Department Staff: Nayyar Aziz and Daniel Jones

 Advanced Level GCE Chemistry

Exam Board: AQA

Syllabus code: 7405

The course comprises Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry. Physical Chemistry covers topics such as atomic structure, bonding, energetics, kinetics, chemical equilibria, oxidation, reduction and redox equations, thermodynamics, acids and bases, and equilibrium constants. Inorganic Chemistry covers periodicity, the alkane earth metals, halogens, properties of period 3 elements and their oxides, transition metals and reactions of ions. Organic Chemistry covers topics such as alkanes, halogenoalkanes, alkenes, alcohols, organic analysis, isomerism, aldehydes and ketones, amines, polymers, amino acids, proteins and DNA, chromatography, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. 

Students complete regular practical activities which provide opportunities to develop essential technical skills and better understand the chemical concepts. Practice work includes: volumetric analysis, enthalpy changes, measuring rates of reactions, identification of cations and anions, distillation of organic products, testing for organic functional groups, measuring electromotive forces of electrochemical cells, organic synthesis, and thin-layer chromatography. Students are assessed on their competencies throughout the A level course.

This is a linear qualification and students sit all examinations at the end of the course. There are three papers which have short and long answer questions. Paper 3 includes a greater emphasis on practical techniques and data analysis and also has a multiple choice section. At least 20% of the marks in assessments for Chemistry will require the use of mathematical skills.

Department Staff: Helen Batty and Christopher Bailey

Advanced Level GCE Biology

Exam Board: AQA

Syllabus code: 7402

Advanced Level Biology is studied over two years and is composed of eight topics. In the Lower 6^th, the topics studied are: ‘Biological molecules’; ‘Cells’; ‘Organisms exchange substances with their environment’; and ‘Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms’. In the Upper 6^th, the topics studied are: ‘Energy transfers in and between organisms’; ‘Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments’; ‘Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems’; and ‘The control of gene expression’.

 Practical work is a vital part of Biology and you will develop your skills throughout the course, using a variety of apparatus and techniques. A separate endorsement of practical skills is taken alongside the A level. This is assessed by observation as you complete the required practicals and other activities. There is also a Field Trip in the Summer Term of the Lower 6^th and all students are expected to attend. We study the abundance and distribution of freshwater organisms in a stream; the regeneration of moorland following burning; the distribution of organisms across a rocky shore and succession patterns across a major sand dune system.

 There are three examination papers and you will take these at the end of your Upper 6^th. There are a mixture of short and long answer questions in each paper. Paper 3 includes a greater emphasis on data analysis and an essay. At least 10% of the marks in the assessments will require the use of mathematical skills and at least 15% will assess knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to practical skills.