AS/A Level GCE (current)Biology - H021 H421

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Updated Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

FAQ's relating to practical tasks, moderation of tasks, training, recruitment and support materials can be found on the Biology FAQs page.

Update to specification

The specification for this qualification has been updated. Vertical black lines indicate a significant change to the previous printed version. Changes can be found on page 58.

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Overview

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

  • The specification has been developed in consultation with teachers, universities, research organisations (such as the Sanger Institute) and professional bodies (the Biosciences Federation and the Institute of Biology).
  • The specification is based upon the existing successful GCE Biology specification.
  • There is less emphasis on recall and more on understanding and application.
  • Units F211 and F214 are designed to give you the maximum opportunity to enter candidates in the January examination series.
  • All four externally assessed units are offered in the January and June series.
  • You can adopt either a staged or terminal assessment model.
  • There is straightforward assessment of practical skills using OCR-set tasks and (non-hierarchical) mark schemes.

Related information

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