AS/A level Biology

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Aims of the course

To review the changes in the 9700 syllabus
To understand the new scheme of
assessment
To increase confidence in preparing students
for the examination
To be familiar with the support materials
available
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Session One

Introduction
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Overview of changes:

The assessment pattern

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Changes at AS level
Syllabus content is unchanged
Paper 1 and Paper 2 are unchanged
Practical examination is longer and is marked
differently and will need some changes in how
candidates are prepared
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Changes at A2 level
There are no options and no Paper 6
Instead, new Applications content is studied
by all students
Paper 4 is longer and includes the new
Applications material
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Changes at A2 level continued

Paper 5 is no longer a practical examination
This paper now tests planning, analysis and
evaluation
It is a written paper, not done in a laboratory
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The assessment scheme

You will find all the details about the new
assessment scheme on page 5 in the
syllabus.
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Overview of support materials 1

For AS, there is a booklet Teaching AS
Biology Practical Skills
This is available to download from the
teachers.cie.org.uk website
Or you buy a smart copy from Cambridge
Assessment
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Overview of support materials 2

For A2, there is a similar booklet Teaching A2
Biology Practical Skills
This is also available from the web site, or can
be bought as a smart booklet
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Overview of support materials 3

Also for A2, there is a booklet Applications
Support: Biology
This is available as for the two practical
booklets
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Overview of support materials 4

Also for A2, there is a scheme of work
covering the new Applications material
This is available on the teachers.cie.org.uk
web site
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Overview of support materials 5

Cambridge University Press is publishing a
revised edition of the endorsed text book,
including all the material in the new
Applications sections of the syllabus.
This is due out in April.
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Overview of support materials 6

There are specimen papers and mark
schemes available on the teachers.cie.org.uk
web site