BIOLOGY - A LEVEL - PREPARATION WORK

BIOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
This guide has been designed to help you with the transition from GCSE to the A-Level course. With the
recent changes to the GCSE science courses, the move to A-Level is more logical and less of a big jump.
Consequently, you should already be familiar with most of the major concepts, topics and important
terms which are covered by the A-Level biology course, for example, cell structures, enzyme action and
photosynthesis. You may need to refresh your memory on some of these though!

Although there is much overlap in topics and terms, there is quite a lot of new material that you won’t
have met before. Also, you will need to go into more detail regarding the topics you have previously
covered at GCSE and your level of thinking and explaining has to be deeper.

Contents:

Topic 1 – Cells
Inside cells; Specialised cells and Studying cells.

Topic 2 – Enzymes
Enzyme action: sort it out & Just right, for enzymes.

Topic 3 – Biochemistry
Respiration for life & Photosynthesis.

Topic 4 – Gas exchange

Diffusion in the lungs & Delving deeper into diffusion.

Topic 5 – DNA
DNA structure

Topic 6 – The Heart

Heart structure

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INTRODUCTION
This guide has been designed to help you with the transition from GCSE to the A-Level course.
With the recent changes to the GCSE science courses, the move to A-Level is more logical and
less of a big jump. Consequently, you should already be familiar with most of the major
concepts, topics and important terms which are covered by the A-Level biology course, for
example, cell structures, enzyme action and photosynthesis. You may need to refresh your
memory on some of these though!
Although there is much overlap in topics and terms, there is quite a lot of new material that
you won’t have met before. Also, you will need to go into more detail regarding the topics you
have previously covered at GCSE and your level of thinking and explaining has to be deeper.

In order to fully prepare yourself for the A-Level Biology course, complete the following tasks to the
best of your ability using your GCSE Biology notes and the suggested resources. This will then be used
to fully support you in the first weeks of your new course and ensure that you can plan your
independent study accordingly.

Contents:
Topic 1 – Cells
Inside cells; Specialised cells and Studying cells.
Topic 2 – Enzymes
Enzyme action: sort it out & Just right, for enzymes.
Topic 3 – Biochemistry
Respiration for life & Photosynthesis.
Topic 4 – Gas exchange
Diffusion in the lungs & Delving deeper into diffusion.
Topic 5 – DNA
DNA structure
Topic 6 – The Heart
Heart structure

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 Topic 1 – Cells
Inside Cells
Below is a diagram showing an animal cell and a plant cell.
1. Identify which cell is the plant / animal cell
2. Draw label lines and label the following structures and state the function
a. Nucleus
b. Ribosomes
c. Cell surface membrane
d. Cell wall
e. Chloroplasts
f. Cytoplasm
g. Mitochondria
h. Permanent vacuole
3. Use the cells alive website to add further structures and their functions:
https://www.cellsalive.com/cells/cell_model_js.htm

You could use the following resources if you are unsure of the function of the structures:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z84jtv4/revision/7
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Matching specialised Cells to their functions (Jobs):
Name the type of cell and describe the role and function of each cell type and any
specific features that it may have. You should look at the structure / shape of
each cell and think about its role within an organism. (There are some clues on
the next page)

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Studying cells:
Read each statement and state if the answer is True or False

Statement True or False

Optical (Light) microscope produce images with a HIGH

resolution.

Electron microscopes produce black and white images.

Magnification = Image size x actual object size.

1.8 x10-2 mm is the same as 0.018 mm.

2.0 x10-2 m is the same as 20 mm.

The radius of a circle is 3 mm. The surface area of the circle

would be 28.3 mm2 (𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝜋𝑟 2 𝜋 = 3.14)

2.5 mm > 2.5 x10-2 m

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Topic 2 – Enzymes

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Questions:
1. Scientists measured the mean protein concentration in white wines made from grapes
grown organically and white wines made from grapes that were not grown organically.

Which (food) biochemical test could the scientists have used to identify that there are
proteins in white wine and how would they know this test was positive?

………………………………………………………………………………………………………
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2.

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Topic 3 – Biochemistry

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Topic 4 – Gas Exchange

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