Biology is the third most popular subject taken at A level and it is one of the ten most popular GCSEs. No wonder – biology is a fascinating subject! However, it is a taxing one, with the top grades (7-9s) achieved in biology falling by 1.2% in 2023 from 2019 levels.
During biology sessions, I cover a topic or concept that the student is struggling with. We go through practice questions together, identifying their weaknesses and working on them. This helps practice efficient exam technique and application of understanding. Afterwards, I may set extra practice work for the student to complete over the week to help consolidate their knowledge. I also provide my own resources, including my Anki flashcard decks, to aid with teaching. I offer biology tuition up to A level.
GCSE
The three main exam boards providing GCSE biology are AQA, OCR and Edexcel. Each exam board is slightly different in terms of content but all 3 comprises two exam papers and a foundation or higher tier. Exams are graded 1-9, 9 being the highest equivalent to an A**.
AQA – 8 modules; cell biology, organisation, infection and response, bioenergetics, homeostasis and response, inheritance, variation and evolution and ecology. Content is assessed in 2 separate 1 hour 45 minute examinations, each worth 50% of the GCSE. The specification is linked here.
OCR – 7 modules; cell level systems, scaling up, organism level systems, community level systems, genes, inheritance and selection, global challenges and practical skills. Content is assessed in 2 separate 1 hour 45 minute examinations, each worth 50% of the GCSE. The specification is linked here.
Edexcel – 9 modules; key concepts, cells and control, genetics, natural selection and genetic modification, health, disease and the development of medicine, plant structures and their functions, animal coordination, control and homeostasis, exchange and transport in animals, and ecosystems and material cycles. Content is assessed in 2 separate 1 hour 45 minute examinations, each worth 50% of the GCSE. The specification is linked here.
A level
AQA, OCR and Edexcel are also the three main exam boards providing A level biology. A level biology is graded using the U-A* system, A* being the highest grade.
AQA – 8 modules; biological molecules, cells, organisms exchange substances within their environment, genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms, energy transfers in and between organisms, organism respond to changes in their internal and external environments, genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems and the control of gene expression. Content is assessed in 3 separate papers, the first and second of which are 2 hours long weighing 35% of the A level. The third paper weighs 30% of the A level and is also 2 hours long. he specification is linked here.
OCR – 6 modules; practical skills in biology, foundations in biology, exchange and transport, biodiversity, evolution and disease, communication, homeostasis and energy, and genetics evolution and ecosystems. The content is assessed in 3 separate papers, the first and second of which being 2 hours 15 minutes long, weighing 37% of the A level and the last being 1 hour and a half long, weighing the remaining 26% of the exam. The specification is linked here.
Edexcel – 10 modules; biological molecules, cells, viruses and reproduction of living things, classification and biodiversity, exchange and transport, energy for biological processes, microbiology, pathogens and modern genetics, origins of genetic variation, control systems and ecosystems. The content is assessed in 3 separate papers, the first and second being 1 hour 45 minutes long, both 90 marks and the last paper being 2 and a half hours long, consisting of 120 marks. The specification is linked here.
More information
Click here to find out about pricing
Click here to book your first session!
