OCR AS Biology Course Overview¶

AS-year revision notes covering the first-year OCR Biology course, including Modules 1 to 4, assessment structure and the topic map.

Scope¶

• Exam board: OCR, Biology A.
• Qualification: AS Level, H020.
• Scope anchor: OCR AS Biology A H020 specification.
• This overview page covers modules 1 to 4 only.
• Modules 5 and 6 are part of the maintained full-course wiki and are covered separately in the A Level overview.

Assessment Shape¶

• Breadth in biology (01): 70 marks, 1 hour 30 minutes, 50% of the AS.
• Depth in biology (02): 70 marks, 1 hour 30 minutes, 50% of the AS.
• Both papers assess content from all four modules and include synoptic assessment.

Module Map¶

• Module 1: Development of practical skills in biology: planning, implementing, analysis and evaluation for practical questions in the written papers.
• Module 2: Foundations in biology: cells, biological molecules, nucleic acids, enzymes, membranes, cell division and differentiation.
• Module 3: Exchange and transport: exchange surfaces plus transport systems in animals and plants.
• Module 4: Biodiversity, evolution and disease: pathogens and immunity, biodiversity, classification and evolution.