Previously published...
• Maths and Calculator skills for Science Students March 2016
• Maths (The Chemistry bits) for GCSE Science May
... [Show More] 2016
• Science revision Guide April 2017
• Maths Revision Guide April 2017
• Summer Start for A-Level Chemistry May 2017
• Atoms, Electrons, Structure and Bonding Workbook June 2017
• GCSE Maths Grade 7, 8 and 9 Revision Questions September 2017
• 75 long answer questions for GCSE science April 2018
• Stepping Further; a comprehensive guide to applying to university July 2018
• Organic Chemistry Notebook August 2018
• AQA GCSE Combined Science Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook
• AQA GCSE Biology Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook February 2019
• AQA GCSE Chemistry Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook February 2019
• AQA GCSE Physics Required Practicals Exam Practice Workbook February 2019
•
Coming soon…
• Complete Maths workbook
• Organic Chemistry Workbook
• Maths for A-Level Chemistry
• Maths (The Physics bits) for GCSE Combined Science
• Maths (The Physics bits) for GCSE Triple Science
• Summer Start for A-Level Physics
• Summer Start for A-Level Biology
Chances are if you want a maths/science book I’ve written it or I am writing it. For full book listings, visit www.PrimroseKitten.com and follow @primrose_kitten
First published 2018 Copyright; Primrose Kitten ©
Image credits, Images by Lemberg Vector studio, by Macrovector, used under license from Shutterstock.com. Pixabay. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Cher-Room. Tracy from Science Success
Acknowledgments
Thank you to my husband for putting up with my spending every night writing this and for correcting all of my SPG mistakes. To my sons for being the inspiration behind Primrose Kitten.
Table of Content
Revision Techniques 4
Revision Timetable 5
Planning Tips 5
Weekday 6
Weekend 7
Exam command words 8
Glossary of exam command words 9
How to answer long-answer questions 9
Exam dates 10
Maths Skills for Biology Students 12
Biology 14
Five most common mistakes in a biology exam 14
Topic Guide 15
Required Biology practical experiments 16
1 – Biological molecules 17
Knowledge Checklist 17
2 – Cells 22
Knowledge Checklist 22
3 – Organisms exchange substances with their environment 28
Knowledge Checklist 28
4 – Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms 33
Knowledge Checklist 33
5 – Energy transfers in and between organisms 37
Knowledge Checklist 37
6 – Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments 42
Knowledge Checklist 42
7 – Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems 49
Knowledge Checklist 49
8 – The control of gene expression 55
Knowledge Checklist 55
Revision Techniques
• Why do you need to revise effectively? Revision techniques #1
• When should I start revising? Revision Techniques #2
• How to find your motivation and stay motivated. Revision Techniques #3
• 5 easy and effective ways to revise and study. Revision Techniques #4
• Flashcards. Revision Techniques #5
• Using past exam papers to study. Revision Techniques #6
• Colour - The easiest way to make study interesting. Revision Techniques #7
• How to revise for the new specification maths exams. Revision Techniques #8
• How to fill MASSIVE gaps in your knowledge. Revision Techniques #9
• How to best use your revision guide. Revision Techniques #10
• How best to use your revision guide, part 2. Revision techniques #11
• The easiest way to improve your grades, which you're going to hate!! Revision Techniques #12
• Study timetable. Revision techniques #13
• Study Timetable - Plan with Me. Revision Techniques #13
• Another easy way to improve your grades, which you're going to hate!! Revision Techniques #14
• Study Space. Revision Techniques #15
Don’t believe me? – here are some more links to help you.
The science of revision: nine ways pupils can revise for exams more effectively.
The Guardian. Bradley Busch Psychologist @Inner_drive Tuesday 19 April 2016
Ditch the highlighter and teach a friend. Psychology shows us a lot about how to improve our memory and avoid distractions – here are some dos and don’ts
Revision Timetable Planning Tips
1. Write your timetable in pencil (or make a version on the computer), so you can
change things around if necessary.
2. Start by thinking about what activities you can’t miss (dinner, clubs or TV
programs) and put these into your timetable.
