IGCSE Biology Higher Level

IGCSE Biology Higher Level

Dates Available

• Week 1: 25 March – 29 March
• Week 2: 1 April – 5 April
• Week 3: 8 April – 12 April

Boards

Based on Edexcel (Pearson) specification

Length of Course

20 hours

Times

2pm to 6pm daily

The course examines key topic areas and use will be made of past questions to illustrate relevant principles. Revision notes and model answers will be provided
where appropriate.

This course is not suitable for students taking Additional Science. Equally, the course will be more in depth than the Dual Award Science.

1. The nature and variety of living organisms
   Examples and features of plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, protoctists and viruses.
2. Structures and functions in living organisms
   Cell structures; biological molecules; movement of substances into and out of cells; nutrition; respiration;
   gas exchange; transport; excretion; coordinationnand response.

   The course will include the differences between plant and animal cells. The similarities and differences between diffusion, osmosis and active transport will be explained. Details of the human digestive system are given, with the functions of the different parts. The experimental evidence showing what a plant needs for photosynthesis will be discussed.

3. Reproduction and inheritance
   The differences between asexual and sexual reproduction; pollination in flowering plants; the structure of the human reproductive systems; DNA; genetics and variation.

   Adaptations of wind pollinated and insect pollinated flowers will be given. The functions of the main parts of the human reproductive systems will be discussed and the hormones involved in the menstrual cycle shown by means of graphs. Patterns of inheritance will be shown via working out genetics problems.

4. Ecology and the environment
   Ecosystems; feeding relationships; cycles within ecosystems and human influences on the environment; organisms and habitats; food chain and energy flow; conservation. The technical terms used in ecology will be defined. The carbon, water and nitrogen cycles will be explained. The effects of humans on the environment will be considered e.g. pollution.
5. Use of biological resources
   Food production; selective breeding; genetic modification (genetic engineering) and cloning. The ways that knowledge of biology can be used to increase the production of food for people will be discussed.