BIOLOGY

“One third of our private college tutors have PhDs”

Study Biology At Our Top London College

Biology is a popular subject at Westminster Tutors and is led by a highly experienced and qualified tutor, who has also been an OCR examiner for many years. Biology is the study of all living organisms and the natural world, ranging from a single cell to an entire ecosystem. Our students not only gain knowledge on a wide range of biological topics, but also valuable skills in research, analysis, problem solving and organisation.

Course outline

Modules

Module 1

Development of practical skills in biology

Practical skills assessed in a written examination

Planning
Implementing
Analysis
Evaluation

Practical skills assessed in the practical endorsement

Module 2

Foundations in biology

Cell structure
Biological molecules
Nucleotides and nucleic acids
Enzymes
Biological membranes
Cell division, cell diversity and cellular organisation

Module 3

Exchange and transport

Exchange surfaces
Transport in animals
Transport in plants

Module 4

Biodiversity, evolution and disease

Communicable diseases, disease prevention and the immune system
Biodiversity
Classification and evolution

Module 5

Communication, homeostasis and energy

Communication and homeostasis
Excretion as an example of homeostatic control
Neuronal communication
Hormonal communication
Plant and animal responses
Photosynthesis
Respiration

Module 6

Genetics, evolution and ecosystems

Cellular control
Patterns of inheritance
Manipulating genomes
Cloning and biotechnology
Ecosystems
Populations and sustainability

Assesment

AS Level Biology

Component 01: Breadth in biology

Assessment of content from modules 1-4
70 marks
1 hour 30 minutes written paper
50% of total AS level

Component 02: Depth in biology

Assessment of content from modules 1-4
70 marks
1 hour 30 minutes written paper
50 % of total AS level

A Level Biology

Component 01: Biological processes

Assessment of content from modules 1, 2, 3 and 5
100 marks
2 hour 15 minutes written paper
37% of total A level

Component 02: Biological diversity

Assessment of content from modules 1, 2, 4 and 6
100 marks
2 hour 15 minutes written paper
37% of total A level

Component 03: Unified biology

Assessment of content from all modules
70 marks
1 hour 30 minutes written paper
26% of total A level

Practical Endorsement in Biology

Non-exam assessment
At least 12 practical activities to be completed
Reported separately as a pass or a fail

Specification

Although we offer all exam boards as our courses are individually designed, our chosen specification is OCR Biology A (H020 and H420).

Tutors

Alex Morris
BSc (Imperial), PhD (Imperial)

Kim Gilmore
BSc (Queen Mary, London), PhD (Queen Mary, London)

Why Choose Westminster Tutors?

Top independent sixth form college
In 2020 A levels 68% A*-A and 92% A*-B
In 2020 72% placed at Russell Group unis
Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ across the board
Superbly qualified teachers who care
Average A level retake improvement is 2.4 grades

Talk to us on today 020 7584 1288

About Us

Westminster Tutors is one of the oldest and best independent sixth form colleges in London. Established in 1934, our “culture of scholastic excellence” (Ofsted, 2018) is deeply embedded and sets the standard for other colleges to follow.

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LATEST NEWS

Biodiversity Practical

Jun 10, 2022 | News

Year 12 Biology students will take part in a biodiversity practical on Tuesday 14th June. Students will meet at the college at 11:30 and then walk to Kensington Gardens, which is only a few minutes away. The practical activity will involve placing quadrats...