3. Plan in when you need to do your homework to get it in on time
4. On top of your homework time, aim for a minimum of 2 extra hours on a weekday and 4 hours each day over the weekend.
5. Plan to revise for 1 hour per subject each week (this is in addition to homework) fill in the table below to help you work out how much time you need to spend on revision
6. Fill in the timetable spreading out the subjects (e.g., don’t do a whole day of Maths, do a bit each day) put contrasting subjects next to each other, to give your brain a break (e.g., English and Physics)
7. Stick to the timetable; it will help ensure you cover each subject and spread out your revision.
Weekday
Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
4.00 - 4.25
5-minute break
4.30 – 4.55
5-minute break
5.00 – 5.25
5-minute break
5.30 – 5.55
5-minute break
6.00 – 6.25
5-minute break
6.30 – 6.55
5-minute break
7.00 – 7.25
5-minute break
7.30 – 7.55
5-minute break
8.00 – 8.25
5-minute break
8.30 – 9.00
Weekend
Time Saturday Time Sunday
5-minute break
5-minute break
5-minute break
5-minute break
5-minute break
5-minute break
Exam command words
Command words are words in exam questions that give you clues on what the examiners are looking for.
Depending on the command word, your answer to a question will be very different.
There are four main ones you’ll come across; give, describe, explain and evaluate.
Give what is in the picture.
For this answer, you simply need to state using one or two words what is in the picture
A dress
Describe what is in the picture.
For this answer, you need to tell the examiners what it looks
like or recall an event or process
An orange halter neck dress with a pale band around the waist.
Explain what is in the picture.
For this answer, you need to give reasons why something is the way it is
The dress is a summer dress, so it has a halter neck, it is from the 1950s and shows the style at the time.
Evaluate what is in the picture.
Here you need to give good points, bad points, your opinion and justify your opinion
• This dress is good because it is made from a light fabric so will be cool in summer
• This dress is bad because the colour is too bright
• Overall, I think this is a good dress…
• … because it is well suited to the purpose of being a summer dress.
Glossary of exam command words
Calculate/ Determine - use maths to work out the answer
Choose - circle the answer from the selection
Compare - what the similarities and differences are
Complete - fill in the gaps - pay attention to any given words, some may be used more than once some not at all
Define - what does the word mean?
Describe - what it looks like, or recall an event or process
Design/ Plan – something
Draw - a scientific diagram, not an arty sketch
Estimate - give a sensible guess
Evaluate - give good points, bad points your option and justify your opinion
Explain - give reasons why something is the way it is
Give/Name - a short answer
Identify/Label - name a part
Justify – give an answer and support it with a reason
Measure - you might need to get your ruler out for this one
Plan - write a method, don’t forget your variables, controls and risk assessment
Plot - mark points on a graph using an x
Predict/suggest - what do you think is going to happen, you may need to use information from the question and knowledge from class
Show - give evidence and come to a conclusion
Sketch - a rough drawing, a graph doesn’t always need number labels on the axis,
but it must be an accurate representation
How to answer long-answer questions
1. Identify the command word; this tells you what the examiners are looking for. This is generally describe, explain or evaluate.
2. Go back over the question and use different colour highlighter pens to pick out key bits of information.
3. Plan the structure of your question. Table, paragraphs, diagram.
4. Write your answer
5. Check your answer fully answers the question, make sure is it balanced and cover all the points asked for in the question.
6. Check your spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Exam dates
Dates might be changed by AQA
Exam Duration of
exam 2019 exam dates
AS Paper 1 1hr30 21 May 2019 PM
AS Paper 2 1hr30 24 May 2019 AM
A level Paper 1 2hrs 6 June 2019 AM
A level Paper 2 2hrs 13 June 2019 AM
A level Paper 3 2hrs 17 June 2019 AM
Papers:
There is no higher, foundation, doubles or triples paper in A-level. There is only one paper for all students.
If you take papers at the end of AS and again at A-Level, you will take a total of 5 papers.
You do not HAVE to take the ones at the end of AS (as they do not count towards the A-Level mark), but they will help to get you ready for what is to come and give you an indication of the level at which you are working. General prediction is that you will get 1 grade less in A-level than in AS unless you work really really hard.
If you take the papers at the end of AS and then drop Biology, at least you will have an AS-Level grade in Biology.
AS Papers:
• Paper 1: Content and practical work from Topics 1-4. 1hr30mins; 75 marks, 50% of AS grade. 65 marks of short answer questions; 10 marks of long comprehension questions.
• Paper 2: Content and practical work from Topics 1-4. 1hr30mins; 75 marks, 50% of AS grade. 65 marks of short answer questions; 10 marks of long comprehension questions.
A level Papers:
• Paper 1: Content and practical work from Topics 1-4. 2hrs; 91 marks, 35% of A level grade. 76 marks a mix of long and short answer questions; 15 marks of extended response question.
• Paper 2: Content and practical work from Topics 5-8. 2hrs; 91 marks, 35% of A level grade. 76 marks a mix of long and short answer questions; 15 marks of extended response question.
