GCSE Twenty First Century Science Suite - Biology B (9-1) - J257 Teaching from 2016

Planning and teaching

Planning

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 835KB
B1: outline scheme of work J257 J260 - This resource provides planning guidance with suggested teaching times for the topics within the specification, along with a sample scheme of work for the specified topic. DOCX 164KB
B2: outline scheme of work J257 J260 - This resource provides planning guidance with suggested teaching times for the topics within the specification, along with a sample scheme of work for the specified topic. DOCX 163KB
B3: outline scheme of work J257 J260 - This resource provides planning guidance with suggested teaching times for the topics within the specification, along with a sample scheme of work for the specified topic. DOCX 174KB
B4: outline scheme of work J257 J260 - This resource provides planning guidance with suggested teaching times for the topics within the specification, along with a sample scheme of work for the specified topic. DOCX 164KB
B5: outline scheme of work J257 J260 - This resource provides planning guidance with suggested teaching times for the topics within the specification, along with a sample scheme of work for the specified topic. DOCX 172KB
B6: outline scheme of work J257 J260 - This resource provides planning guidance with suggested teaching times for the topics within the specification, along with a sample scheme of work for the specified topic. DOCX 162KB
Annual planning for Twenty First Century Sciences This resource provides suggested models for teaching single sciences and combined sciences over 2, 2½ and 3 years. A tool is included to modify these models to fit your centre's curriculum plan. XLSX 164KB

Delivery guides

Delivery guides (online)

Delivery guides (PDF)

Keeping healthy This delivery guide will help teachers plan for, and teach about, keeping healthy by providing a range resources to ignite excitement both inside and outside of the classroom. PDF 3MB
Living together - food and ecosystems Living together is a delivery guide that will help teachers plan for, and teach about, the topic by providing a range resources to enthuse students throughout their study. PDF 2MB
Using food and controlling growth This guide will help teachers plan for and teach 'Using food and controlling growth' by giving guidance on key concepts and suggesting classroom activities. PDF 3MB
Using food and controlling growth student resource This resource should be used in conjunction with the food and controlling growth delivery guide. DOC 191KB
You and your genes This guide will help teachers plan for and teach the topic of genes by giving guidance on key concepts and suggested classroom activities. A range of worksheets and answers are provided within the delivery guide. PDF 4MB

Teaching activities

Multiple choice topic quizzes

Digital MCQ quiz - Instructions Instructions for using the digital versions of the multiple choice topic quizzes. PDF 305KB
Digital MCQ quiz - Topics B1, B2, B3 These are digital versions of our Multiple choice topic quizzes. They are self-marking and provide feedback on the different distractor options for both incorrect and correct answers. Please read our Multiple choice topic quizzes – Digital version instructions for details on how to use these most effectively.
Digital MCQ quiz - Topics B4, B5, B6 These are digital versions of our Multiple choice topic quizzes. They are self-marking and provide feedback on the different distractor options for both incorrect and correct answers. Please read our Multiple choice topic quizzes – Digital version instructions for details on how to use these most effectively.

