Curriculum Studies Guide 2018

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Curriculum Studies Guide 2018
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YEAR 13
Status Optional
Prerequisites Level 2 Biology preferred
Periods per week Five
Description
Students study the nature of life at all biological
levels. The course covers:
• using and communicating knowledge
• the human manipulation of DNA in the science
of genetic engineering,
• the evolutionary processes that form new
species and the evolution of humans
• theseasonal responsesofplantstoday length,
complex navigation methods, and reproductive
strategies of animals,
• the homeostatic mechanisms that control the
blood sugar levels, temperature, blood
pressure and metabolic rate of mammals.
The Level 3 Biology course contains the following
achievement standards, which will be assessed:
AS91601
Carry out a practical investigation in a biological
context, with guidance. (4 credits – internal)
AS91603
Demonstrate understanding of the responses of
plants and animals to their external environment.
(5 credits – external)
AS91604
Demonstrate understanding of how an animal
maintains a stable internal environment.
(3 credits – internal)
AS91605
Demonstrate understanding of evolutionary
processes leading to speciation.
(4 credits – external)
AS91606
Demonstrate understanding of trends in human
evolution. (4 credits – external)
AS91607
Demonstrate understanding of human
manipulations of genetic transfer and its
biological implications. (3 credits – internal)
There is a total of 23 credits available in this
course.
The Level 3 course truly bridges the gap between
College and university study as it aims to build on
the wider application of the important biological
principles studied at Level 1 and Level 2 level. The
classroom becomes much more of a forum for
the presentation, discussion and evaluation of
interesting and challenging concepts.
Each year a significant number of boys opt to take
this Level 3 Biology course purely because they
are interested in biology, and enjoy learning about
the diversity and intricacy of living organisms
(including our own origins) rather than because
they are considering a career in Biology. This is
great, as these boys contribute hugely to the
atmosphere in the classroom. It is hoped that
all boys develop a greater understanding of the
rapidly changing world they are living in, and get a
chance to discuss the ‘meaning of life’.
There is an expectation that boys are able to
express themselves clearly in their written
answers, and many find that their writing skills,
and coherent expression of ideas improve over the
year. This is not so say that boys need wonderful
literacy skills to take Biology, but like a lot of
subjects at this level, it helps!
Can you pick up Level 3 Biology without doing
Level 2 Biology?
There are usually some boys who opt to begin
their senior Biology at Level 3 level, and they find
it an achievable challenge. Much of the vocabulary
is new to them, as are some of the key concepts,
but much of the course is new to all boys, and a
lot of it is intuitive or logical. Some of these boys
take Biology because they are changing direction
in their course and are now considering a science
degree involving Biology, but others are taking it
purely for interest, having not had the opportunity
to consider Biology as an option until now.