Planning and teaching

• Support highlights A comprehensive collection of resources to help you quickly get up to speed in the classroom and support your students in preparing for exams. These materials will focus your teaching on individual abilities of students, help determine their capabilities and above all save you time. PDF 1MB
• Co-teaching guide This guide gives advice on co-teaching AS and A Level and includes a suggested planner. PDF 559KB

Delivery guides (PDF)

Delivery guides (online)

• Scheme of work This guide contains suggested timings for teaching the specification topics, links to relevant delivery guides, and other useful guidance to support scheme of work planning. DOCX 769KB
• Scheme of Work support Help for producing an A Level Biology Scheme of Work with learning outcomes, indicative teaching time and an example from OCR’s Scheme of Work Builder. DOC 633KB
• Build scheme of work

Multiple choice topic quizzes

Evolution

Cell division

Genomes

Ethics

Biological molecules

Photosynthesis

• Language of measurement in context - Biology

  The purpose of this exemplar investigation is to illustrate the use of the language of measurement terms in the context. DOCX 889KB

• Mechanisms of ventilation and gaseous exchange This pack provides teacher guidance about a range of potential approaches for delivery of the topic 'Mechanisms of ventilation and gaseous exchange in bony fish and insects'. PDF 885KB
• Mechanisms of ventilation and gaseous exchange student sheets These student sheets accompany the topic exploration pack on 'Mechanisms of ventilation and gaseous exchange'. DOC 135KB
• Oxygen dissociation curves This pack contains teacher guidance and engaging student activities on the topic of oxygen dissociation curves. DOC 3MB

• Cell division checkpoint task Designed to help teachers assess students' current knowledge level, this is designed to be used with the KS4-KS5 transition guide. DOCX 809KB
• Cell division checkpoint teacher instructions This document gives teachers additional background information for the cell division checkpoint task. PDF 772KB
• Cell division KS4-KS5 Focusing on the topic of cell division, this guide looks at the transition from KS4 to KS5 curriculum PDF 936KB
• Sustainability checkpoint teacher instructions Designed to help teachers assess students' current knowledge level, this is designed to be used with the KS5-HE transition guide. PDF 280KB
• Sustainability KS5-HE Focusing on the topic of sustainability this guide looks at the transition from KS5 to HE curriculum. PDF 280KB
• Transport across membranes checkpoint task Designed to help teachers assess students' current knowledge level, this is designed to be used with the KS4-KS5 transition guide. DOCX 2MB
• Transport across membranes checkpoint teacher instructions This document gives teachers additional background information for the transport across membranes checkpoint task. PDF 1MB
• Transport across membranes KS4-KS5 Focusing on the topic of transport across membranes this guide looks at the transition from KS4 to KS5 curriculum. PDF 431KB

• Practical activities support guide This guide provides support on how our Practical Activity Group (PAG) suggested activities can be adjusted by centres and revision support for Module 1 Practical Skills. PDF 612KB
• Microscale gel electrophoresis A simple, low-cost practical activity to demonstrate gel electrophoresis. DOCX 169KB
• PAG 01 - Microscopy ZIP 479KB
• PAG 02 - Dissection ZIP 351KB
• PAG 03 - Sampling techniques ZIP 242KB
• PAG 03 - Sampling techniques (ZIP) interchange login required
• PAG 04 - Rates of enzyme controlled reactions ZIP 440KB
• PAG 05 - Colorimeter or potometer ZIP 463KB
• PAG 06 - Chromatography or electrophoresis ZIP 591KB
• PAG 06 - Chromatography or electrophoresis (ZIP) interchange login required
• PAG 07 - Microbiological techniques ZIP 844KB
• PAG 08 - Transport in and out of cells ZIP 336KB
• PAG 09 - Qualitative testing ZIP 471KB
• PAG 10 - Investigation using a data logger or computer modelling ZIP 294KB
• PAG 11 - Investigation into the measurement of plant or animal responses ZIP 406KB
• PAG 12 - Research skills ZIP 305KB

