13 Biology Extension

This Biology course is designed for those students with excellent Biology content knowledge and ability to think at higher level. This course is designed to provide the information needed to student to gain M/E grades and also the extended knowledge needed for the Biology Scholarship examinations.

Objectives

The main objectives for this course are the following:

• To prepare students for Biology at a tertiary level by developing key critical thinking skills and building on key biological concepts. 
• To increase students’ Merit and Excellence endorsement at Level 3 Biology.
• Through this class, students will gain the skills of abstraction and generalisation, and the ability to integrate, synthesize and apply knowledge. By the end of the school year, students will be equipped with comprehensive content knowledge, effective communication skills, critical evaluation, and flexible thinking in unfamiliar contexts.

The achievement standards for this class are similar to those in Year 13 Biology, however students are also encouraged to participate in the Scholarship Biology examination at the end of the year in addition to their other external examinations.  Biology Scholarship workshops are also included in the Scholarship programme throughout the year.

Content

• Animal and Plants responses to the environment. 
• Socio-scientific issues.
• Evolution.
• Human Biological and Cultural Evolution.
• Practical investigation.

Achievement Standards

• B3.1 (AS91601) Carry out a practical investigation in a Biology context with guidance (4 credits).
• B3.2 (AS91602) Integrate biological knowledge to develop an informed response to a Socio-scientific issue (3 credits).
• B3.7 (AS 91607) Optional Internal - Demonstrate understanding of human manipulations of genetic transfer and its biological implications (3 credits). This is an OPTIONAL internal and can only be attempted with the approval of classroom teachers.
• B3.3 (AS91603) Demonstrate understanding of the responses of plants and animals to their external environment (5 credits). 
• B3.5 (AS91605) Demonstrate understanding of evolutionary processes leading to Speciation (4 credits).
• B3.6 (AS91606) Demonstrate understanding of trends in human evolution (4 credits).

Total Credits available = 20