A Level Science Pathway

Course Content:

Module 1 – Development of practical skills in biology (Studied in Year 1 and Year 2)

1.1 Practical skills assessed in a written examination

1.2 Practical skills assessed in the practical endorsement

Module 2 – Foundations in biology (Studied in Year 1)

2.1.1 Cell structure

2.1.2 Biological molecules

2.1.3 Nucleotides and nucleic acids

2.1.4 Enzymes

2.1.5 Biological membranes

2.1.6 Cell division, cell diversity and cellular organisation

Module 3 – Exchange and transport (Studied in Year 1)

3.1.1 Exchange surfaces

3.1.2 Transport in animals

3.1.3 Transport in plants

Module 4 – Biodiversity, evolution and disease (Studied in Year 1)

4.1.1 Communicable diseases, disease prevention and the immune system

4.2.1 Biodiversity

4.2.2 Classification and evolution

Module 5 – Communication, homeostasis and energy (Studied in Year 2)

5.1.1 Communication and homeostasis

5.1.2 Excretion as an example of homeostatic control

5.1.3 Neuronal communication

5.1.4 Hormonal communication

5.1.5 Plant and animal responses

5.2.1 Photosynthesis

5.2.2 Respiration

Module 6 – Genetics, evolution and ecosystems (Studied in Year 2)

6.1.1 Cellular control

6.1.2 Patterns of inheritance

6.1.3 Manipulating genomes

6.2.1 Cloning and biotechnology

6.3.1 Ecosystems

6.3.2 Populations and sustainability.

Course Content:

Module 1 – Development of practical skills in Chemistry (Studied in Year 1 and Year 2)

1.1 Practical skills assessed in a written examination

1.2 Practical skills assessed in the practical endorsement

Module 2 – Foundations in Chemistry (Studied in Year 1)

2.1.1 Atomic structure and isotopes

2.1.2 Compounds

2.1.3 Amount of substance

2.1.4 Acids

2.1.5 Redox

2.2.1 Electron structure

2.2.2 Bonding and structure

Module 3 periodic table and energy (Studied in Year 1)

3.1.1 Periodicity

3.1.2 Group 2

3.1.3 Halogens

3.1.4 Qualitative

3.2.1 Enthalpy

3.2.2 Reaction rates

3.2.3 Equilibrium

Module 4 –Core Organic Chemistry (Studied in Year 1)

4.1.1 Organic chemistry

4.1.2/3 Alkanes/Alkenes

4.2.1 Alcohols

4.2.2 Haloalkanes

4.2.3 Organic synthesis

4.2.4 Analytical techniques

Module 5 – Physical Chemistry and transition elements (Studied in Year 2)

5.1.1 How fast?

5.1.2 How far?

5.1.3 Acids, bases and buffers

5.2.1 Lattice energy

5.2.2. Enthalpy and entropy

5.2.3 Redox

5.3.1 transition elements

5.3.2 Qualitative analysis

Module 6 Organic Chemistry and Analysis (Studied in Year 2)

6.1.1 Aromatic compounds

6.1.2 Carbonyl compounds

6.1.3. Carboxylic acids and esters

6.2.1 Amines

6.2.2. Amino acids, amides and chirality

6.2.3 Polyesters and polyamides

6.2.4 Carbon-carbon bond formation

6.2.5 Organic synthesis

6.3.1 Chromatography

6.3.2 Spectroscopy

Course Content:

The course is split into two parts – Pure Mathematics and Applications (incorporating Statistics and Mechanics).

Pure 1:

• Algebra and functions
• Coordinate geometry in the (x,y) plane
• Trigonometry
• Vectors in 2D
• Exponentials and logarithms
• Differentiation
• Integration

Pure 2:

• Proof
• Algebra, partial fractions and functions
• Sequences and series
• Parametric equations
• Trigonometry
• Vectors in 3D
• Differentiation
• Integration
• Numerical methods

Mechanics and Statistics

Section A: Statistics

• Statistical sampling
• Data presentation and interpretation
• Probability
• The normal distribution
• Regression and correlation
• Statistical distributions
• Statistical hypothesis testing

Section B: Mechanics

• Quantities and units in mechanics
• Kinematics
• Forces and Newton’s laws
• Moments
• The motion of projectiles