GRADE 9 BIOLOGY– Level Descriptors
B1 Influences on life
Topic 1 - Classification, variation &inheritance
A* (90- 100)
A ( 80-89)
B (70-79)
C (60-69)
D (50-59)
Explain how
scientists place
vertebrates into
five groups based
on oxygen
absorption method,
reproduction,
thermoregulation.
Compare the
characteristics of
five kingdom&
chordates.
Describe the
main
characteristics of
the five
kingdom&
chordates .
Realize why
scientists do not
classify virus into
any of the five
kingdom
Identify the
hierarchy of
classification, five
kingdoms of life
&five chordate
groups .
Explain why
binomial
classification is
needed to identify
study and conserve
species.
Describe how
accurate
classification may
be complicated
eg: hybridization
in ducks and ring
species.
Discuss why the
definition for
species as
organism for
producing fertile
offspring is
limited.
Demonstrate an
understanding of
the problems in
assigning
organisms into a
specific group eg:
duckbilled
platypus, Axolotl.
Define the term
hybrid and ring
species and give
examples of each.
Explain how
organisms are
adapted to survive
extreme
environment- deep
hydrothermal
vents and polar
regions.
Describe the
adaptive features
of organisms
surviving in
extreme
environment.
Discuss the key
factors
contributing to
evolution by
natural selection.
Construct and
use keys to
identify
organisms.
Know that naming
of an organism
binomially includes
genus and species
name.
Interpret data on
types of variation,
bar chart & normal
distribution curve.
Describe the
causes of
variation- genetic
& environmental.
Calculation of
mean
height/weight
and construction
of graphs bar
chart/histogram/
normal
distribution
curve.
Define
continuous &
discontinuous
variation.
Identify types of
variation in
organisms with
examples.
Explain new
evidence from
DNA research and
emergence of
resistant organisms
to support Darwins
theory.
Evaluate the role
of scientific
community in
validating new
evidence – use of
scientific journals
peer review
process&
scientific
conferences.
Describe how
speciation
occurs as a
result of
geographical
isolation.
Differentiate the
terms gene and
alleles.
Define the terms
genotype,
phenotype,
homozygous,
heterozygous,
dominant &
recessive
Analyse &
interpret patterns
of monohybrid
inheritance using
genetic diagram,
Punnetsquare and
family pedigrees.
Describe the
symptoms of
genetic disorderscystic fibrosis
and sickle cell
anaemia.
Calculate
outcomes of
monohybrid
cross using
probabilities,
percentages&
ratios.
Identify the causes Define a genetic
of genetic diseases
disorder/disease with
– cystic fibrosis and examples.
sickle cell anaemia.
Give examples of
Suggest the cure
genetic disorders.
for cystic fibrosis
and sickle cell
anaemia.
Evaluate the
outcomes of
pedigree analysis
for genetic
diseases.
Identify genes
found on
chromosomes in the
nucleus.
Topic 2 - Responses to a changing environment
A* (90- 100)
A ( 80-89)
B (70-79)
C (60-69)
D (50-59)
Interpret negative
feedback
mechanism
involved in thermoregulation.
Explain how
thermoregulation
takes place on a
hot day and cold
day.
Describe the
role of the
various parts of
the skin in
thermoregulatio
n-hair erector
muscle, sweat
glands and
blood
capillaries.
Differentiate
thermoregulation
and osmoregulation.
Define homeostasis.
Differentiate
type1 diabetes
with type2
diabetes.
Suggest the role
of various
endocrine organs
of human bodypituitary ,
pancreas, thyroid,
adrenal, ovary
and testis.
Explain how blood
glucose level is
regulated by insulin
and glucagon by
negative feedback
mechanism.
Describe how
diet, physicl
activity and
insulin injection
control diabetes.
Label the various
parts of human skin.
Discuss the
importance of
homeostasis in
organisms.
Know that hormones
are produced by
endocrine organs and
transported to target
organs by blood.
Evaluate
correlation between
obesity and type 2
diabetes.
Use data to
analyze the
relationship
between obesity
and type 2
diabetes.
Explain the
commercial uses of
plant hormonesweedkiller, rooting
powder, seedless
fruits and ethene
.
