Combined Science Biology Foundation

GCSE biology – Year 10 Key Topics

⚡ 1. Cell biology

• Cell structure
  • Eukaryotes and prokaryotes
  • Animal and plant cells
  • Cell specialisation
  • Cell differentiation
  • Microscopy
• Cell division
  • Chromosomes
  • Mitosis and the cell cycle
  • Stem cells
• Transport in cells
  • Diffusion
  • Osmosis
  • Active transport

⚡ 2. Organization

• Principles of organisation
  • Levels of Organisation
  • Key Definitions
• Animal tissues, organs and organ systems
  • The human digestive system
  • The heart and blood vessels
  • Blood
  • Coronary heart disease: a non-communicable disease
  • Health issues
  • The effect of lifestyle on some non-communicable diseases
  • Cancer
• Plant tissues, organs and systems
  • Plant tissues
  • Plant organ system

⚡ 3. Infection and response

• Communicable diseases
  • Communicable (infectious) diseases
  • Viral diseases
  • Bacterial diseases
  • Fungal diseases
  • Protist diseases
  • Human defence systems
  • Vaccination
  • Antibiotics and painkillers
  • Discovery and development of drugs
• Monoclonal antibodies
• Plant disease

⚡ 4. Bioenergetics

• Photosynthesis
  • Photosynthetic reaction
  • Rate of photosynthesis
  • Uses of glucose from photosynthesis
• Respiration
  • Aerobic and anaerobic respiration
  • Response to exercise
  • Metabolism

GCSE biology – Year 11 Key Topics

⚡ 1. Homeostasis and response

• Homeostasis
  • Homeostasis
• The human nervous system
• Hormonal coordination in humans
  • Human endocrine system
  • Control of blood glucose concentration
  • Hormones in human reproduction
  • Contraception
• Plant hormones

⚡ 2. Inheritance, variation and evolution

• Reproduction
  • Sexual and asexual reproduction
  • Meiosis
  • DNA and the genome
  • Genetic inheritance
  • Inherited disorders
  • Sex determination
• Variation and evolution
  • Variation
  • Evolution
  • Selective breeding
  • Genetic engineering
• The development of understanding of genetics and evolution
  • Evidence for evolution
  • Fossils
  • Extinction
  • Resistant bacteria
• Classification of living organisms
  • Classification of living organisms

⚡ 3. Ecology

• Adaptations, interdependence and competition
  • Communities
  • Abiotic factors
  • Biotic factors
  • Adaptations
• Organisation of an ecosystem
  • Levels of organisation
  • How materials are cycled
• Biodiversity and the effect of human interaction on ecosystems
  • Biodiversity
  • Waste management
  • Land use
  • Deforestation
  • Global warming
  • Maintaining biodiversity
• Trophic levels in an ecosystem
• Food production

What We Focus On In Tuition

• Step-by-step explanation of complex biological processes
• Focus on exam-relevant facts and calculations
• Practice with real GCSE exam questions
• Support for both Foundation & Higher tiers
• Confidence building for Grade 5–9 success