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Human Biology ‘A’ level |
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The Choice of Syllabuses
This course is designed to cover the ‘A’ level Human Biology syllabuses set by the Assessment & Qualifications Alliance (AQA). Syllabus 6413 is the full ‘A’ level course. Syllabus 5413 is the first half of the course which may be taken as an AS level. Four of the six modules are also common to the Biology ‘A’ level syllabus (6411).
The Course Objectives
This course aims to guide you through the areas of study in appropriate modules, with relevant material for testing, taken from past examination papers. Although it is not necessary to follow the course in the order in which it is presented, there is some merit in doing so because it builds up knowledge in a logical order.
Do I Need to have Studied Biology Before?
Although no previous knowledge is assumed it is obvious that students who have taken GCSE or ‘O’ level in a biological science in the recent past will be at an advantage. Those students who have not studied for some time may find it helpful to obtain a GCSE text book in order to read up some of the background work to this ‘A’ level course.
There is a practical component to the course which is the same whichever syllabus you opt for. Guidance on the practical assessment is given in Appendix 2 of the syllabus. It is essential that you complete the practical requirements, so do make sure that you will be able to practise and be assessed on these skills.
The Supporting Textbook
. Published by Collins Educational ISBN 000 322290 XThis course does not follow exactly the sequence of any standard text, but guides your study and indicates what is required by the examining board at Advanced level. References are given to the main text book:
J. Simpkins and J.I.Williams Advanced Human Biology
One easy way of acquiring accompanying textbooks is through this website.
An Alternative Textbook
Published by Mosby. ISBN 0 8151 8783 1Not all the topics included in your syllabus will be in this or any textbook, so you should consult a range of books. If you cannot access a college library, then your local library will be glad to help.
There are a number of excellent and well-produced books on anatomy and physiology on sale in most good book shops that are produced for the medical/paramedical market. If your career aim is in this direction you might like to buy one. It would be helpful for much of this course, providing you bear in mind that the detail of anatomy is in excess of the requirements for ‘A’ level. One such book with a number of study aids is:
G.A. Thibodeau and K.T. Patton Anatomy & Physiology
The Content of the Course
The course is divided into six modules of study (to match the units of the examination). The numbering is not consecutive, because four of the modules are shared between Biology and Human Biology. The modules are numbered as in the syllabus, as follows:
AS
Module 1 Molecules, Cells and Systems
Module 3 Pathogens and Disease
Module 4 Centre-assessed Coursework (Practical)
A2
Module 5 Inheritance, Evolution and Ecosystems
Module 7 The Human Life Span
Module 9 Synoptic* Assessment/Centre-assessed Coursework
There is no need to look for Module 2 or Module 6 in your course pack, as these belong to the Biology, not the Human Biology course. Don’t worry, nothing is missing!
Module 4 of this course is relatively brief because practical skills are covered within all the lessons, rather than as a separate event. Students preparing for Module 9 should work through the material in Module 4 for a second time, and then look at the selection of practical examples given in Module 9.
*The term "synoptic" means that questions will be set right across the syllabus. The important thing for you to realise is that you must therefore revise all your Human Biology including material from earlier modules.
