Intermediate 2 Biology
Student Information Sheet 2008-2009
Introduction:
Int 2 is a broad based biology course that is equally suited to students who want to further their biology
study at highers level, have an interest in biology or are looking to future work in a science related area.
This course provides opportunities for you to acquire
 Knowledge and understanding of biological concepts and the applications of biology in society and
industry.
 Skills in problem solving.
 Practical abilities associated with biology.
 Positive attitudes such as being open minded, willingness to recognise alternative points of view, an
interest in biology and your environment, as well as an understanding of how the decisions humans
make can affect the quality of the environment.
Course Content
The course is made up of three units. Each unit will be split into four sections:
Unit 1 – Living Cells (approximately 10 weeks)
Section 1:
Introduction to cells
Section 2:
Cells and Enzymes
Section 3:
Cells and Respiration
Section 4:
Cells and Photosynthesis
Unit 2 – Environmental Biology and Genetics (approximately 10 weeks)
Section 5:
Environmental Biology
Section 6:
Sex Cells and Fertilisation
Section 7:
Genetics and Inheritance
Section 8:
Evolution and Genetic Engineering
Unit 3 – Animal Physiology (approximately 10 weeks)
Section 9:
Nutrition in Humans
Section 10:
Control of Internal Environment
Section 11:
Circulation and Gas Exchange
Section 12:
Sensory Mechanisms
The remaining class time will be spent revising and practising skills needed for the examination,
completing practical work, and applying knowledge in more depth.
Target Setting
Throughout the course you will be expected to record your progress and evaluate your efforts. This will
be recorded on progress sheets. Periodically, in discussion with your teacher, you will be required to set
targets for improvement and evaluate your success in meeting these. The progress sheet will be signed
by both your teacher and parent / guardian. For S5 students, the progress sheet should be used in
conjunction with tracking diaries and could be discussed with your mentor.
Homework
Homework will be issued on a regular basis. When homework is not formally issued you should:
 Read your course notes and make sure you understand them.
 Ensure your class work is up to date.
 Complete practical experiment reports.
Text Books
Intermediate 2 Biology, by James Torrance will also be issued.
Absences
If you are unavoidably absent, for example, through illness, you should catch up on missed work as
soon as you return. If you are away for a week or longer, you should contact your teacher to get catch
up work as soon as possible.
If you know in advance of your absence, inform your teacher, giving as much notice as possible so they
can set some work for you to do.
You need to take responsibility to ensure you stay up to date with the course work.
Assessment
To gain an award in this course you must pass all of the units of the course as well as the final (external)
examination. The external examination will be used to give you your final grade.
Section assessment
Each section will have a test. Each test will be 40 minutes long. It will be split into three parts as
follows:
Part A
Multiple choice questions
9 marks
Part B
Short answer questions
16 marks
Part C
Short account
5 marks
Unit Assessment
At the end of each unit there will also be a test. Each test is 40 marks of short answer questions. You
need to gain 60% or more in these tests to pass the unit.
Practical Assessment
You are expected to complete 1 formal report of a practical activity. Guidance for the layout of this
report is attached.
External examination
The final examination will assess knowledge and understanding (KU), problem solving (PS) and
practical abilities (PA). Each unit will be tested equally. (See attached learning outcomes for each
unit).
The exam will consist of one paper 2 hours long, with a total of 100 marks. The paper will consist of
three sections:
Section A
Multiple Choice
25 Marks
This will test PS / PA and KU. You will be expected to answer all questions
Section B
Structured Questions
65 Marks
This will test PS / PA and KU. You will be expected to answer all questions
Section C
Extended Response Questions
10 marks
This section will consist of 4 extended response questions to test your ability to select, organise and
present relevant knowledge. Section C will include:
 2 extended response questions given with a diagram. You will be expected to answer one of these
questions. 5 marks will be awarded
 2 extended response questions. You will be expected to answer one of these questions. It is worth 5
marks.
Appendix 1 – Performance Criteria for the practical activity
and formal report
(a) The information is collected by active participation in the experiment
Your teacher will observe you are participating in the collection of experimental information by
playing an active part in planning the experiment, deciding how it will be managed, identifying and
obtaining resources and carrying out the experiment.
(b) The experimental procedures are described accurately
Include:
A clear statement of the aim of the experiment
A few brief concise sentences including as appropriate:
 a labelled diagram or brief description of apparatus or instruments used
 how the independent variable was altered
 control measure used
 how measurements were taken or observations made
Always write your report using an impersonal passive voice (no I, me, we etc…)
(c) Relevant measurements and observations are recorded in an appropriate format
Readings or observations (raw data) must be recorded in a clear table with correct headings,
appropriate units and results / readings entered correctly.
(d) Recorded experimental information is analysed and presented in an appropriate format
Data should be analysed and presented in tabular, graphical format or as a scatter diagram or
equivalent, as appropriate
 Tables must have suitable headings and units showing averages or other appropriate
calculations.
 Graphs must have suitable scales, labelled axes (with variable and unit) and data correctly
plotted.
(e) Conclusions drawn are valid
Conclusions should use evidence from the experiment and relate back to the aim of the experiment.
At least one of the following should be included:
 Overall pattern to readings or observations (raw data)
 Trends in analysed information or results
 Connection between variables and controls
(f) The experimental procedures are evaluated with supporting argument
The evaluation could cover all stages of the activity including preparing for the activity, analysis of
the activity and the results of the activity. The evaluation must include supporting argument in at
least one of the following:
 Effectiveness of procedures
 Control of variables
 Limitations of equipment
 Possible sources of error
 Possible improvements
To ensure you cover all of the requirements of the formal report, it is suggested you follow the
layout given below.
Title: Briefly describe the experiment. This should be no more than 1 sentence.
Introduction: Describe any observations or questions that lead you to carry out this
investigation. This should be brief and provide background information about the experiment.
Aim: State the purpose of your experiment. Remember to mention both the independent and the
dependent variable in your experiment.
Hypothesis: State what you think will happen in the experiment.
Method: Write what you did in a step-by-step format. This should be detailed enough so that
someone could repeat the experiment by following your description. This should include how the
independent variable was altered, and how you controlled any other variables.
Results: Organise your raw data and present it in a table format (record your raw data in the back
of your jotter – never discard your raw data, even though it is not included in a final report).
Analyse the data to produce a graph.
Conclusion: Explain what you have learnt from your investigation using only evidence you have
gained from the experiment. The conclusion should relate back to the aim.
Discussion: Discuss the effectiveness of the experiment including comments on some of the
points mentioned in performance criteria f.