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Biology A Level

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Getting Ahead

Biology A Level at Alton Campus

Will you be studying Biology A Level at Alton Campus in September? If so, you’re in the right place!

This Getting Ahead work will help you prep for your course over the summer.

We can’t wait to meet you!

a biological model of the human heart

Using the links to the websites and YouTube clips below, identify and make some notes on at least 5 properties of water that are important in living organisms. Hand these notes in to your teacher when you start.

Challenge yourselves – how much do you already know?: 

For fun

  1. Make a poster showing the structure of a typical animal cell. You should…
    • a) Draw a diagram of your chosen cell
    • b) Label the following organelles: nucleus, nucleolus, rough endoplasmic reticulum, smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi body, ribosomes, mitochondria, centriole, lysosome, cell membrane and cytoplasm 
    • c) Annotate your poster with the functions of each of the organelles that you have labelled. 
  2. Produce a table that shows the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells. 
  3. Write a definition for both “Eukaryotic cell” and “Prokaryotic cell”.

Use these websites (and others) to help you… 

Watch these TED talks linked to cells: 

Watch The Inner Life of the Cell. Can you recognise the cell organelles you drew in the poster activity?

Use this online scale to see how cells and their organelles compare to some everyday items.

AQA Biology: A Level
This is the book that we use at HSDC Alton to accompany the A Level Biology course. You will be able to log on to an online version of the book when you start College. This link will show you the book details in case you also want a paper copy.  You can get a version of the book that contains all of the A Level topics, or you can buy the first and second year topics in two separate books. 

A Level Biology: Essential Maths Skills
10% of A Level Biology involves maths and so you may find this book helpful during the course to boost your maths skills. 

Did you know that the UK has its own smaller version of the Hadron collider called Diamond Light and that scientists there are working to develop our understanding of COVID-19? 

Go on a virtual tour of Diamond Light here and then click here to see what research they are doing on COVID-19. 

You may be interested in developing your biological knowledge of COVID-19 by researching and making notes on the following topics:

  • Structure of the virus
  • History – where did it originate
  • Transmission
  • How the body responds to viral infections
  • What are vaccines made of and how they work
  • How do COVID-19 tests work? 

Some links have been provided but please feel free to research further. Show where you obtained all of your information within the text and list all of your resources in a bibliography at the end. 

Resources

Meet your Teachers

  • teacher lesley newell

    Lesley Newell

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Your Learning Space

*This is a representation of your learning space and may not be the exact room you will be using

I’m very, very happy, I didn’t expect to do so well. The College has been helpful and supportive. I loved my courses, and the teachers were really good – every single one of them. The facilities are great, but it’s the staff that really make this place.

Matthew Randell, A Level student

"I am delighted with my results and am really looking forward to studying Law at Oxford University. I really enjoyed my time at HSDC Alton and I really appreciate all the help and support from my fantastic teachers, without whom I wouldn't have got my place at Oxford."

Catherine Goldie, HSDC Alton A Level Student

My experience at the college was enjoyable and productive, with thoroughly helpful people surrounding you, an excellent experience. I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it was, with the work shop time and experience I had, it was a great two years preparing me for the next stage.

Edward Smith, BTEC student