Biology
OCR Advanced Subsidiary (AS) GCE H021
and Advanced GCE (A2)  GCE H421 in Biology

This specification allows teachers to adopt a flexible approach to the delivery of AS and A Level Biology. The course has been designed to enable centres to deliver the designated units (F211 – F216) using the framework provided or to design a customised course. This flexible approach is also reflected in the assessment model. All units, apart from Unit F213 and Unit F216, are available in both January and June. In both AS and A2, one unit is deliberately shorter, allowing the realistic possibility of using the January assessment session. Thus centres can adopt either a staged or terminal assessment model.  There is also a choice of assessed practical tasks available to all centres.

The specification is divided into biological topics, each containing different key concepts of biology. Once the key features of a biological topic have been developed, applications are considered. For assessment purposes, knowledge and understanding of key concepts are treated separately at AS; important links between different areas of biology are largely assessed synoptically at A2. While the teaching of practical skills maybe integrated with the theoretical topics, they are assessed separately. This allows skills to be developed in a way suited to each individual centre.

Teaching Units	Assessment method and weighting
AS
F211: Cells, Exchange and Transport • Cells • Exchange and Transport	Mandatory unit 1 hours written exam AS – 30% A Level – 15%
F212: Molecules, Biodiversity, Food and Health • Biological Molecules • Food and Health • Biodiversity and Evolution	Mandatory unit 1 hour 45 mins written exam AS – 50% A Level – 25%
F213: Practical Skills in Biology 1 Controlled internal assessment of practical skills	Mandatory unit Internal assessment AS – 20% A level – 10%
A2
F214: Communications, Homeostasis and Energy • Communication and Homeostasis • Excretion • Photosynthesis • Respiration	Mandatory unit 1 hour written exam A Level – 15%
F215: Control, Genomes and Environment • Cellular Control • Biotechnology • Ecosystems and Sustainability • Responding to the Environment	Mandatory unit 1 hour 45 mins written exam A Level – 25%
F216: Practical Skills in Biology 2 Controlled internal assessment of practical skills	Mandatory unit Internal assessment A Level – 10%