[Magenta96]

I'm thinking of doing it next year. I think I will get A/A* at GCSE. I would like to know the answers to the following questions. You don't have to answer all of them just any answers will be fine.

How difficult do you find it in general if you got an A at GCSE?
What sort of topics do you cover at the beginning of the course?
Do you find the subject fascinating or is it boring?
What sort of practicals do you do?
How much time do you dedicate to this subject per night on a normal school week and what grade are you at?
What do you intend on studying in the future?

Thanks for the help

[NellyNoodles]

It's a huge step up from GCSE to A Level. Not so much that the content is harder, but the exam style is so different. At GCSE the mark schemes are fairly nice, they allow a wide range of answers. However, at A Level they are INCREDIBLY harsh. You will not get the mark unless you say a certain word. For example, I said "ATP is an immediate energy source" but I didn't get the mark because they wanted "ATP is an immediate energy compound". As long as you learn mark schemes and practise questions, you'll be fine though!

To start, you do Biology and Disease. So things like heart disease, lung disease, enzymes, digestion. It's really interesting! Or at least I found it interesting. :P Biology does get a bit boring at A2 when you start doing ecology.. That is a drag.

In terms of practicals, you do ISAs. This is the coursework section which obviously goes towards your final mark. They're okay so long as you revise the How Science Works sections in the text books. You will do a practical, draw up your results, then you will do an exam about your method and there are questions about given resources. It's basically thinking on your feet and applying a logical mind.

I dedicated ALL my time to Biology, to be honest. :P It's not one of those subjects you can fluke. You have to really work at it. I did about three hours a night. Luckily, I could ignore my other subjects because I was pretty good at them. :P I'm expected an A in August, but I'll be happy with a B!

I'm studying Psychology at Durham University in October. Hopefully.

[frogs r everywhere]

AS Biology is pretty interesting, especially at A2, when you start learning about ATP, glycolysis etc.
AQA is a lot of application. I would say the exams are split between 60% application and the rest just recalling knowledge.
Your memory needs to be really good, you'll be digesting quit a lot of content, but thats easily manageable by just reading NElson Thornes.
There are ISAs (internally assessed) but I did EMPA's (which are externally assessed). For these, we did practicals such as heart dissections (optional), Tests for glucose +starch by judging the colouration of the food sample, the biuret test (test for proteins), hydrolysis (enzyme activity) and the use of microscopes when examining plant seeds. Our real practical exam involved drawing graphs that illustrate our increasing heart beat by doing squats as well as the reasons behind the increase.

My revision timetable fluctuates. So I can't really say. Overall, its around an hour a day (just dedicated to Bio), five days a week and I got an A for AS. It really depends on the person though.
I will be studying medicine.

[eemooz]

How difficult do you find it in general if you got an A at GCSE? I didnt find the topic itself hard, just there was a vast amount to learn.
What sort of topics do you cover at the beginning of the course? i believe you learn about diseases like TB, and you learn a lot about the heart and lungs
Do you find the subject fascinating or is it boring? i like biology, so it was fun
What sort of practicals do you do? anything from dissecting sheeps eyeballs to counting plants
How much time do you dedicate to this subject per night on a normal school week and what grade are you at? erm i didnt really dedicate time to the subject, but an hour a day would suffice, im on an A at the moment, however results havent come out xD
What do you intend on studying in the future? medicine

[usycool1]

(Original post by Magenta96)
I'm thinking of doing it next year. I think I will get A/A* at GCSE. I would like to know the answers to the following questions. You don't have to answer all of them just any answers will be fine.

How difficult do you find it in general if you got an A at GCSE?
What sort of topics do you cover at the beginning of the course?
Do you find the subject fascinating or is it boring?
What sort of practicals do you do?
How much time do you dedicate to this subject per night on a normal school week and what grade are you at?
What do you intend on studying in the future?

Thanks for the help

There are loads of new words that you'll learn in AS biology. If you take the time and effort of learning those words, though, then your life will be made so much more easier. It is a very fascinating subject IMO; much more interesting than GCSE biology.
If you want to read ahead and see the course for yourself, I strongly recommend the Nelson Thornes book or CGP's "Head start to AS biology" book

[Tullia]

(Original post by Magenta96)
I'm thinking of doing it next year. I think I will get A/A* at GCSE. I would like to know the answers to the following questions. You don't have to answer all of them just any answers will be fine.