Explain the
structure of a
typical neuron in
conducting nerve
impulse- cyton,
dendrite, axon and
nerve ending.
Analyse &
interpret data
on plant
hormone
experiments.
Analyse
&interpret data
related to human
responses to
external stimulus.
Describe the
role of auxins in
phototropism
and geotropism
Calculate BMI
and categorize
people as
underweight,
normal,
overweight and
obese.
Suggest the
Plan
investigations to advantages
prove tropism
tropism in plants.
shown by shoot
tips and roots.
Identify the role of
various plant
hormones- auxin,
cytokinin, ethene and
gibberellin.
Describe how
stimulation of
receptors sends
impulse to CNS
by nerve
impulses.
Compare
hormone action
with nervous
coordination in
humans.
Suggest the role
of receptors in
coordination.
Know that CNS
consists of brain and
spinal cord.
Describe how
impulses are
transmitted in a
reflex arc in
sequence to
bring about
reflex action
Differentiate
sensory, motor
and relay
neuron in
structure and
function. Draw
and label a
simple reflex
arc.
Suggest
importance of
reflex action.
Compare reflex
action to
involuntary
action.
Define synapse and
reflex arc.
Recognize types of
tropisms in plants
with examples.
Give examples of
reflexes.
Topic 3 - Problems of & solutions to a changing environment
A* (90- 100)
A ( 80-89)
B (70-79)
C (60-69)
D (50-59)
Analyse and
interpret data
linked with use
of drugs.
Evaluate data
relating to
correlation of
smoking and
negative effects
on health.
Describe the short
term and long term
effects of
stimulants and
depressants.
Suggest the general
effects of
painkillers,
stimulants,
depressants and
hallucinogens.
Realize that a
drug leads to
tolerance,
addiction and
withdrawal
symptoms.
Define drug.
Discuss the ethics
of organ transplant.
Give examples of
legal and illegal
drugs.
Evaluate that
misuse of
antibiotics can
lead to
development of
resistance in
organisms.
Analyse and
interpret data
related to energy
transfer, food
chain , food web
and ecological
pyramids.
Analyse ,
interpret and
evaluate data on
global
population
change .
Explain various
stages of carbon
cycle - feeding,
absorption,
decomposition,
sedimentation,
fossilization and
weathering.
Evaluate how
recycling can
reduce the
demand for
resources and
problems of
waste disposal
Explain how
pathogens can be
prevented by
physical and
chemical barriers of
human body.
Plan investigations
to prove
antimicrobial
effects of
antiseptics,
antibiotics and
plant extracts.
Describe how some
energy is
transferred as less
useful forms at each
trophic level that
limits the length of
food chains.
Describe how
pathogens are
spread through air,
food, water, by
vectors, body fluids
and contact.
Describe the role of
antiseptics and
antibiotics in
controlling
infection
Identify the
antimicrobial
effect of plant
extracts eg.
mint leaves and
garlic.
Define pathogens.
Differentiate
pyramid of
numbers, biomass
and energy.
Calculate energy
transfer between
trophic levels.
Draw and label
simple food
chains &
ecological
pyramids.
Know that
interdependence is
a dynamic
relationship
between living
organisms .
Define the term
food chain, food
web & biomass.
Explain how
survival of
organisms involve
parasitism and
mutualism .
Give examples of
pathogens and
diseases in
humans.
Describe the role of Significance of
various parasites
parasitism and
and mutualists.
mutualism in
maintaining
living
interactions.
Describe the role of Draw and label the Differentiate
various bacteria
various components natural and
involved in
of carbon and
artificial
nitrogen cycle.
nitrogen cycle.
recycling.
.
Define parasites
and mutualists.
Give examples of
parasites and
mutualists.
Describe how
eutrophication
happens in a
polluted river.
Analyse and
interpret data
related to nonliving
indicators of
pollution (global
temperature,
rainfall and
incidence of skin
cancer).
Define indicator
species.
Suggest the causes
of air and water
pollution and
problems linked
with eutrophication in an
ecosystem.
Plan investigations
to find the effects
of pollutants on
germination and
plant growth.
Understand the
use of indicator
species in
determining
level of
pollution
Define biogeo
chemical cycle.
Suggest the
importance of
carbon and
nitrogen cycle.
Give examples of
pollution
indicators.