Advanced Level practical work for biology
The new A level Specifications for biology require students to carry out experimental and investigative activities, these are to include an element of synoptic work, and carry up to 20% of the overall marks.
Four practical skills are clearly identified: devising and planning experiments, demonstrating safe techniques, making observations and measurements, and interpreting, explaining, evaluating and communicating the results.
This part of the new specifications is the one about which teachers and students feel least certain. Conventional textbooks rarely give the practical element more than a cursory glance.
This short guide therefore provides students with the help that they need, whether they are taking a practical exam, or answering questions on experiments in a written paper.
The first part of the book focuses on the four main skills, the common element for all awarding bodies. There are then chapters covering the individual features of each of the main awarding bodies, to ensure complete coverage.
Show health and safety information
Please be aware that resources have been published on the website in the form that they were originally supplied. This means that procedures reflect general practice and standards applicable at the time resources were produced and cannot be assumed to be acceptable today. Website users are fully responsible for ensuring that any activity, including practical work, which they carry out is in accordance with current regulations related to health and safety and that an appropriate risk assessment has been carried out.