• Biology drawing skills handbook This guide will support students in developing their biological drawing skills. PDF 2MB
• Biology mathematical skills handbook This mathematical skills handbook is designed to accompany the OCR AS and A Level specifications in Biology A and Biology B (Advancing Biology) for teaching from September 2015. PDF 2MB
• Biology practical skills handbook This practical skills handbook is designed to accompany the OCR AS and A Level specifications in Biology A and Biology B (Advancing Biology) for teaching from September 2015. PDF 1008KB
• Graphs, tables and drawings: student checklists Checklists for students to track their own understanding of creating graphs, tables and drawings. DOC 209KB
• Mathematical skills statistics booklet This booklet can be used to help develop statistical analysis skills as an integrated part of AS and A Level Biology. DOC 713KB

• Biology A factsheet This fact sheet can be used at open/options evenings to give students and parents an insight to the qualification. PDF 542KB
• Biology A poster A poster for your laboratory or classroom wall, emphasising key words from the learning outcomes in the specification. PDF 971KB
• Women in science A3 posters and desktop wallpapers, presenting the work of prominent female scientists and how this work links to the content in our specifications. You and your students can relate the achievements of these scientists to the work you do in the classroom. ZIP 9MB

• Challenging maths skills in A Level Biology
• Core Maths: a quantitative skills boost for social science students
• Core Maths for biology?
• How much should I write in a science exam?
• Introducing the new portable tracker for A Level science
• Transition from GCSE to A Level Biology

• Co-teaching guide This guide gives advice on co-teaching AS and A Level and includes a suggested planner. PDF 559KB

Delivery guides (PDF)

Delivery guides (online)

• Scheme of work This guide contains suggested timings for teaching the specification topics, links to relevant delivery guides, and other useful guidance to support scheme of work planning. DOCX 769KB
• Build scheme of work

Multiple choice topic quizzes

Evolution

Cell division

Ethics

Biological molecules

• Language of measurement in context - Biology

  The purpose of this exemplar investigation is to illustrate the use of the language of measurement terms in the context. DOCX 889KB

• Mechanisms of ventilation and gaseous exchange This pack provides teacher guidance about a range of potential approaches for delivery of the topic 'Mechanisms of ventilation and gaseous exchange in bony fish and insects'. PDF 885KB
• Mechanisms of ventilation and gaseous exchange student sheets These student sheets accompany the topic exploration pack on 'Mechanisms of ventilation and gaseous exchange'. DOC 135KB

• Microscale gel electrophoresis A simple, low-cost practical activity to demonstrate gel electrophoresis. DOCX 169KB
• PAG 01 - Microscopy ZIP 479KB
• PAG 02 - Dissection ZIP 351KB
• PAG 03 - Sampling techniques ZIP 242KB
• PAG 03 - Sampling techniques (ZIP) interchange login required
• PAG 04 - Rates of enzyme controlled reactions ZIP 440KB
• PAG 05 - Colorimeter or potometer ZIP 463KB
• PAG 06 - Chromatography or electrophoresis ZIP 591KB
• PAG 06 - Chromatography or electrophoresis (ZIP) interchange login required
• PAG 07 - Microbiological techniques ZIP 844KB
• PAG 08 - Transport in and out of cells ZIP 336KB
• PAG 09 - Qualitative testing ZIP 471KB
• PAG 10 - Investigation using a data logger or computer modelling ZIP 294KB
• PAG 11 - Investigation into the measurement of plant or animal responses ZIP 406KB
• PAG 12 - Research skills ZIP 305KB

• Biology drawing skills handbook This guide will support students in developing their biological drawing skills. PDF 2MB
• Biology mathematical skills handbook This mathematical skills handbook is designed to accompany the OCR AS and A Level specifications in Biology A and Biology B (Advancing Biology) for teaching from September 2015. PDF 2MB
• Biology practical skills handbook This practical skills handbook is designed to accompany the OCR AS and A Level specifications in Biology A and Biology B (Advancing Biology) for teaching from September 2015. PDF 1008KB
• Graphs, tables and drawings: student checklists Checklists for students to track their own understanding of creating graphs, tables and drawings. DOC 209KB
• Mathematical skills statistics booklet This booklet can be used to help develop statistical analysis skills as an integrated part of AS and A Level Biology. DOC 713KB

• Women in science A3 posters and desktop wallpapers, presenting the work of prominent female scientists and how this work links to the content in our specifications. You and your students can relate the achievements of these scientists to the work you do in the classroom. ZIP 9MB

• Challenging maths skills in A Level Biology
• Core Maths: a quantitative skills boost for social science students
• Core Maths for biology?
• How much should I write in a science exam?
• Introducing the new portable tracker for A Level science
• Transition from GCSE to A Level Biology