
Stem cell research and its implications
Biodiversity, adaptations and natural selection
Principles of taxonomy
Plant cell structure
Transport of water in plants
Uses of plant products
Assessment
This unit is assessed by means of a written examination paper which lasts 1 hour and 15 minutes:
Objective questions
Structured questions
Short answer questions
How Science Works
Practical-related questions
Unit 3: Practical Biology and Research Skills - Unit code 6B103 This unit is worth up to 20% of the total AS marks and 10% of the total GCE marks
The unit is externally assessed
Availability: June
Summary
You will write a report of between 1500 and 2000 words which will be either a record of a visit to a site of biological interest, or a report of research into a biological topic. Your practical skills knowledge will be assessed within this unit but for distance learning students this will not be hands-on.
Assessment
The report will be marked and moderated by Edexcel and the ‘practical knowledge element will be authenticated by your tutor.
The full specification can be viewed and downloaded from the Edexcel website.
How Science Works
You may have noticed that this phrase comes up in assessment and objective criteria. This builds on from Key Stage 4 science and is related to the following:
The use of theories and models, ideas and clarifications
The ability to use knowledge and understanding to address scientific problems
The ability to use appropriate methodology and ICT to answer scientific questions
Practical knowledge and risk assessment
Analysis and interpretive skills
Evaluation skills
Be able to communicate information and ideas using appropriate approach and terminology
Summary
The introduction has covered the basic course content and assessment criteria. Further information can be obtained through Edexcel.
The final assessment criteria and structure is the same regardless of which approach you choose.
Your tutor will support you with your project formulation and give you guidance with appropriate topics and ideas.
Predicted grades can only be given upon sufficient assignment submissions, and students are encouraged to complete all assignments as they provide valuable revision resources for written examinations and ensure that all topics have been covered.
A Level in Biology (A2) 9BI01A2 BiologyThis course is based on two approaches and builds on the knowledge gained from both AS and GCSE level:
The concept-led approach which includes study of the laws, theories and models of biology, exploring the practical application of these in both knowledge and with reference to everyday life.
The context-led approach considers applications of biological knowledge and looks at the underpinning concepts.
This particular course will offer both these approaches in combination, so students will benefit from a ‘mixed’ approach; this is more appropriate for distance learning students as there is a need for flexibility. The assessment criteria and structure is the same for both approaches. After each topic there will be a tutor marked assignment, this can be emailed to your tutor as an attachment in Word, Works or RTF format.
There is a project element to the A2 award which expects distance learning students to reflect on practical biological knowledge as well as theoretical. This project will be based upon an individual experiment but does not require students to have laboratory access.
Your project will be marked externally and moderated by Edexcel
Your tutor will give you various resource sites to visit and there is extra material on the student common room (ODL). In addition there are several supporting texts books for this course but again this depends on which approach you are following and which book best suits your individual needs:
Biology for A2 by C.J.Cleg TBC – expected date of publishing May 09
This book is for the context-led approach and comes with a CD-ROM for which there is a single user licence and this gives you extensive animated diagrams, material and an electronic glossary.
Edexcel A2 Biology (Student’s Book) TBC – expected date of publishing – early 09
This is for the concept-based approach and again has an accompanying CD-ROM which allows you to access additional material.