Building a topic test using ExamBuilder Instructions on how to create your own practice test DOCX 353KB
Exambuilder exemplar Instructions on how to create your own practice paper, with a Foundation example. - interchange login required
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
Quizzes (ZIP) interchange login required
B6 Life on Earth - past present and future - end of topic quiz Topic quiz built using the ExamBuilder bank of questions - interchange login required
Selected response quizzes (ZIP) interchange login required
How to answer 6 mark LOR activities J247-J250 J257-J260 - Designed to show how to tackle six mark LOR questions. ZIP 5MB
Aerobic and anaerobic respiration This topic addresses the differences between aerobic and anaerobic respiration, and the differences in anaerobic respiration in animals and microorganisms. DOCX 894KB
Asexual and sexual reproduction This classroom activity explains some of the advantages and disadvantages of asexual and sexual reproduction in a range of organisms. DOCX 572KB
Comparing light and electron microscopes This activity is designed to be used as a consolidation tool for the light microscope and an introduction to the electron microscope. PPTX 3MB
Comparing light and electron microscopes teacher instructions This resource supports the 'comparing light and electron microscopes' teaching activity. DOCX 362KB
DNA modelling This activity is designed to consolidate the idea of the basic structure of DNA and complimentary base pairing. DOCX 910KB
DNA modelling activity This activity is designed to consolidate the idea of the basic structure of DNA and complimentary base pairing. It can then be used as a foundation for higher ability students to build on. DOC 3MB
DNA modelling teacher instructions These instructions are for use with the teaching activity on DNA modelling. PDF 325KB
Hormone control of menstruation This resource provides a data set and associated graphs to help students compare and understand hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. XLSX 155KB
Menstrual cycle Menstrual cycle is an activity that will help teachers plan for the topic by providing a range resources. DOCX 2MB
Mitosis and meiosis The activity is about mitosis and meiosis in animal cells. This activity is designed to access higher order thinking, analysing and creating skills. DOCX 869KB
Natural selection Natural selection is an activity that will help teachers plan for the topic by providing a range resources. DOCX 928KB
Negative feedback This activity introduces the idea of negative feedback and exemplifies it using temperature control in mammals and birds. DOCX 1MB
Photosynthesis - space farm activity This exercise aims to use class discussion, student research, creative thinking and practical activities to explore the fundamental concepts of photosynthesis. DOCX 857KB
Plant diseases Suggested activities that can be used to develop the learning and understanding of the plant disease topic. DOCX 3MB
Plant growth hormones This activity would be ideal as the first lesson on this area of the specification, introducing the role of auxins in phototropism and gravitropism. DOCX 629KB
Roots and shoots This resource contains a modelling activity to demonstrate the role that auxins play in plant growth. DOCX 503KB
Roots and shoots presentation This presentation should be used with the roots and shoots teaching activity. PPTX 149KB
Sexual reproduction – kittens and variation This activity is designed to be used as an introduction into the inheritance of alleles during sexual reproduction and to demonstrate the link between genotype and phenotype. DOCX 2MB

Topic exploration packs

Gene technology This resource focuses on the of topic of gene technology. The pack provides a range of activities to develop student understanding of this topic and provides additional teacher guidance and activity answers. DOCX 800KB
Gene technology student activity This activity sheet should be used with the topic exploration pack on gene technology. DOCX 646KB

Teacher guides

Glossary of terms Glossary of terms relating to practicals. DOC 183KB
Exambuilder – using past papers to make new papers A short video showing you how to use the Exambuilder tool 14 days ago
Level of response questions This guide helps teachers understand how a mark scheme is applied to exam questions, with particular focus on level of response questions. PDF 673KB
Skills guides

Transition guides

Interdependence Focusing on the topic of interdependence, this guide looks at the transition from KS3 to KS4. PDF 591KB
Interdependence checkpoint Designed to help teachers assess students' current knowledge level, this is designed to be used with the Interdependence transition guide. DOC 1MB
Natural selection Focusing on the topic of natural selection, this guide looks at the transition from KS3 to KS4. PDF 525KB
Natural selection checkpoint Designed to help teachers assess students' current knowledge level, this is designed to be used with the natural selection transition guide. DOC 1MB
Photosynthesis Focusing on the topic of photosynthesis, this guide looks at the transition from KS3 to KS4. PDF 585KB
Photosynthesis checkpoint Designed to help teachers assess students' current knowledge level, this is designed to be used with the photosynthesis transition guide. DOC 897KB
Photosynthesis student resource 1 This student activity should be used with the photosynthesis transition guide. DOC 188KB
Photosynthesis student resource 2 This student activity should be used with the photosynthesis transition guide. DOC 723KB
Photosynthesis student resource 3 This student activity should be used with the photosynthesis transition guide. DOC 485KB
Photosynthesis teacher resource This presentation should be used in conjunction with student resource 1 from the photosynthesis transition guide. PPT 192KB
Reproduction Focusing on the topic of reproduction this guide looks at the transition from KS3 to KS4. PDF 2MB
Reproduction checkpoint Designed to help teachers assess student' current knowledge level, this is designed to be used with the reproduction transition guide. DOC 2MB
Respiration Focusing on the topic of respiration, this guide looks at the transition from KS3 to KS4. PDF 564KB
Respiration checkpoint task Designed to help teachers assess students' current knowledge level, this is designed to be used with the respiration transition guide. DOC 841KB
You and your genes Focusing on the topic of chromosome models, genes and DNA this guide looks at the transition from KS3 to KS4. PDF 2MB
You and your genes checkpoint Designed to help teachers assess students' current knowledge level, this is designed to be used with the you and your genes transition guide. DOC 36MB

