Just like the evolution of the science, Biology as a GCSE subject has evolved over the years to reflect the many new discoveries found and research methods used by biologists. It is a fantastic subject to learn about.
For instance, the current GCSE Biology syllabus teach students about Dolly the sheep, the first ever cloned animal, who marks a scientific breakthrough that wouldn't have been believed possible prior to 1996.
Some of the ways the content has advanced with the times is with the addition of new modules covering things like growing crops, which we now know much more about thanks to developments in the research of cultivation, breeding and harvesting of crops.
Not only has our knowledge widened, but our outlook has too and the subject is taught with a whole-world economic focus.
In addition, as biotechnology moves forward, teachers now consider the use of larger-scale bio-ferment and how enzymes are now used commercially. That said, technology now plays a very big part in the life of scientists, so are these small additions to the course content enough to reflect just how much Biology has evolved in the contemporary world?
Are GCSE Courses as Up to Date as They Should Be?
As we’ve mentioned in other posts concerning GCSE biology, the subject naturally has close links to the other sciences, but also with Mathematics. However, have you ever considered how inter-related biology and information technology are too?
Advances in technology are forever changing what we are capable of doing and finding out, not just in the world of science, so it is inevitable that this modern technological era has has a huge influence on biology in recent years, not to mention the impact it has had on how Biology affects us in our daily lives.
In fact, modern molecular biology relies very heavily on new technologies. However, the technological components of biology courses at this level have scarcely changed over the last few decades.
Scientists believe that modern Biology courses, if they want to really encourage young biologists and give them a real insight into the live science as it exists today, should bring courses up to date and make them more relevant to the discipline.
While it seems that physics is growing with the times, professionals from the Biology sector do not feel that their subject field is given the same level of sophistication within education and therefore aren’t given the basics needed to truly understand things like DNA sequence alignment or gene prediction algorithms.
These concepts, which are described as bioinformatics, are important to contemporary biologists and it is thought by the scientific community that these statistical techniques should be taught as part of national curriculum to give an-all round teaching approach to the branch of science.
This pedagogical argument is still on many people’s lips, however young biologists can feel confident in the knowledge that the new AQA Biology GCSE, for example, has been produced in conjunction with mathematics and physics experts.
Check out these marine biology courses here
The Impact of Government Changes to GCSE Qualifications
The History of GCSE Science Exams
While the sciences have been studied for generations as part of what was known as the CSE, and then the O Level, the qualification that we know today has only been around since 1988. That, however, does not mean to say that the course has stayed the same since the 80's. Far from it.
Firstly, we have seen some changes to the content covered, which we have exemplified above, but also in the way that the GCSE course is marked.
For instance, between 1988 and 1994, GCSE grades were awarded from A-G (with the possibility of getting a U mark, even back then). Since the mid 90's, however, an A* grade has been in place to distinguish the highest scoring pupils from the rest of the A category.
Science exams, in particular, have been given special attention in recent years and have moved away from the traditional structure, whereby students would study three scientific components (biology, chemistry and physics) and receive a final grade which encompassed all three of these in equal measures.
Now, pupils have the choice to study one single science (otherwise known as core science) and then select one of two complementary GCSEs, distinguished as Additional Science (with a more academic focus) and Applied Science (with a more vocational approach). To reflect these significant changes, pupils are now given separate grades for each of the subjects.
The previous modular approach to learning has also been altered and many linear courses introduced to offer more straightforward goals for students.
With these changes, coursework has been abolished from the grading system (although homework and coursework can still be set to encourage learning) and students' performance over the two years is solely based on how they do during their written, marked exam.
This is seen as a positive move forward as it means that pupils can no longer swindle the exam boards by getting lots of help with their coursework, thus bringing their grade up.
Check for online Biology courses here.
Furthermore, GCSEs have undergone a government-led reform in recent years, which has been introduced in four phases. We are now part of the way through Phase 2, which affects how Biology (among many other GCSE subjects) is taught and assessed.
Right now, teachers and students alike are currently experiencing the amendments, so only time will tell if this reform is an improvement on the old GCSE structure or not.
Find out more about how to teach your kids about Darwin.
How Are GCSEs Being Graded Post-2016?
One very important thing to note as you enter your first or second year of GCSE is that this course has undergone many changes in just the last two years alone. This means that the structure of courses may be quite different than before, as well as how you are assessed.
