Biology

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What will your child study?

In the Middle School all pupils follow the CIE IGCSE Biology course (0610) which we start teaching in Year 9.  This academically rigorous course enables pupils to understand better the technological world in which they live, and to take an informed interest in science and scientific developments. Pupils learn the basic principles of Biology through a mix of theoretical and practical studies.  This course provides an excellent level of biological detail and a solid biological background for A level studies.

GCSE/IGCSE course content (including examining board)

The following is a broad overview of the topics covered at IGCSE and the year in which they are studied.

Year 9
The variety of life, Cells, Diffusion and osmosis, Enzymes, Nutrition and a balanced diet, Digestion and absorption, Nutrition in plants, Organisms in their environment
Year 10
Transport in animals, Transport in plants, Respiration and gaseous exchange, Excretion in humans, Coordination and response, Human influences on ecosystems
Year 11
Reproduction, Genetics and evolution

How will they be assessed?

The course is assessed by three theory papers which are taken at the end of Year 11.  There are no modules in this IGCSE course.  Paper 1 is a multiple choice question paper (45 minutes in length) and is worth 30% of the total available marks.  Paper 3 is an extended theory paper (1 hour 15 minutes in length) and is worth 50% of the total available marks and Paper 6 is an alternative to practical paper (1 hour in length) which is worth 20% of the total available marks.  There is no internally assessed coursework in this IGCSE course.