S4 STUDY SKILLS EVENING

Biology

S4 Courses

National 4 Biology (replaces SG General/Int 1)National 5 Biology (replaces SG Credit/Int 2) Pupils work through the courses, and gain a

wide range of knowledge (KU) and develop problem solving skills (PS) in Biology.

Assessed on four problem solving areas – selecting, predicting, processing and analysing (N5 only) as well as KU.

Pupils must pass each unit, with a pass mark being 50% or more.

More about assessment

With CfE Biology, as well as passing the unit assessments, pupils also have to complete:

A mini research topic (√) An investigation report (√) Assignment (N5) or Added Value Unit (N4)

(ongoing)

The courses are aligned – this means if a pupils does not pass units at a higher level (e.g. Nat 5), then they can still achieve a pass at a lower level (in this case Nat 4).

prelims

The National 5 Biology prelim is:Thursday 20th January

It is made up of two sections (like the final exam). Section A has 20 marks of multiple choice questions. Section B has 60 marks of short answer style questions.

The National 5 Assignment will also be marked by SQA and is worth a maximum of 20 marks.

In total, the National 5 exam is out of 100 marks, and is graded A-D.

Revision

Pupils should be spending about 1 – 1.5 hours a week revising in Biology.

Homework issued to develop KU and PS skills.

Homework composed of past paper questions (for Nat 5 made up of Credit Standard Grade/Int 2 past papers).

Past papers used to test KU and PS, as well as preparing pupils for prelims and final exams.

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Materials & support

Pupils have a workbook(s) for each of the units completed so far:

Unit 3: Life on EarthUnit 1: Cell Biology

Pupils also have learning outcomes and a revision summary for each unit.

After prelims, pupils will write up their assignment reports/added value in class, then start work on the last unit:

Unit 2: Multicellular Organisms

Progression

National 4 Biology (pass) National 5 Biology.

National 5 Biology (grade A or B) CfE Higher or CfE Higher Human Biology

Higher/Higher Human Biology (grade A or B) S6 CfE Advanced Higher Biology.

Contact?

Julie.Morrison@south-ayrshire.gov.uk