OCR A Level Biology Course Overview¶
Full-course revision notes covering OCR A Level Biology assessment structure, module links and the topic map for Modules 1 to 6.
Qualification Summary¶
The full course is taught across six modules and assessed at the end of the programme rather than through modular sit-down exams during the course. OCR lists 360 guided learning hours for the qualification. Practical work also matters throughout the course because it feeds into the separately reported Practical Endorsement as well as the written papers.
Assessment Structure¶
The written assessment is split across three papers. One paper concentrates on biological processes and draws on Modules 1, 2, 3 and 5. A second focuses on biological diversity and related material from Modules 1, 2, 4 and 6. The third paper is shorter, ranges across all six modules, and puts more weight on making synoptic links across the course as a whole.
For reference, H420/01 and H420/02 are 2 h 15 min, 100-mark papers worth 37% each, and H420/03 is a 1 h 30 min, 70-mark paper worth 26%. The Practical Endorsement (H420/04) is reported separately as pass/fail and does not contribute marks to the final grade.
Practical skills do not sit in an isolated theory section. Planning, implementation, analysis and evaluation are expected to appear inside biological questions across the written papers as well as in the practical endorsement record.
Module Map¶
AS Level Modules (Modules 1–4, shared with H020)¶
- Module 1: Development of practical skills in biology
- Module 2: Foundations in biology
- Module 3: Exchange and transport
- Module 4: Biodiversity, evolution and disease
A Level-Only Modules (Modules 5–6)¶
Topic Map: Full A Level¶
Module 5: Communication, homeostasis and energy¶
| Topic code | Topic name |
|---|---|
| 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¶
| Topic code | Topic name |
|---|---|
| 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 |
Co-Teaching Notes¶
Modules 1 to 4 form the shared first-year foundation. Students continuing beyond AS move on into Modules 5 and 6, so a co-taught class can stay together through the common material before the full A-level course branches into the second-year content.