New GCEs for 2008
GCE Biology (2410)
A2 outline
At A2, this specification continues the approach taken at AS. The specification is clearly presented with a summary and content for each unit. There are additional sections summarising biological principles and establishing contexts for How Science Works.
The A2 specification has 3 units:
Unit 4: Populations and Environment
Topic list
- How living organisms form ecosystems through which energy is transferred and chemical elements cycled
- How human activity affects ecological balance in a variety of ways
- How genetic variation and isolation may lead to the formation of new species.
Assessment
| Written Paper: | 1 hour 30 minutes |
| Weighting: | 160% of total A Level marks |
Six - nine short answer questions plus two longer questions (a short comprehension and a short structured essay)
Unit 5: Control in Cells and in Organisms
Topic list
- Stimulus and responses - the biology of the nervous and endocrine systems
- Homeostasis and the maintenance of a constant internal environment
- Genes and genetic expression
Assessment
| Written Paper: | 2 hours 15 minutes |
| Weighting: | 23% of total A Level marks |
Eight - ten short answer questions plus two longer questions (a data-handling question and a synoptic essay - choice of one out of two)
Unit 6: Practical and Investigative Skills
Topic list
- Practical work in the contexts of Units 4 and 5
- Assessment of implementing skills on practical work as a whole
- Assessment by AQA-set tasks, to reduce the burden on teachers and students.
Assessment
| Internal Assessment | |
| Weighting: | 10% of total A Level marks |
Practical skills assessment (PSA)
Investigative skills assignment (ISA).
Key documents
