This discussion is now closed.
Check out other Related discussions
- picking A-levels combinations HELP!
- Psychology, Biology and ???
- Spanish or politics a level!
- TSR Study Together - STEM vs Humanities!
- struggling with a level options
- Law Alevel
- A level choices urgent
- Does Edinburgh Accept BTEC’s
- Stuck on final A-level choice
- What degree do you have no respect for?
- Does UCL accept Human biology A level ?
- will i be able to do biomedicine??? ;(
- HELP
- What can I do with my A levels - biology, English lit and psychology?
- Which A-Level Biology should I do? Edexcel A/B
- Third Subject for Chemistry
- A levels for LSE accounting and finance
- kcl anatomy and human biology
- What is a psychology degree like?
- Access to HE Optometry for UWE bristol
Human Biology A-level - Respectability
I'm just curious, really, as my school no longer offers Biology at A-level, but 'Human Biology' instead - will it be respected? I know someone who wants to apply for medicine and thought this could possibly be a disadvantage.
Thoughts?
Thoughts?
I think almost all med schools hold it with equal weight to biology.Well we asked are tutor last year why we did not offer human biology becuase thats why we took biology to learn about the human body mainly not about the counterflow current of a fish -_-.
Anyhoo apparently some uni's according to my tutor see it as a lesser Alevel than Biology. I personally think its werid as it would be benifical to potential nurses or doctors ect.
Anyhoo apparently some uni's according to my tutor see it as a lesser Alevel than Biology. I personally think its werid as it would be benifical to potential nurses or doctors ect.
It's because it misses out huge chunks of stuff to do with plants, little on other animals, and barely enough microbiology - I don't even think you learn about mechanisms of transport in plants (xylem and phloem, mass flow based on cohesion and adhesion etc.) or even photosynthesis, which is quite a shock.
The problem is that Human Biology A-level misses a LOT of stuff that you need if you want to do anything biology related that's not... well medicine or physiology I guess. And everything in HB that IS related to medicine or physiology has to be retaught anyway because obviously the level is much lower than what you're expected to know at uni. As michaelyus says doing HB misses out some REALLY basic stuff like photosynthesis, whereas doing HB may provide you with a small familiarity advantage but little more. It's unlikely to be an issue if you want to do medicine but plenty of places won't take you for biology with HB.
It has all that transport systems of plants in module three 'physiology and transport'. Also, my schools does microbes and disease as our option module, so it covers microbiology.
Although I think Biology has more practical assessment because you have to build up a folder of your practical tests and you get assessed on you skills. Which is ne thing you dont have to do in human biology, although you get tested on practical questions in exams.
Although I think Biology has more practical assessment because you have to build up a folder of your practical tests and you get assessed on you skills. Which is ne thing you dont have to do in human biology, although you get tested on practical questions in exams.
Careful to judge it too much - remember different exam boards do different things. I just had 2 assessed pieces of coursework.. nothing about folders and skills and continuous assessment
michaelyus
It's because it misses out huge chunks of stuff to do with plants, little on other animals, and barely enough microbiology - I don't even think you learn about mechanisms of transport in plants (xylem and phloem, mass flow based on cohesion and adhesion etc.) or even photosynthesis, which is quite a shock.
no i do human biology just finishing off the As course now and we have done some plants and their structure, even in a very very small amount this is built apon at A2, Human biology is just as respected, and i prefer the course tbh its interesting and iv enjoyed it!
Funguy
Are you doing aqa Biology A?
Im doing AQA A
tom_tom_tom
no i do human biology just finishing off the As course now and we have done some plants and their structure, even in a very very small amount this is built apon at A2, Human biology is just as respected, and i prefer the course tbh its interesting and iv enjoyed it!
It says your doing biology in your sig, why would you put that if human biology is just as respected
HardWork
It says your doing biology in your sig, why would you put that if human biology is just as respected
cos i would prolly get some smart people saying wots human biology, so i cant win either way!
its just a specification at the end of the day u still cover ideas and theories in a biological form
I think that AQA Human Bio (A) is probably the one with the most actual Biology.
AQA Human Biology (A) has lots on microbiology, but it replaces Biotech. stuff. It still has C/W. And it does cover photosynthesis. Stuff about homeostasis is not in Human Bio, but includes a lot of neuroscience that normal Bio doesn't have.
OCR Human Bio is more in-depth about specific Human stuff, but has no photosynthesis, nothing about plant transport systems, barely enough about microbiology, little about ecological cycles, and little about evolution; and it has a peculiar approach to coursework.
Edexcel Human Bio is mid-way between these two - no plant transport, no photosynthesis, but quite a bit about ecology and a specialist bit on human evolution.
AQA Human Biology (A) has lots on microbiology, but it replaces Biotech. stuff. It still has C/W. And it does cover photosynthesis. Stuff about homeostasis is not in Human Bio, but includes a lot of neuroscience that normal Bio doesn't have.
OCR Human Bio is more in-depth about specific Human stuff, but has no photosynthesis, nothing about plant transport systems, barely enough about microbiology, little about ecological cycles, and little about evolution; and it has a peculiar approach to coursework.
Edexcel Human Bio is mid-way between these two - no plant transport, no photosynthesis, but quite a bit about ecology and a specialist bit on human evolution.
I did 'Biology (Human)' as it appears on my certificate and the spec on the Edexcel website. Most of the material is identical to straight Biology (discussed the vast majority of exams on here!) and you use the same books. You don't go into the plant stuff into depth instead substituting for more human related stuff eg in unit 5 you do human evolution instead of autotrophic nutrition and classification of organisms. Overall it amounts to about one-sixth that differs in the A level.
Check the syllabus you are following but for medicine and stuff, it makes no difference. Studying Human Biology limits you in terms of Biology-related degrees however, since you miss out on the overall broader education.
Check the syllabus you are following but for medicine and stuff, it makes no difference. Studying Human Biology limits you in terms of Biology-related degrees however, since you miss out on the overall broader education.
Related discussions
- picking A-levels combinations HELP!
- Psychology, Biology and ???
- Spanish or politics a level!
- TSR Study Together - STEM vs Humanities!
- struggling with a level options
- Law Alevel
- A level choices urgent
- Does Edinburgh Accept BTEC’s
- Stuck on final A-level choice
- What degree do you have no respect for?
- Does UCL accept Human biology A level ?
- will i be able to do biomedicine??? ;(
- HELP
- What can I do with my A levels - biology, English lit and psychology?
- Which A-Level Biology should I do? Edexcel A/B
- Third Subject for Chemistry
- A levels for LSE accounting and finance
- kcl anatomy and human biology
- What is a psychology degree like?
- Access to HE Optometry for UWE bristol
Latest
Trending
Last reply 16 hours ago
Edexcel A Level Politics Paper 1 (9PL0 01) - 21st May 2024 [Exam Chat]A-levels
10
Trending
Last reply 16 hours ago
Edexcel A Level Politics Paper 1 (9PL0 01) - 21st May 2024 [Exam Chat]A-levels
10