Arrangement of Lessons
Module 1: Molecules, Cells and Systems
1. (10.1) The Characteristics of Cells
2. (10.2) The Ultrastructure of Cells
Tutor Test A
3. (10.3) Cell Membranes
4. (10.4) Biological Molecules
Tutor Test B
5. (10.5) Enzymes
6. (10.6) Tissues and Organs
Tutor Test C
7. (10.7) The Blood and Respiratory Systems
8. (10.8) The Heart
Tutor Test D
Tutor Test E
Module 3: Pathogens and Disease
9. (12.1) Infective Organisms
10. (12.2) Parasitic Organisms
Tutor Test F
11. (12.3) Immunology and Exercise
12. (12.4) Cell Division
13. (12.5) The Genetic Code
Tutor Test G
14. (12.6) Gene Technology
15. (12.7) Heart Disease and Cancer
Tutor Test H
16. (12.9) Drug Treatments
Tutor Test I
Tutor Test J (Mock Exam)
Module 4: Centre-Assessed Coursework (Practical)
17. (13) Organising your AS Practical Work
18. (13) Results: Describing Data using Graphs
Module 5: Inheritance, Evolution and Ecosystems
19. (14.1) Mendelian Genetics
20. (14.2) Environmental Genetics
Tutor Test K
21. (14.3) Principles of Evolution
22. (14.5) Principles of Ecology
Tutor Test L
23. (14.6) Photosynthesis
24. (14.7) Cell Respiration
Tutor Test M
Tutor Test N (Mock Exam)
Module 7: The Human Life Span
25. (16.1) The Reproductive Systems
26. (16.2) Fetal Development & Birth
Tutor Test O
27. (16.3) Hormones and the Liver
28. (16.4) Digestion
29. (16.5) Dietary Requirements
30. (16.5) Basal Metabolic Rate
Tutor Test P
31. (16.6) The Transport of Respiratory Gases
32. (16.7) The Nervous System
Tutor Test Q
33. (16.8) Sensory Receptors
34. (16.9) Skeletal Muscle
Tutor Test R
35. (16.10) Homeostasis
Tutor Test S (Mock Exam)
Module 9: Synoptic Assessment/Centre Assessed Coursework
36. (17) Organising your A2 Practical Work
How to Approach your Work
One of the great advantages of studying by open learning is that you are free to order your work in any way you like, but, at first, that very freedom can be a difficulty. As you continue with the course you will find the method that best suits you, but to begin with we suggest that you start by reading through the lesson notes for one lesson, and then read the passages in the textbook. After that, re-read the lesson notes. If there are parts that you are uncertain about you could then look them up in supplementary books. Have your own notebook and produce your own notes to complement the lesson notes.
Finally, turn to the test questions. In the early part of the course you can use the textbooks to help you answer these, but in the later part of the course you should answer them under examination conditions. When you get your work back from your tutor you should go through it carefully, noting your tutor’s comments and comparing your answers with those given in the suggested answers.
The questions set at the end of the lesson will be based on questions set in past examination papers. Help will be given to you in suggesting the best ways to approach answering the different styles of questions. At intervals, usually at the end of each module of the course there will be a tutor test. It will help both you and your tutor if you treat this as a ‘mock examination’. The tutor test will cover the subjects that have been dealt with in that module.
Human Biology is very visual, and diagrams play an important part in communicating the subject. You will be expected to illustrate answers with diagrams, and to interpret diagrams you are presented with. The diagrams that you should be familiar with are included in the text, and it is helpful to practise drawing these.
Practical Work in ‘A’ level Human Biology
Practical work is an essential part of your studies, and accounts for about a third of the marks.
Most students following the OOL Human Biology course will be linked to a college, even if you only ever attend the college in order to use their laboratory facilities. Your practical work will usually be assessed by that college. Further details of the way in which the practical is assessed are given below.
It is possible to carry out quite a lot of practical work at home, and in this course you are given suggestions about how to carry out experiments at home. It is however very difficult to do all the necessary practical work at home. Even though you may have a microscope and slides and dissecting instruments, you really need access to more sophisticated apparatus.
The following book is a useful guide to practical work:
M.B.V. Roberts: Biology: A Functional Approach (4th edition) Students’ Manual (Nelson) ISBN 0 17 448002 4
This also includes references to other useful books on laboratory work.
The AQA Syllabus 6413
The syllabus contains six modules (or units) which match the six modules in this course. Each of these units can be taken separately or you can take the first three as an AS level (planning to do the remaining three a year later) or you can take all six at once in the traditional way.
Altogether, there are four written papers and the practical assessment.
AS Units
Unit 1 (written paper) (= Module One)
(exam entry code: BO1)1 hour 30 minutes 17.5% of the total ‘A’ level marks
This unit comprises short answer and ???
Unit 3 (written paper) (= Module Three)
(exam entry code: BO3)1 hour 30 minutes 17.5% of the total ‘A’ level marks
Paper 2 consists of 5 compulsory questions. Three of these are structured questions requiring the interpreting of data: its conversion from one form to another; simple calculations; the interpretation of diagrams and photographs; and the application of biological principles to familiar and unfamiliar situations. One question is a comprehension question, based on a quoted passage of scientific prose. The last question is an essay, where one topic may be selected from a choice of three.