How difficult do you find it in general if you got an A at GCSE?
What sort of topics do you cover at the beginning of the course?
Do you find the subject fascinating or is it boring?
What sort of practicals do you do?
How much time do you dedicate to this subject per night on a normal school week and what grade are you at?
What do you intend on studying in the future?

Thanks for the help

I wouldn't say that the content was much more difficult than GCSE, but it's rather that there is much more content to learn. I found it to be a smooth transition from GCSE to AS. The fact I've got a good memory helped as well, because as I've said, there is much content to be learnt and key terms that are needed in particular.

You'll be introduced gently to AS, and the topics likely to be covered first as they're foundation topics are biological molecules and cells. Really simple topics to get you settled down, but also very important topics that will crop up now and again in other topics.

AQA GCE Biology specification can be found here: http://store.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/pdf/AQA-2410-W-SP.PDF

As with most subjects, you'll have topics you prefer and topics you're not so keen on. You've got to take the rough with the smooth, as is life. Personally, there were topics I was less interested in than others, but nothing I found boring as such. I have an interest in biochemistry, and so genetics and biological molecules for me was interesting and perhaps a highlight.

You'll either do ISAs or the EMPA, but I did the ISA and so can only really comment on those. Here is a brief overview of the structure of the ISA: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show...027&highlight=

From my own experience, I didn't do many practicals other than those given as preparation for the ISA. We did a couple of practicals that involved dissecting animal organs to reinforce theoretical content for the lung function and heart structure and function topics. That was it really.

I'll likely get an A at AS. To be honest, I just attended all my lessons and listened and got involved in class discussions. I completed all of my homework on time and acted upon feedback and was active in my own learning. I then set my stall out for some cramming nearer the exams.

I don't which to comment on hours of this and hours of that though, as it is each to their own. However, doing what I've said above shouldn't tax much of your time and you'll likely get an A if you're comfortably working at A*/A at GCSE. Just do what you need to do when the time comes to get the grade is all I'll say to you.

I'm going to be studying Chemical Engineering.

If you're looking at reading ahead, then I would recommend the AQA AS Biology by Nelson Thornes. I could recommend bridging material, but I don't think it is necessary in your case.

Not perfect by any means, but a website to check out: http://www.biologyguide.net/

Hope this has helped, and if you have any more questions on what I've written or otherwise then please do ask!

[Magenta96]

Thanks everyone, keep the answers coming in. Oh thanks to above poster for mention the head start to AS Biology book, I was thinking of buying that to get a rough idea of what the content is like. Do you know what other subject would compliment biology besides chemistry? or is that the only one? Thank you again

[Magenta96]

(Original post by Tullia)
I wouldn't say that the content was much more difficult than GCSE, but it's rather that there is much more content to learn. I found it to be a smooth transition from GCSE to AS. The fact I've got a good memory helped as well, because as I've said, there is much content to be learnt and key terms that are needed in particular.

You'll be introduced gently to AS, and the topics likely to be covered first as they're foundation topics are biological molecules and cells. Really simple topics to get you settled down, but also very important topics that will crop up now and again in other topics.

AQA GCE Biology specification can be found here: http://store.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/pdf/AQA-2410-W-SP.PDF

As with most subjects, you'll have topics you prefer and topics you're not so keen on. You've got to take the rough with the smooth, as is life. Personally, there were topics I was less interested in than others, but nothing I found boring as such. I have an interest in biochemistry, and so genetics and biological molecules for me was interesting and perhaps a highlight.

You'll either do ISAs or the EMPA, but I did the ISA and so can only really comment on those. Here is a brief overview of the structure of the ISA: http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/show...027&highlight=

From my own experience, I didn't do many practicals other than those given as preparation for the ISA. We did a couple of practicals that involved dissecting animal organs to reinforce theoretical content for the lung function and heart structure and function topics. That was it really.

I'll likely get an A at AS. To be honest, I just attended all my lessons and listened and got involved in class discussions. I completed all of my homework on time and acted upon feedback and was active in my own learning. I then set my stall out for some cramming nearer the exams.

I don't which to comment on hours of this and hours of that though, as it is each to their own. However, doing what I've said above shouldn't tax much of your time and you'll likely get an A if you're comfortably working at A*/A at GCSE. Just do what you need to do when the time comes to get the grade is all I'll say to you.

I'm going to be studying Chemical Engineering.