• Paper 3: Content and practical work from Topics 1-8. 2hrs; 78 marks, 30% of A level grade. 38 marks of structured questions including practical techniques; 15 marks of analysing experimental data; 25 marks of an essay (with two possible topics given).
Maths Skills for Biology Students
Maths pops up in every exam; and you need some basic skills from GCSE to apply to the maths required in A level.
Remember: A level Biology does not have to be taken with Maths, so GCSE- level Maths skills are all you need for A Level Biology with just a few extra skills/methods that are taught at A Level.
The Maths only takes up 10% of your whole exam, so a few basic skills will get you through it.
A workbook containing some of the maths skills you’ll need is available from my
website or from here https://youtu.be/LKPK6fZS1lQ
Specification statement
These are the bits the exam board wants you to know, make sure you can do all of these… Self-assessment
First review
4-7 months
before exam Second review
1-2 months
before exam Final review Week before
exam
I can rearrange equations
I can solve algebraic expressions
I can give numbers to a set number of
significant figures
I can write numbers in standard form
I can use ratios, fractions and
percentage
I can calculate a mean and understand
what to do with anomalous results
I can use the symbols <, <<, >>, >, 𝖺,
~
I can find the y intercept from y=mx+c
I can determine the gradient of a graph
from the graph or from y=mx+c
I can draw a tangent on a graph and
determine the gradient
I can measure angles
I can calculate the area of a triangle
I can calculate the area of a rectangle
I can calculate surface area of a cuboid
I can calculate volume of a cuboid
I can calculate probability
I can draw and interpret frequency
plots, and histograms
Five most common mistakes in a biology exam
1. Not referring to the graphs - if the exam question asks about a graph, make sure you refer to it in your answer. Most marks can be picked up by clearly talking about the graph.
2. Ignoring the patterns and relationships – if there is a link between two things then tell the examiner about it, this is probably what they are looking for.
3. ‘Describe’ or ‘explain’ – getting these two words confused is a common mistake in all exams but it happens more in biology than any other subject. Make sure you know what the difference is.
4. Skipping levels or steps – don’t just focus on what is at the top and the bottom, remember all those important bits in-between.
5. Forgetting the practical work: loads of marks can be picked up by talking about the practical’s you have done in class. Clearly state all the details, variables and risks.
Topic Guide
Topic First
review Second
review Third
review
1 – Biological molecules
2 – Cells
3 – Organisms exchange substances with their
environment
4 – Genetic information, variation and
relationships between organisms
5 – Energy transfers in and between organisms
6 – Organisms respond to changes in their
internal and external environments
7 – Genetics, population, evolution and
ecosystems
8 – The control of gene expression
Required Biology practical experiments
There are 12 required practical experiments: 6 from AS and 6 from A level.
AS-Level
1. Investigation of the effect of a named variable on the rate of an enzyme- controlled reaction.
2. Preparing stained cell squashes from a root tip.
3. Preparing dilution series and producing a calibration curve.
4. Investigation of the effect of a named variable on the permeability of cell- surface membranes.
5. Dissection of plant and animal gas exchange system/mass transport system/organ system.
6. Using aseptic techniques to investigate the action of antimicrobials on microbial growth.
A-Level
7. Using chromatography to investigate leaf pigments from different plants.
8. Investigation into the effect of a named factor on the rate of dehydrogenase activity in the extracts of chloroplasts.
9. Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of respiration of cultures of single-celled organisms.
10. Investigation into the effect of an environmental variable on the movement of an animal using either a maze or a choice chamber.
11. Investigation determining concentration of glucose in an unknown urine sample using dilution series, colorimetric techniques and calibration curves.
12. Investigation into the effect of a named environmental factor on the distribution of a given species.
1 – Biological molecules
Knowledge Checklist
Specification statement
These are the bits the exam board wants you to know, make sure you can do all of these…
Self-assessment
First review 4-7
months
before exam Second review 1-2
months
before exam Final review Week before exam
Biological Molecules - Monomers and Polymers
Monomers and Polymers
I can define the term monomer and give
examples of monomers
I can define the term polymer and give
examples of polymers
I can describe the different forms of bonding
in molecules.
I can describe polymerisation.
I can describe what macromolecules are.
I can describe condensation.
I can describe hydrolysis.
Biological Molecules – Carbohydrates
Monosaccharides, disaccharides
I can draw common monosaccharides,
including glucose, galactose and fructose
I can describe the construction of
carbohydrates.
I can describe the structure of disaccharides,
including maltose, sucrose and lactose.
I can describe the structure of
polysaccharides.
I can explain how monosaccharides are
linked together to make disaccharides.
I can draw the formation and breaking of a
glycosidic bond by condensation and hydrolysis.
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