EXAM BOARD 

AQA 

STRUCTURE OF COURSE 

Component 1 –Year 12 

Topics 1-4 

Component 2 – Year 13 

Topics 1-8 

ASSESSMENT 

Paper 1: 

Topics 1-4 

91 marks, 35% of A-level, 2 hours 

Paper 2: 

Topics 5-8 

91 marks, 35% of A-level, 2 hours 

Paper 3: 

Topics 1-8 

78 Marks, 30% of A-level, 2 hours 

All exams are sat at the end of Y13 

CONTENT 

Topic 1 

Includes: Biological Molecules 

Topic 2 

Includes: Cells 

Topic 3 

Includes: Organisms exchange substances with their environment 

Topic 4 

Includes: Genetic information, variety and relationships between organisms. 

Topic 5 

Includes: Energy transfers in and between organisms 

Topic 6 

Includes: Organisms’ response to changes in their internal and external environment 

Topic 7 

Includes: Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems. 

Topic 8 

Includes: The control of gene expression 

POSSIBLE CAREER PATHS 

Doctor, dentist, vet, clinical molecular geneticist, higher education lecturer, nature conservation officer, pharmacologist, research scientist, secondary school teacher, forensic analyst, soil scientist, science writer. The subject also prepares you well for jobs requiring more general skills. 

POSSIBLE SUBJECT COMBINATIONS 

This subject goes well with Chemistry, Mathematics, Psychology, Physics and Geography.