Unit 4 (Centre-assessed Coursework) (see Module Four)
(exam entry code: BO4)The AS Coursework is worth 15% of the total ‘A’ level marks.
A2 Units
Unit 5 (written paper) (= Module Five)
(exam entry code: BO5)1 hour 30 minutes 17.5% of the total ‘A’ level marks
Paper 1 consists of about 20 compulsory short answer questions covering the whole syllabus.
Unit 7 (written paper) (= Module Seven)
(exam entry code: BO7)1 hour 30 minutes 15% of the total ‘A’ level marks
Paper 2 consists of 5 compulsory questions. Three of these are??
Units 8 and 9 (Centre-assessed Coursework & Synoptic Assessment) (see Module Nine)
(exam entry code: BO9)The A2 Coursework is worth 10% of the total ‘A’ level marks. The synoptic (= all-seeing) written paper lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and is worth a further 10%.
NB Units 2 and 7 of the AQA syllabus are for the Biology ‘A’ level, not Human Biology. Units 1, 4, 5 and 8 are common to both syllabuses.
Teacher Assessed Practical
Skills will be assessed covering:
More detail on this is given in Module 4.
Good luck with your studies!
The New ‘A’ level and AS level System
Students should be aware that the ‘A’ level system in the UK was changed in 2000. As a result, all the awarding bodies, including AQA (which brought together the old AEB and NEAB exam groups) introduced new Advanced Subsidiary (AS) as well as revised Advanced (‘A’) level syllabuses and examinations across the full subject range.
The Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level
Advanced Subsidiary (AS) courses may be used in one of two ways:
- As a final qualification, allowing candidates to broaden their studies and to defer questions about specialism;
- As the first half (50%) of an Advanced Level qualification, which must be completed before an Advanced Level award can be made.
Advanced Subsidiary is designed to provide an appropriate assessment of knowledge, understanding and skills expected of candidates who have completed the first half of a full Advanced Level Qualification.
The Advanced Level (AS + A2)
The Advanced Level examination is in two parts:
Advanced Subsidiary (AS) - 50% of the total award;
A second examination, called A2 - 50% of the total award
Most Advanced Subsidiary and Advanced level courses are modular. The AS level normally comprises three teaching and learning modules and the A2 comprises a further three teaching and learning modules. These modules generally match the Units of Assessment (or Exam Papers).
Examination Flexibility
The new style ‘A’ levels allow for more flexibility in the taking of exams:
- Assessment units may be taken at stages throughout the course, at the end of each year or at the end of the total course;
- AS may be completed at the end of one year and A2 by the end of the second year;
- AS and A2 may be completed at the end of the same year.
All these options are open to students following this course as it is divided into two halves and follows the same modular sequence as the syllabus.
Each assessment unit may be re-sat once only. The better result will count towards the final award.
Grading and Shelf-Life
The grading system has not changed much from the old ‘A’ level system. For both AS level and the full ‘A’ level qualification, there is a 5-grade scale: A, B, C, D and E. Candidates who fail to reach the minimum standard for Grade E will be recorded as U (unclassified).
The shelf-life of individual unit results, prior to the award of the qualification, is limited only by the shelf-life of the specification. As long as the syllabus stays in its present form, grades can therefore be carried forward indefinitely.
Private Candidates
The AQA syllabus is open to private candidates. Private candidates should write to AQA for a copy of ‘Supplementary Guidance for Private Candidates’.
Studying the Syllabus
You should be sure to acquire your own copy of the syllabus, either via the AQA Publications Dept or from the website www.aqa.org.uk.
The syllabus can be purchased from
Publications, AQA, Aldon House, 39 Heald Grove, Rusholme, Manchester. M14 4NA (tel: 0161-953-1170)
or downloaded from www.aqa.org.uk/qual/pdf/AQA6413WSP.pdf.
We advise that you obtain a copy of the syllabus so that you can assess which topics you have covered in the most detail and which ones you will feel happiest about in the exam. AQA can also provide advice booklets on your course, including ‘Supplementary Guidance for Private Candidates’. As you approach the examination, it will also be helpful to purchase and tackle past papers from AQA.
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