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      Removal of the January exam series for A Levels

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    AS/A Level GCE Biology - H021, H421

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    • AS/A Level GCE

    • AS/A Level GCE - Biology - H021, H421 - OCR

      • Increased time allowed for A2 examination papers

        • Please read Notice to centres - Changes to timings of examination papers.

      • Notice to centres - Removal of the January exam series - AS and A2 Level

        • There is no longer a January exam series for AS and A2 units. Follow this link to find out more about the changes.

          We have updated all of the current A Level specifications to reflect the removal of the January series; these are now available for you to download.

          This is the only change to the current A Level specifications.

    This specification has been written for students who wish to continue their study of Biology after GCSE. It has been designed to enable centres to deliver the units using the framework provided or to design a custom course. The specification is divided into topics, each covering different key concepts in Biology. Applications of biology are covered throughout the specification.

    Benefits

    • Developed in consultation with teachers, universities, research organisations and professional bodies.
    • There is less emphasis on recall and more on understanding and application.
    • All four externally assessed units are offered in the January and June series.
    • Simple assessment of practical skills using OCR-set tasks and mark schemes.

    • (2) Key documents
      • Specification (PDF, 359KB) Updated 09/05/2013
      • Summary of specification (PDF, 103KB)
    • (3) Notices to centres
      • Notice to centres - Changes to timings of examination papers (PDF, 20KB)
      • Notice to centres - New GCE Sciences for first teaching from September 2008 (PDF, 39KB)
      • Notice to centres - Removal of January assessment for A Level qualifications (PDF, 61KB) New
    • (10) Assessment materials
      • Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - Specimen (PDF, 207KB)
      • Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - Specimen (PDF, 342KB)
      • Unit F213 - Practical skills in biology 1 - Qualitative task - Specimen (PDF, 247KB)
      • Unit F213 - Practical skills in biology 1 - Quantitative task - Specimen (PDF, 283KB)
      • Unit F213 - Practical skills in biology 1 - Specimen (PDF, 440KB)
      • Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy - Specimen (PDF, 362KB)
      • Unit F215 - Control, genomes and environment - Specimen (PDF, 139KB)
      • Unit F216 - Practical skills in biology 2 - Evaluative task - Specimen (PDF, 355KB)
      • Unit F216 - Practical skills in biology 2 - Qualitative task - Specimen (PDF, 246KB)
      • Unit F216 - Practical skills in biology 2 - Quantitative task - Specimen (PDF, 242KB)
    • (10) Examiner reports
      • (2) Reports 2009
        • Report on the units - January (PDF, 87KB)
        • Report on the units - June (PDF, 186KB)
      • (2) Reports 2010
        • Examiner's report - January (PDF, 199KB)
        • Examiner's report - June (PDF, 662KB)
      • (2) Reports 2011
        • Examiners' reports - January (PDF, 215KB)
        • Examiners' reports - June (PDF, 251KB)
      • (2) Reports 2012
        • Examiners' reports - January (PDF, 167KB)
        • Examiners' reports - June (PDF, 326KB)
      • (2) Reports 2013
        • Examiners' reports - January (PDF, 376KB) New
        • Examiners' reports - January (PDF, 376KB) New
    • (9) Forms
      • Centre authentication form - CCS160 (PDF, 175KB)
      • Centre authentication form - CCS160 - Interactive (PDF, 323KB) New
      • Unit F213/F216 - Coursework cover sheet (CCS361) (PDF, 90KB)
      • Unit F213/F216 - Coursework cover sheet (interactive - CCS361i) (PDF, 56KB)
      • Unit F213/F216 - Coursework enquiry form (GCW262) (PDF, 92KB)
      • Unit F213/F216 - Coursework enquiry form (interactive - GCW262i) (PDF, 114KB)
      • Unit F213/F216 - Incident report form (GCW261) (PDF, 84KB)
      • Unit F213/F216 - Incident report form (interactive - GCW261i) (PDF, 58KB)
      • Units F213, F216, F223, F226, F323, F326, F333, F336, G483, G486, F793, F796, G643 - Coursework instructions (CWI731) (PDF, 132KB)
    • (23) Mark schemes
      • (2) Mark schemes 2009
        • Mark scheme - January (PDF, 241KB)
        • Mark scheme - June (PDF, 600KB)
      • (5) Mark schemes 2010
        • Mark scheme - January (PDF, 227KB)
        • Mark scheme - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - June (PDF, 265KB)
        • Mark scheme - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - June (PDF, 380KB) New
        • Mark scheme - Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy - June (PDF, 109KB)
        • Mark scheme - Unit F215 - Control, genomes and environment - June (PDF, 121KB)
      • (8) Mark schemes 2011
        • Mark scheme - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - January (PDF, 249KB)
        • Mark Scheme - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - June (PDF, 64KB)
        • Mark scheme - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - January (PDF, 359KB)
        • Mark Scheme - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - June (PDF, 365KB)
        • Mark scheme - Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy - January (PDF, 195KB)
        • Mark Scheme - Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy - June (PDF, 281KB)
        • Mark scheme - Unit F215 - Control, genomes and environment - January (PDF, 403KB)
        • Mark Scheme - Unit F215 - Control, genomes and environment - June (PDF, 233KB)
      • (8) Mark schemes 2012
        • Mark scheme - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - January (PDF, 116KB)
        • Mark Scheme - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - June (PDF, 247KB) New
        • Mark scheme - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - January (PDF, 247KB)
        • Mark Scheme - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - June (PDF, 169KB) New
        • Mark scheme - Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy - January (PDF, 175KB)
        • Mark Scheme - Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy - June (PDF, 260KB) New
        • Mark scheme - Unit F215 - Control, genomes and environment - January (PDF, 305KB)
        • Mark Scheme - Unit F215 - Control, genomes and environment - June (PDF, 187KB) New
    • (65) Past papers
      • (6) Legacy qualification - Past paper materials
        • Past paper materials - 2008 January - Legacy (ZIP, 12MB)
        • Past paper materials - 2008 June - Legacy (ZIP, 8MB)
