Biology AS/A Level 3

Applications Open: - 13th October 2025

Applications Close: - 18th November 2025

How to Apply: - Please apply directly to the school via our website www.twggs.kent.sch.uk. Follow the route 'Joining TWGGS', 'Joining The Sixth Form' to complete your application on Applicaa. For enquiries please contact admissions@twggs.kent.sch.uk.

We don't accept applications through Kent Choices.

Entry Requirements: - Entrance Criteria

Pupils entering the Sixth Form will be expected to have attained an average overall GCSE point score of at least 6 from their top 6 subjects. They must also achieve a minimum of a grade 5 in either English Language or Mathematics and a grade 4 in the other of English Language or Mathematics, and are usually expected to achieve at least a grade 7 in the subjects they wish to pursue at A level (or related subjects, as agreed by the school). In addition, pupils wishing to take Art or Design Technology will be expected to submit a portfolio of artwork and pupils wishing to take Music will be expected to have reached at least Grade 5 in their instrument or voice.

Offers will be made on the basis of predicted performance at GCSE, with the requirement that the above grades are achieved in the final examinations prior to entry to the Sixth Form and the pupil’s 3 or 4 chosen subjects being accommodated on the timetable, with no group size exceeding its maximum number of pupils.

All offers made during Year 11 are conditional on pupils meeting the grade criteria specified and will only become firm offers upon confirmation of actual GCSE results.

Exam Board: OCR

Biology is a vast and increasingly important subject in today’s world, encompassing many topics at the frontiers of modern science. It is relevant to everyone’s life - consider the role of health and fitness, medical science, food and drink production and our interactions with the natural world. It helps you understand some of the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of life on our planet - from the exciting advances recently made in genetics to the importance of conserving species which have existed through long periods of time; from how our bodies work to what the inside of a cell actually looks like. Biology A Level is universally recognised as a strongly academic qualification and as such will open a variety of doors in higher education and careers. It is especially relevant for veterinary science, medicine, nursing, physiotherapy and environmental sciences, but can equally support options in biotechnology, forensics, business, education, sports science and so on.

COURSE OVERVIEW:

UNIT 1 Development of Practical Skills in Biology - Skills of planning, implementing, analysis and evaluation.

UNIT 2 Foundations in Biology - Cell Structure, Biological Molecules, Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids, Enzymes, Biological Membranes, Cell Division, Cell Diversity and Cellular Organisation.

UNIT 3 Exchange and Transport - Exchange Surfaces, Transport in Animals and Transport in Plants.

UNIT 4 Biodiversity, Evolution and Disease - Communicable Diseases, Disease Prevention and The Immune System, Biodiversity, Classification and Evolution.

UNIT 5 Communication, Homeostasis and Energy - Communication and Homeostasis, Excretion, Neuronal and Hormonal Communication, Plant and Animal Responses, Photosynthesis and Respiration.

UNIT 6 Genetics, Evolution and Ecosystems - Cellular Control, Patterns of Inheritance, Manipulating Genomes, Cloning and Biotechnology, Ecosystems, Populations and Sustainability.

ASSESSMENT OVERVIEW:

A Level: A Level Paper 1 – Biological Processes assesses content from Units 1, 2, 3 and 5.

This paper is 2 ¼ hours long, contains 100 marks and is worth 37%.

A Level Paper 2 – Biological Diversity assesses content from Units 1, 2, 4 and 6.

This paper is 2 ¼ hours long, contains 100 marks and is worth 37%.

A Level Paper 3 – Unified Biology assesses the content from Units 1 – 6.

This paper is 1 ½ hours long, contains 70 marks and is worth 26%.

Non-Exam Assessment – Core Practical Activities which are assessed internally and are recorded as either a Pass or a Fail to be reported separately.

You could take this course to complement other advanced level courses that may overlap with Biology such as Chemistry and Physics or more general subjects that may not relate to the sciences. You could also take it to prepare for higher education, or to prepare for the A2 part of an Advanced GCE in Biology, which could lead onto other science related subjects or more general higher education courses. With further training, you could go into a job related to Biology such as Medicine, Nursing, Veterinary Science, Biotechnology, Forensics, Education, Science Technology, Sports Science, Business Science, Marine Biology to name a few. You could also go straight into a job as the AS GCE is a recognised qualification that will help you to develop the basic skills, understanding and knowledge that many employers across lots of industries are looking for.