GCSE Biology

Overview

  • Adults (Part-time)

Details

What will I get from this course?

This GCSE course is a one year intensive course for Adults, who wish to pursue a teacher training course; tutors and trainers who may be working within a Further Education (FE) college, Adult and Community Learning Centre or Learning Provider, who require a GCSE for Further Education or for Career development.

Course content

The course is an intensive course, presented in five sections: How Science Works, the three sections of substantive content, Biology 1, Biology 2, Biology 3 and the Controlled Assessment (Unit 4).

Students will study what makes a balance diet, defence against disease, the nervous and endocrine systems, cardiovascular system, homeostasis, ecology, genetics, reproduction and evolution.

The content How Science Works is integrated and delivered, not only through the Controlled Assessment, but also through the context of the content of Biology 1, Biology 2 and Biology 3. The organisation of each sub-section of the substantive content is designed to facilitate this approach, as well as allow students the opportunity to carry out practical work.

What have students who have taken this course in the past progressed to?

GCSE Biology is a requirement for many careers, including Primary Teaching, Science degrees and the Health Professions. With a good GCSE grade there are a wide range of career options.

How will I learn?

Through classroom based activities, homework and regular assessment leading to final, external exams. In addition to one unaided and one aided observational task.

How will I be assessed?

Students will be assessed through an internal Controlled Assessment, which is worth 25% of the total marks and consists of a minimum of one practical investigation based on topics in the specification.

Students will also be entered for the June GCSE exams, where they will sit for three separate papers for each unit, B1, B2 and B3. Each paper is worth 25% of the total marks.

Equipment and other costs

You will need stationary, a calculator and AQA GCSE Biology text book.

What qualification do I get on completing this course?

GCSE

Where have students gone to after completing this course?

BTEC Level 3 Diploma

Is there additional work required by the student?

Due to the volume of scientific principles covered, as well as their applications, students should be prepared to allow a minimum of 3 hours per week of individual study outside of lessons.

What are the expected employment areas with this course?

Science

Entry Requirements

What qualifications or skills do I need to show I have before I can enrol?

·       If you have taken a GCSE Science before, we would expect you to have a grade 3 D

·       Grade 4-5 C in either GCSE English or GCSE Maths

·       If you have not taken GCSE Science before, or it is a long time since you have studied, you will be ask to take a literacy  and numeracy assessment

Expected prior knowledge

At least Grade 3 D in GCSE Science or Biology

English level  

GCSE D-G OR Level 1 Functional Skills

Mathematics level

GCSE D-G OR Level 1 Functional Skills