As such, any revision tools or advice passed down from peers and siblings having taken the older version of the GCSE exam might not be as directly beneficial to you.
Keep reading to find out how the changes affect you, as this could help you to feel more confident in the approach to the exams.
This new grading method will be applied for the first time on this academic year’s Year 11 Biology students. English Literature, English Language and Mathematics subjects have already seen this amended GCSE grading structure put into place, as the summer's exams were given this treatment for the very first time in most countries.
Although it sounds reasonably straightforward, the familiar letters do not translate seamlessly into the scale of digits. Of qual, the exams watchdog, has advised educators not to make direct comparisons between the two because the boundaries do differ, so you will have to do a bit of reading up in order to understand where you currently sit on the scale and where you need to be.
While there is still a U, or ungraded, mark, grades 9, 8 and 7 are roughly equivalent to A* and A. Grades 6, 5 and 4 can be likened to a B-C, meanwhile a 3 is said to be similar to a current D. Finally, 2 and 1 are close to E, F and G grades.
Resources for the Reformed Exams
While the exam boards still provide information on their older specifications and offer pre-reform past papers for you to download, you should be aware that your 2018 exam may not be the same in structure. However, a big part of revision in any subject is exam technique, so there is no harm in using these outdated resources to work towards building your confidence ahead of your final exam.
If anything, familiarizing yourself with the older structure might make you appreciate the changes that have come about as a result of the reform!
For up to date revision materials directly related to your new specification, look out for online materials produced in the last year as well as new publications and releases in book shops, which are sure to reflect the changes.
What is Biology?
Biology is a Greek-derived word meaning life and study; it could be seen as the science that focuses on studying life. As a branch of science, biology further branches out into various important studies and has led to several advancements and a great understanding of the ventures of science as a whole.
Notwithstanding its ambiguity, life is orderly and organized. All cells are born from other cells. Even single-celled organisms, such as bacteria, have frameworks that help perform critical functions such as communicating with their surroundings and carrying out chemical reactions that keep them alive, a process known as metabolism.
The domain is concerned with all physicochemical facets of life. Because of the current trend toward cross-disciplinary studies and the standardization of scientific information and research from other disciplines, there is a lot of crossover between biology and other scientific fields.
Biology advances have aided scientists in developing better medicines and treatments, recognizing how an evolving environment affects plants and animals, generating sufficient food for a growing world population, and estimating how consuming new foods or adhering to a workout routine will impact our bodies.
Current guidelines from other disciplines, such as physics, chemistry, and medicine, are combined with Biology in biophysics, biochemistry, bio-medicine.
Evolution of Science
Life is ever-evolving, with more fascinating discoveries being made every time someone opens up to learning about it. Life is constantly changing in all scopes.
Science, in general, is no longer where it used to be; overlooking how it has evolved over the centuries, we can say clearly that science has grown in all its ramifications; which also includes biology.
Over the years, science has evolved immensely, and there has been more remarkable advancement of scientific knowledge over the decades and centuries, better scientific approach, more sophisticated equipment, and more innovative research.
Biology Exams in Focus
Students of all capacities will be motivated and engaged by various exams in biology.. Its objective is to encourage you to concentrate and further your interest in the human world. Giving you a greater comprehension of how nature works and how it may be applied to your daily life or if you want to be a biology major.
While studying biology, you will learn several topics to show your knowledge, implementation, and evaluation of scientific concepts, methodologies, and practices.
These Exams in biology at all levels will prepare you to continue your studies at a higher stage.
Suppose you are planning or preparing to major in Biology, or you intend to get a Bachelor of Science in Biology. In that case, you are probably the type of person who enjoys learning about the amazing wonder that is life.
You will learn about life and the creatures that inhabit it. Consider how each organism is formed, how it grows, operates, and what climate it survives.
Biologists study the environment, genetics, and makeup of all living things to understand them better. They are used in industrial processes, agriculture, medicine, and conservation, among other things. A person with the proper biology credentials can pursue various alternative job opportunities.
If you have an insatiable curiosity, are analytical, and enjoy learning about new things, you should consider studying Biology as a first step in your career.
Importance of Studying Biology
The knowledge of life and all that concerns it has advanced over the years and will continue to advance. Studying biology gives you access to various information that will help promote the knowledge of how the living world functions and interacts.
A degree in Biology is a recognized qualification that opens you up to advance knowledge in the Science of Biology and the many opportunities attached. You will gain a tower of understanding of the core principles of biology and have a better approach to advanced courses.
