STANDARD GRADE

Course Content
The Standard Grade Biology course aims to give pupils the opportunity to understand themselves and the natural world in which they live. An emphasis is placed on investigating topics using various practical activities. Dissection of a pig’s kidney and a sheep’s heart are optional.

Course Objectives
• Knowledge & Understanding of biological facts, ideas and techniques and some Applications of Biology in society.
• Problem solving by handling and processing information, evaluating procedures and information, drawing conclusions and making predictions.
• Practical abilities associated with investigations and practical techniques.
• Positive attitudes such as being open-minded and being aware that decisions can be made which affect the well-being of themselves and others, and of the quality of the environment.

The Course consists of the following seven topics:-

The Biosphere
Ecosystems; how ecosystems work; how ecosystems are controlled and managed.

The World of Plants
The variety of plants; how plants grow; how plants make their own food by photosynthesis.

Animal Survival
The nature of food; food ingestion and digestion; reproduction; water & waste; effects of environmental factors on behaviour.

Investigating Cells
Plant and animal cell structure; diffusion and osmosis; cell division; enzymes; aerobic respiration.

The Body in Action
The human skeleton, muscles and associated structures; human respiratory and circulatory systems; structures of the human brain, eye and ear; effects of repeated physical activity.

Inheritance
Variation; genetics; detection of genetic abnormalities, selective breeding of plants and animals, mutations.

Biotechnology
Microbes; decomposition and upgrading waste; applications of genetic engineering.

Folio and Project work:
none

Course Assessment
Internal
Carrying out ten practical techniques. Designing and carrying out two practical investigations.

External
A General level paper (assessing grades 3 & 4) and a Credit level paper (assessing grades 1 & 2) both 1.5 hours each assessing Knowledge and Understanding and Problem Solving objectives.