        • Past paper materials - 2009 January - Legacy (ZIP, 5MB)
        • Past paper materials - 2009 June - Legacy (ZIP, 6MB)
        • Past paper materials - 2010 January - Legacy (ZIP, 3MB)
        • Past paper materials - 2010 June - Legacy (ZIP, 3MB) New
      • (2) Past papers 2009 - January series
        • Question paper - Unit F211/01 - Cells, exchange and transport (PDF, 1MB)
        • Question paper - Unit F211/01 - Cells, exchange and transport - Erratum notice (PDF, 35KB)
      • (8) Past papers 2009 - June series
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - Insert (PDF, 205KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - Instructions to candidates (PDF, 667KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - Instructions to candidates - Modified language (PDF, 304KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - Instructions to candidates - Visually impaired (PDF, 200KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - Visually impaired - Insert (PDF, 57KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - Instructions to candidates (PDF, 238KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - Instructions to candidates - Modified language (PDF, 200KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - Instructions to candidates - Visually impaired (PDF, 123KB)
      • (13) Past papers 2010 - January series
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport (PDF, 988KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - Modified language (PDF, 988KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - Visually impaired (PDF, 88KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health (PDF, 178KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - Insert (PDF, 1MB)
        • Question paper - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - Insert - Visually impaired (PDF, 69KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - Modified language (PDF, 177KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - Visually impaired (PDF, 131KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy (PDF, 285KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy - Insert (PDF, 1MB)
        • Question paper - Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy - Insert - Visually impaired (PDF, 1MB)
        • Question paper - Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy - Modified language (PDF, 285KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy - Visually impaired (PDF, 197KB)
      • (9) Past papers 2010 - June series
        • Modified papers (ZIP, 10MB)
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport (PDF, 482KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - Insert (PDF, 770KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health (PDF, 223KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - Erratum notice (PDF, 23KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - Insert (PDF, 1MB)
        • Question paper - Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy (PDF, 1MB)
        • Question paper - Unit F215 - Control, genomes and environment (PDF, 153KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F215 - Control, genomes and environment - Insert (PDF, 372KB)
      • (6) Past papers 2011 - January series
        • Modified papers (ZIP, 4MB)
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport (PDF, 183KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - Insert (PDF, 1MB)
        • Question paper - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health (PDF, 199KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy (PDF, 141KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F215 - Control, genomes and environment (PDF, 165KB)
      • (7) Past papers 2011 - June series
        • Modified papers (ZIP, 3MB)
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport (PDF, 167KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - Insert (PDF, 3MB)
        • Question paper - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health (PDF, 454KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy (PDF, 235KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy - Insert (PDF, 937KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F215 - Control, genomes and environment (PDF, 171KB)
      • (8) Past papers 2012 - January series
        • Modified papers (ZIP, 7MB)
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport (PDF, 543KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - Insert (PDF, 2MB)
        • Question paper - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health (PDF, 213KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - Insert (PDF, 1MB)
        • Question paper - Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy (PDF, 889KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F215 - Control, genomes and environment (PDF, 194KB)
        • Question paper - Unit F215 - Control, genomes and environment - Insert (PDF, 1MB)
      • (6) Past papers 2012 - June series
        • Modified papers (ZIP, 5MB) New
        • Question paper - Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport (PDF, 176KB) New
        • Question paper - Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health (PDF, 242KB) New
        • Question paper - Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy (PDF, 501KB) New
        • Question paper - Unit F215 - Control, genomes and environment (PDF, 693KB) New
        • Question paper - Unit F215 - Control, genomes and environment - Insert (PDF, 1MB) New
    • (14) Support materials
      • Practical skills handbook - Versions 1.4 (PDF, 446KB)
      • Skills guide portfolio - Version 1 (PDF, 20MB) New
      • Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - High banded (PDF, 343KB)
      • Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - Medium banded (PDF, 345KB)
      • Unit F211 - Cells, exchange and transport - Scheme of work and lesson plan booklet (DOC, 627KB)
      • Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity food and health - Scheme of work and lesson plan booklet (DOC, 631KB)
      • Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - High band (PDF, 259KB)
      • Unit F212 - Molecules, biodiversity, food and health - Medium band (PDF, 255KB)
      • Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy - High banded (PDF, 596KB)
      • Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy - Medium banded (PDF, 583KB)
      • Unit F214 - Communication, homeostasis and energy - Scheme of work and lesson plan booklet (DOC, 530KB)
      • Unit F215 - Control, genomes and environment - High band (PDF, 343KB)
      • Unit F215 - Control, genomes and environment - Medium band (PDF, 335KB)
      • Unit F215 - Control, Genomes and Environment - Scheme of work and lesson plan booklet (DOC, 511KB)
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