The whole course is assessment objectives based and combines a number of ‘learning outcome’ expectations. The assessment objective weightings for the A2 award are as follows:
AO1
Knowledge and understanding of science and of
How Science Works
26-30%
AO2
Application of knowledge and understanding of
AO3 science and of How Science Works
42-48%
AO3
How Science Works
26%
Total
100%
The unitsA2 Unit 4: The Natural Environment and Species Survival - Unit code 6B104This unit carries 40% of the total A2 marks and 20% of the total GCE marks
The unit is externally assessed
Availability: January and June
First assessment January 2010
Content summary:
Photosynthesis; energy transfer within ecosystems
Evidence for global warming
Evolution through natural selection and speciation
Nutrient recycling
DNA profiling and PCR
Structure of bacteria and viruses
Infectious diseases and immunology
Assessment:
This unit is assessed by means of a written examination paper which lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes:
Objective questions
Structured questions
Short answer questions
How Science Works
Practical-related questions
Unit 5: Energy, exercise and coordination - Unit code 6B105This unit carries 40% of the total A2 marks and 20% of the total GCE marks
The unit is externally assessed
Availability: January and June
First assessment June 2010
Content summary:
ATP, glycolysis, anaerobic/aerobic respiration
Control and functioning of heart, ventilation and cardiac output
Homeostasis
The nervous system
Impact of exercise on body, and improving performance
Hormonal coordination
Brain structure and development
Imbalances in brain chemicals
Human Genome Project
Assessment:
This unit is assessed by means of a written examination paper which lasts 1 hour and 30 minutes:
Objective questions
Structured questions
Short answer questions
How Science Works
Practical-related questions
Unit 6: Practical Biology and Investigative Skills - Unit code 6B106This unit is worth up to 20% of the total A2 marks and 10% of the total GCE marks
The unit is externally assessed
Availability: June
First assessment June 2010
Summary:
You will write a report of between 2700 and 3300 words which will be about an experiment or investigation that you have designed and carried out. Your practical skills knowledge will be assessed within this unit but for distance learning students this will not be hands-on.
Assessment:
The report will be marked externally and moderated by Edexcel and the ‘practical knowledge element will be authenticated by your tutor.
The full specification can be viewed and downloaded from the Edexcel website.
How Science Works
You may have noticed that this phrase comes up in assessment and objective criteria. This builds on from Key Stage 4 science and is related to the following:
The use of theories and models, ideas and clarifications
The ability to use knowledge and understanding to address scientific problems
The ability to use appropriate methodology and ICT to answer scientific questions
Practical knowledge and risk assessment
Analysis and interpretive skills
Evaluation skills
Be able to communicate information and ideas using appropriate approach and terminology
Summary
The introduction has covered the basic course content and assessment criteria. Further information can be obtained through Edexcel. The final assessment criteria and structure is the same regardless of which approach you choose.
Your tutor will support you with your project formulation and give you guidance with appropriate topics and ideas.
Previous Knowledge Required
No previous knowledge required.
Support
This course is self-contained so you will not need to use any extra textbooks. You can also contact your tutor if you feel you need more practice in any of the areas covered in this course as full 2 years tutor support is included with this course.
Assessment
See above.
The full specification can be viewed and downloaded from the Edexcel website.
Entering examinations is entirely the responsibility of the student, and the contract for sitting examinations is between the student and the exam centre. We are not an exam centre so you must read all the information in your course pack carefully and be prepared to travel to a centre who is willing to accept external candidates.
Please do not ask us to provide you with a list of your nearest centres when enquiring about your course as we do not have this information available, it is essential that you contact the awarding body.
Modules
- Unit 1: Lifestyle, Transport, Genes and Health, Unit code 6B101
- This unit carries 40% of the total AS marks and 20% of the total GCE marks
- Structure and function of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins; enzyme action
- Structure and properties of cell membranes; passive and active transport
- Structure and role of DNA and RNA
- Replication; protein synthesis
- Monohybrid inheritance
- Gene mutations
- Principles of gene therapy; social and ethical issues
- Unit 2: Development, Plants and the Environment, Unit code 6B1202
- This unit carries 40% of the total AS marks and 20% of the total GCE marks
- Cell structure and ultra structure of eukaryote and prokaryote cells: cell specialisation
- The role of meiosis
- Genotype and environmental influence
- Stem cell research and its implications
- Biodiversity, adaptations and natural selection
- Principles of taxonomy
- Plant cell structure
- Transport of water in plants
- Uses of plant products
- Unit 3: Practical Biology and Research Skills Unit code 6B103
- This unit is worth up to 20% of the total AS marks and 10% of the total GCE marks
- You will write a report of between 1500 and 2000 words which will be either a record of a visit to a site of biological interest, or a report of research into a biological topic. Your practical skills knowledge will be assessed within this unit but for distance learning students this will not be hands-on.
Awarding Body
Edexcel, a Pearson company, is the UK's largest awarding body offering academic and vocational qualifications and testing to schools, colleges, employers and other places of learning in the UK and internationally.
