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WHY CHOOSE THIS SYLLABUS? 

At Pearson we offer separate science qualifications in Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry and Physics, as well as Double Award and Single Award Science qualifications – these have been designed to meet different students’ needs. The content and assessment approach in all our science qualifications has been designed to meet students’ needs in the following ways.

1. Content that is interesting and engaging for students but is also designed to ensure good preparation, both for those continuing to further study and for those wishing to work in a biology-related field.

 

2. There are opportunities to ‘localise’ the content to make it more relevant for students in their own country.

 

3. Question papers are clear and straightforward – our question papers are clear and accessible for all students of all ability ranges and learning styles. Our mark schemes are straightforward, so that the assessment requirements are clear.

 

4. Students’ skills are broadly developed – we have designed the International GCSE to extend students’ knowledge by broadening and deepening skills, for example:

- developing students’ practical skills by including a number of practicals in the specification content. These can be supplemented with other suggested practicals. The skills developed will be assessed through questions in written examinations

- improving students’ analytical and logic skills by applying understanding of scientific concepts and principles to a range of situations. This will include some examination questions that are more problem solving in style

- addressing the need for mathematical skills to complement students’ biology skills by covering a range of mathematical areas.

 

ASSESSMENT OVERVIEW

The Pearson Edexcel International GCSE in Biology comprises two externally-assessed papers:

• Biology Paper 1
  
  • Externally assessed
  • Availability: January and June
  • First assessment: June 2019
• Biology Paper 2
  • Externally assessed
  • Availability: January and June
  • First assessment: June 2019

 

DETAILS OF THE ASSESSMENT

 

Paper 1B

- Level 1/2

- Assessed through a 2-hour writte examination set and marked by Pearson.

- The paper is weighted at 61.1% of the qualification.

- A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions,
calculations and extended open-response questions.

- Assesses the content that is not in bold and does not have a ‘B’ reference. Questions may come from any topic area across the specification.

- 110 Marks

 

Paper 2B

- Level 1/2

- Assessed through a 1-hour and 15-minute written examination set and marked by Pearson.

- The paper is weighted at 38.9% of the qualification.

- A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions.

- Assesses all the content, including content that is in bold and has a ‘B’ reference. Questions may come from any topic area across the specification.

- Bold statements cover some sub-topics in greater depth.

- 70 Marks

 

SUBJECT CONTENT

• The nature and variety of living organisms
• Structure and functions in living organisms
• Reproduction and inheritance
• Ecology and the environment
• Use of biological resources

 

SOURCE 

https://qualifications.pearson.com/