A Level Biology

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A Level Biology
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Contents

• Introduction to OCR
• Introduction to Biology
• Why change to our specification?
• Support and training
• Next steps

A Level Biology
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About OCR

• Part of Europes largest assessment agency,
  Cambridge Assessment
• UKs leading awarding body
• Over 13,000 centres choose our qualifications
• Qualifications are developed in consultation with
  teachers

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Our Mission
Our commitment is to provide qualifications which
engagelearners of all ages whether at school,
college, in work and part time training
programmes so they achieve their full
potential make a difference Practical Accessibl
e Innovative and exciting
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Our Credentials

• Leading the way with new ideas
• Dedicated to offering respected qualifications
• Engaging and relevant qualifications
• Comprehensive support framework

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A Level Biology
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Biology Credentials

• Popularity of specification continues to grow
• Designed for teachers by teachers

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Key points of the specifications

• Evolutionary rather than revolutionary changes
• Contemporary topics retained
• New content added
• Modern, interesting and relevant topics
• Revised core content
• Task based assessment
• Flexible approach to teaching

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Biology AS Structure
Teaching units and Assessment method and
weighting

• F211 Cells, Exchanges and Transport
• Cells
• Exchange and transport

• F212 Molecules, Biodiversity, Food and Health
• Biology Molecules
• Food and health
• Biodiversity and Evolution

• F213 Practical Skills in Biology
• Controlled internal assessment of practical skills

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Biology A2 Structure
Teaching units and Assessment method and
weighting

• F214 Communications, Homeostasis and Energy
• Communications and Homeostasis
• Excretion
• Photosynthesis
• Respiration

• F215 Control, Genomes and Environment
• Cellular Control
• Biotechnology
• Ecosystems and sustainability
• Responding to the Environment

• F216 Practical Skills in Biology 2
• Controlled internal assessment of practical skills

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Stretch and Challenge

• Stretch and Challenge is a new QCA initiative for
  A Levels
• Included in A2 assessment
• Reflected in the style of question asked which
  invite a greater variety of thinking
• Questions are structured to show more connections
  between different sections of the specification
• Extended writing is encouraged in all subjects
  (except Maths0
• A wider range of question types like case
  studies and open ended questions
• More synoptic assessments exploring connections
  between different areas and levels of a subject

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A Level Human Biology
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Human Biology Credentials

• Distinct from A Level Biology
• It offers an interesting and relevant path for
  students who want to focus on biological science,
  more specifically on the human animal
• Route into higher and further education for those
  specialising in caring professions
• Developed by teachers for teachers

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Key points of the specifications

• Extended investigation has been retained in A2
• All content refers direct to the human body

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Human Biology AS Structure
Teaching units and Assessment method and
weighting

• F221 Molecules, Blood and Gas Exchange
• Molecules and blood
• Circulatory and Gas Exchange systems

• F222 Growth, Development and Disease
• The Developing cell
• The Developing Individual
• Infectious Disease
• Non-infectious Disease

• F223 Practical Skills in Human Biology
• Internal assessment of practical skills

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Human Biology A2 Structure
Teaching units and Assessment method and
weighting

• F224 Energy, Reproduction and Populations
• Energy and Respiration
• Human Reproduction and Populations

• F225 Genetics, Control and Ageing
• The genome
• The Nervous System
• Homeostasis
• The Third Age

• F226 Extended Investigation in Human Biology
• Internal assessment of practical skills

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Whats in it for you?

• Easy to administer
• Rewarding to deliver
• Flexibility in teaching topics to meet your
  needs
• Appeals to less experienced teachers as well as
  those looking into broadening their repertoire

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Whats in it for your learners?

• Enjoyable and motivational
• Improving performance through skill based
  subject
• Stretch and challenge opportunities
• Clear, explicit and accessible question papers
• Build on GCSE knowledge

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Whats in it for your school?

• The most popular A Level science course
• Flexibility in curriculum planning
• Good progression routes into HE/FE and from GCSE

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Support

• Overarching scheme of work and sample lesson
  plans
• E-community
• Exemplar candidate work
• Coursework guidance documents
• Past papers on line for you to download
• Exam quest
• INSET

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Publishers

• We are working with publisher partner Heinemann
  to provide further resources to support these
  specifications. The student books and teacher
  resources are specifically tailored to the new
  specification.

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Next steps

• Book training/events - www.ocr.org.uk/training
• Bookmark website for further information/future
  updates www.ocr.org.uk

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• Other qualifications
• A Level Chemistry A
• A Level Chemistry B (Salters)
• A Level Physics A
• A Level Physics B (Advancing Physics)
• A Level Geology
• AS Science
• A Level Applied Science