Biology Transition Work 2018
First Task!
Use the link below to download the A Level GCE Biology A Specification.
Read this, paying particular attention to the overview on p11 and then leaf through p13-35 in order to get an idea of the content you will be covering. P37-40 details how you will be formally assessed at the end of the course. P45-51 indicates the level of numeracy and maths that you will be required to access during the course
AS Biology
A Level Biology
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-a-level-gce/as-a-level-gce-biology-a-h020-h420-from-2015/
Organisation of Notes
You will be taught using a combination of textbook work, PowerPoints and handouts so a folder in which to keep all notes is essential. Invest in a lever-arch folder and a set of dividers for your ‘at home’ store of notes. We would recommend a smaller A4 folder with a refill pad for carrying your current notes to and from school – these will then be transferred to your lever-arch folder once you have completed a unit.
Getting a Head start
A review of your IGCSE Biology/Science notes on the following topics will help you to hit the ground running when you start AS Biology in September.
This link may be a useful website for review: http://igcsepro.org/igcse/biology/
- Classification for AS Module 4.3
- Cells for AS Module unit 2.1
- Movement in and out of cells (diffusion, osmosis, and active transport) for AS Module 2.5
- Chemicals of life (structures of DNA, Protein, Carbohydrates, Lipids) for Module 2.2
- Enzymes for AS module 2.4
- Respiration and gas exchange for AS Module 3.1
Use the following questions to focus your review, and hand in your work before your first AS Biology lesson in September.
- Classification
- Name the kingdoms of living things.
- What are the characteristics of life, with definitions?
- Cells
- Draw and label an animal and plant cell
- State the function of each cell part.
- Movement in and out of cells
- Define diffusion
- Define osmosis
- Define active transport
- Explain how active transport is different to diffusion
- Chemicals of life
- What are the chemical elements found in carbohydrates, fats, proteins and DNA?
- Draw the chemical structure of glucose and amino acids
- Enzymes
- Name 3 digestive enzymes
- Define denature
- Sketch and annotate a graph to show the effect of temperature on enzyme activity
- Gas exchange
- Name the organs of gas exchange in mammals
- Describe human breathing movements
- Draw and describe alveoli and how they are adapted to carry out their function.
You can submit your work to Mrs Holmes electronically (eirwenholmes@online.sch.im) or on paper at your first AS Biology lesson.
Recommended Resources.
You will be supplied with a textbook, revision guide and revision workbook, but this will not be enough on its own to get you through your A-levels. You will need to be disciplined enough to carry out independent research in order to have a deep enough understanding of the course content. There are some excellent online resources (as well as a lot of rubbish ones!), and two that we have found particularly helpful are
Notes: http://www.a-levelnotes.co.uk/ocr-biology-notes.html
Past papers: http://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/past-papers/a-level-biology/