Practical activities

Practical support guide A list of practical activities and resources suitable for each PAG. Very helpful for revision work and where practical activities are not possible. DOCX 158KB
Practical skills booklets A set of booklets containing activities covering the combined and separate science practical skills criteria. ZIP 9MB
B5: Microbiological techniques suggestion one Look for new antimicrobial substances.
Biology PAG 7 and Combined Science PAG B5. DOCX 669KB
Biology practical tracker Manage your students’ progress in their practical work and mapping of the required skills and techniques with this tracker. ZIP 1MB
Biology student record sheet A method of tracking a student's progress through the practical part of the course. DOC 982KB
Microscale gel electrophoresis A simple, low-cost practical activity to demonstrate gel electrophoresis. DOCX 169KB
PAG Activity - Biology - Microbiological techniques - Suggestion 2 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 7 and Combined Science PAG B5 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 508KB
PAG Activity - Biology - Microscopy - Suggestion 1 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 1 and Combined Science PAG B1 for the new GCSEs DOCX 548KB
PAG Activity - Biology - Microscopy - Suggestion 2 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 1 and Combined Science PAG B1 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 474KB
PAG Activity - Biology - Photosynthesis - Suggestion 1 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 5 and Combined Science PAG B4 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 1MB
PAG Activity - Biology - Photosynthesis - Suggestion 2 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 5 and Combined Science PAG B4 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 444KB
PAG Activity - Biology - Photosynthesis - Suggestion 3 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 5 and Combined Science PAG B4 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 435KB
PAG Activity - Biology - Physiology - Suggestion 1 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 6 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 443KB
PAG Activity - Biology - Physiology - Suggestion 2 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 6 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 527KB
PAG Activity - Biology - Rates of enzyme controlled reactions - Suggestion 1 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 4 and Combined Science PAG B3 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 1MB
PAG Activity - Biology - Rates of enzyme controlled reactions - Suggestion 2 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 4 and Combined Science PAG B3 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 394KB
PAG Activity - Biology - Sampling techniques - Suggestion 1 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 3 and Combined Science PAG B2 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 437KB
PAG Activity - Biology - Sampling techniques - Suggestion 2 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 3 and Combined Science PAG B2 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 495KB
PAG Activity - Biology - Sampling techniques - Suggestion 3 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 3 and Combined Science PAG B2 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 421KB
PAG Activity - Biology - Testing for biological molecules - Suggestion 1 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 2 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 454KB
PAG Activity - Biology - Testing for biological molecules - Suggestion 2 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 2 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 441KB
PAG Activity - Biology - Testing for biological molecules - Suggestion 3 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 2 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 445KB
PAG Activity - Biology - Transport in and out of cells - Suggestion 1 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 8 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 377KB
PAG Activity - Biology - Transport in and out of cells - Suggestion 2 Teacher and learner sheets covering Biology PAG 8 for the new GCSEs. DOCX 1MB

Handbooks

Mathematical skills This mathematical skills handbook is designed to accompany the GCSE (9-1) Gateway and Twenty First Century Science specifications for teaching from September 2016. PDF 2MB
Mathematical skills Check In This student resource should be used in conjunction with the mathematical skills handbook for the GCSE (9-1) Gateway and Twenty First Century Science specifications. DOCX 2MB

Resource lists

Periodic table of the elements poster This poster of the periodic table of the elements can be printed to create an A1 poster for your classroom. PDF 1MB

Promoting your subject

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

Blog posts

Delivery guides

Find guidance on key concepts and creative approaches to delivery with activities in our delivery guides.

Browse delivery guides >
Scheme of work builder

Create and export your own schemes of work based on specification statements and our new teaching and learning resources.

Build scheme of work >
OCR policy forums
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  2 March 2022
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  3 March 2022
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  10 March 2022
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  16 March 2022
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