The cradle of many advanced science courses is biology, and it is essential to have good knowledge in biology to excel in these fields. These fields include medicine, anatomy, biotechnology, agriculture, and many others. Many who have studied biology as a first-degree course find themselves scaling easily through advanced courses like medicine when they choose to further.
Adding a certificate in biology to an advanced science course can also increase your future jobs within and outside Canada.
Biology Classes will offer you various learning experiences and keen analytical skills, plus self-motivation and the option of independent learning. You can even learn these by taking online biology courses.
How Do You Prepare for a Biology Exam?
There re many ways to prepare to enable you pass your biology exam in high school or college. Nevertheless, here are our suggestions.
- Make Difficult Topics Fascinating
Even though biology is relevant to everyday life, it can be difficult, especially when entangled in complex concepts and processes.
So, you'll need to spend some more time on the more complex biology courses. Even if you already have comprehensive lecture notes on the topic, varying your learning techniques can help you add a new layer of knowledge to your arsenal.
- Create visuals to accompany the text
The complexities of biology's topics and formulas lend themselves well to graphic representation like diagrams, mind maps, graphs, and tables. Visualizations can help you remember what you've studied when sitting in an exam without notes.
- Make and Use Flashcards
Summing up your notes is essential if you want to make studying Biology easier. Make a collection of flashcards and post them all over your house, so you have to use them every time you enter a room.
The Impact of Research on Biology
Biology is the branch of science that deals with studying living organisms and further diving into components of specialized fields. Biology has come so far, from as far back as man became curious of himself and sought to know more.
Biology is an everyday discovery, where we are today in this field of study due to many bright minds who have spent their time looking for answers to unanswered questions, corrections to erroneous discoveries, and solutions to problems.
Research is the fuel for any aspect of life or field of study. And in this case, While biology is not where it should be, without research adequately done and confirmed, we would be far behind in our knowledge of biology and, in addition, left with many erroneous concepts.
Research in biology is done by biological scientists who spend time studying a concept, either to introduce the concept, confirm a concept, modify a concept or correct a concept. Research is the foundation of everything we know in biology today, and this same research gave rise to the many branches of biology.
Here are a few among the many studies and research that has led to the groundbreaking revolution in biology
1) Discovery that led to the research of antibiotics: Alexander Flemming discovered this while trying to find out how to stop or reduce the deadly effect of anaerobic infection when he found out that penicillin mold could kill staphylococcus bacteria when placed in a Petri dish.
2) DNA structure: just like the function of DNA, the structure is of great importance. It was discovered to have a double helix structure. The discovery of its structures spanned over a few researchers from Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, Francis Crick, and Oswald Alvery. The knowledge of the DNA structure has been known to be of great importance in biology since its discovery
3) Gene therapy: involves the curing of genetic diseases. This used to be only possible in movies with scientific hopes to one day become existent, which until recently was made possible. Though its possibility raises some concern over the risk of being misused, it created a new wave to discover more in biology. Its unbelievable possibility led many to believe there is more to be discovered in biology. Gene therapy tried and confirmed to be effective has proved its use over time.
4) The concept of Evolution: Names such as Charles Darwin, Gregor Mendel, and Alfred Wallace will forever be written in the sands of time as people who instigated change and revolutionary curiosity into massive research in biology. Their names and works are etched even outside biology as their research caused a lasting effect on various aspects of other fields of science.
Charles Darwin worked on finches, Gregor Mendel worked on peas, and Alfred Wallace on wide travelling naturalist studies. This scientist and the concepts they instigated laid a foundation for much of the groundbreaking research further done in biology
5) Research on Gel Electrophoresis: research on this gave rise to what we now know as molecular biology. Gel Electrophoresis is used to identify and separate proteins, DNA and RNA. Research on this, which started in the 1800s, paved the way for success in the mid-1900s with continuous research and study. This particular research has advanced through many forms, and every advancement opens a better functionality of its use.
Check out this article to find out about some of the biggest breakthroughs in Biology.
If you are having challenges with biology study, talk to experts on Superprof. There are many tutors near your location that can coach you for less. You will find them on Superprof.
Alternatively, if you want to brush up on your Biology vocabulary, check out this blog.
Or, look for 'biology tutors near me'.
Finally, to learn about the links between Art and Biology, visit our blog on the artistic links.
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