If you're looking at reading ahead, then I would recommend the AQA AS Biology by Nelson Thornes. I could recommend bridging material, but I don't think it is necessary in your case.

Not perfect by any means, but a website to check out: http://www.biologyguide.net/

Hope this has helped, and if you have any more questions on what I've written or otherwise then please do ask!

Hi! Thanks for all the links, I'll definitely be checking them out, I was wondering which one subject goes with biology other than chemistry?

[Tullia]

(Original post by Magenta96)
Thanks everyone, keep the answers coming in. Oh thanks to above poster for mention the head start to AS Biology book, I was thinking of buying that to get a rough idea of what the content is like. Do you know what other subject would compliment biology besides chemistry? or is that the only one? Thank you again

I'm assuming you're doing Triple Award Science. If you're in the A*/A grade range then I wouldn't recommend the bridging material, but rather would advise you to try and get a hold of something like AQA AS Biology by Nelson Thornes and begin reading through that.

Much of what is in the CGP bridging guide is likely to have been covered during GCSE, and won't be in much more depth than at GCSE and will just focus on the more tricky topics from GCSE than anything else.

Chemistry is the obvious subject that goes well with Biology, and others could be Maths and Physics. However, it is more important to know why you're asking and if you have any aspirations in mind? For example, if you wish to study Medicine then I would advise Maths alongside Biology and Chemistry with the 4th subject at AS being something you enjoy.

(Original post by Magenta96)
Hi! Thanks for all the links, I'll definitely be checking them out.

You're welcome!

[NellyNoodles]

(Original post by Magenta96)
Thanks everyone, keep the answers coming in. Oh thanks to above poster for mention the head start to AS Biology book, I was thinking of buying that to get a rough idea of what the content is like. Do you know what other subject would compliment biology besides chemistry? or is that the only one? Thank you again

It depends on the exam boards of different subjects. Chemistry would be a good one to take to complement Biology though. I took AQA Psychology B which complemented Biology. In A2 Biology, you cover the nervous system, neurotransmittors and the fight or flight response. You cover this throughout psychology when you learn about the biological approach, which is a vast amount of the course. If you're really big on biology, then I would suggest psychology! I found it incredibly interesting, especially the topic areas of mental illness and gender development in terms of chromosomes and hormones.

[Tullia]

(Original post by NellyNoodles)
I took AQA Psychology B which complemented Biology. In A2 Biology, you cover the nervous system, neurotransmittors and the fight or flight response. You cover this throughout psychology when you learn about the biological approach, which is a vast amount of the course. If you're really big on biology, then I would suggest psychology! I found it incredibly interesting, especially the topic areas of mental illness and gender development in terms of chromosomes and hormones.

I would agree with this.

[Magenta96]

Our school only allowed all our year to take dual award science and so I'm probably lacking some knowledge. Then again, I suppose that would be acknowledged when I go to college as some other people will have taken dual award too and so they'll probably cover those topics some students haven't done I suppose.

[Tullia]

(Original post by Magenta96)
Our school only allowed all our year to take dual award science and so I'm probably lacking some knowledge. Then again, I suppose that would be acknowledged when I go to college as some other people will have taken dual award too and so they'll probably cover those topics some students haven't done I suppose.

Although I assumed Triple Award Science, that in no way means that because you've only taken Double Award that you'll find it more difficult. The difference will just be that anyone having taken Triple Award will have already been introduced to some of the content, whereas you might not have been. It doesn't change your ability to learn the material though, and as you rightly say, your teachers will be aware of this and act accordingly.

It'll just mean having to work a little harder than those with Triple Award at the start, but after that you'll not notice any difference and will cope just fine.

And even though you've only done Double Award, it still doesn't change my views on bridging material. Just focus on the AS, and cover any gaps as you come across them and in good time.

Edit: Just saw that you've said you'll go straight into AS content in the other thread. If you need any help at any point then feel free to ask!

[Santorum]

Can anyone here tell me whether I can complete the coursework again during A2??

[Tullia]

(Original post by Santorum)
Can anyone here tell me whether I can complete the coursework again during A2??

You don't have coursework with AQA, but rather an ISA. However, if you're referring to the AQA AS ISA or a piece of coursework that is a component of the AS with another exam board, then yes, you can resit it during A2.

[Santorum]

Yeah I've just completed the AS I'm referring to the EMPA or ISA ,thanks