HIGHER

Entry Level:
Standard Grade Biology at Credit level

Summary of Course Content
The course is made up of three mandatory units.

CELL BIOLOGY:
Cell structure in relation to function; photosynthesis; energy release; synthesis and release of proteins; cellular response in defence in animals and plants.

GENETICS AND ADAPTATION:
Variation; selection and speciation; animal and plant adaptations.

CONTROL AND REGULATION:
The control of growth and development; physiological homeostasis; population dynamics.

Throughout the course, students are involved in practical activities and they are required to write reports on experimental work.

Assessment & Examinations
Each unit is assessed internally by means of an end of unit assessment and the submission of one report, on one of the practical activities, from each unit.

The internal assessments and the external examination will assess knowledge and understanding, problem solving and practical abilities based on the course content for the three units. The course examination will consist of one paper of two and a half hour’s duration. To gain the award for the course, the pupil must pass all the unit assessments as well as the external examination.

The external examination determines the final grade.

Folio/Project Work:
None required.