YEAR 12 Status
AS 90929 Demonstrate understanding of biological ideas relating to a mammal as a consumer. (3 credits – external) AS 90948 Demonstrate understanding of genetic variation. (4 credits – external) AS 90950 Investigate biological ideas relating to interactions between humans and micro-organisms. (4 credits – internal) This course offers the students a total of 19 credits, of which 8 credits are assessed internally and 11 credits are assessed externally through external examinations in November. The three external examinations come from both biology and science areas. Two of the examination papers are sat during the biology examination time slot. The remaining examination paper will be sat during the science three-hour examination time slot, which takes place on a different day. In the case of Biology, this is the genetics paper (Science 1.9). This means that for boys doing any of the specialist science subjects, they will be sitting external papers on at least two of the examination days in November. Boys who enrol for both Level 1 Science and Biology can only gain credit for any overlapping science achievement standards once (in particular, the genetics externally assessed paper). Skills acquired Students continue to develop the scientific and thinking skills of: • using and communicating knowledge • planning and carrying out practical investigations • observing, collecting, recording, processing and interpreting data
Optional
Level 1 Biology preferred
Prerequisites
Five
Periods per week
Description The Level 2 Biology course is one that students find both interesting and challenging. It is at this level that students realise just what a diverse and important subject Biology is, and how its skills are used in so many different careers. Some boys will have their minds on medicine or agriculture as a career, while others are keeping their options open, contemplating doing a science degree at tertiary level. It is important that before too much specialisation takes place, the students see the full scope of Biology, and it is at the Year 12 level that this process begins in earnest. Although students are accepted if they have not completed a Level 1 Biology or General Science course, they should expect to complete extra work to supplement their knowledge. The year begins with an ecology focus and involves a trip to Brooklands Lagoon to study the zonation pattern on the salt marsh prior to an extended field trip to the Craigieburn area, where the assessment takes place. In addition, the course this year includes: • an extended laboratory practical investigation • cell biology and detailed microscope work • DNA, genetic variation and gene expression • adaptations to organs in relation to survival It is important that students understand that Biology can be studied at themolecular level (DNA, enzymes andmetabolic pathways), the cellular level, the body system level, and an ecological level. Assessment The Level 2 Biology course of 26 credits will be assessed against the following NCEA Level 2 achievement standards (six from the Biology subject area and one from Education for Sustainability): AS 91153 Carry out a practical investigation in a biological context. (4 credits – internal) AS 91155 Demonstrate understanding of adaptation of plants or animals to their way of life. (3 credits – internal)
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Christ’s College Canterbury
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