Class details

Who?
The IG Biology is an excellent foundational course for further studies in biology at AS/A level and university. Students wishing to study AS/A level biology and any further tertiary studies in any of the health sciences; agricultural science or in the field of biology itself would do well to lay the foundation with the IG biology course.
This course is designed to cover the IG Biology syllabus content over eighteen months including revision and exam preparation. This means students will be ready to write the IG biology exams in May /June 2026.
It is recommended that students have prior knowledge in biology before starting the course.
Students wishing to take this course should ideally be turning 16 during 2025.

What?
We begin the course with an exploration of the characteristics of living things and how living things are classified. Since cells are the basic units of living organisms, the basic structure of the cell in the five kingdoms are explored. We will the looks at transport into and out of the cell, and how enzymes catalyse the very many metabolic reactions that take place inside the cell. We will also look at the major organic chemicals that make up cells and living organisms. This provides a “tool kit” whereby we can further explore seven characteristics of living organisms in plants and animals, namely: nutrition, excretion, transport, sensitivity, respiration, reproduction, and growth. We will then look at genetics and the immune system before moving onto ecology, conservation and biotechnology.
By the end of the course students should have mastered the concepts stipulated in the syllabus, have grown in the ability to communicate and apply scientific knowledge and come to a greater appreciation of God’s amazing creation. At the end of each chapter there are exam style questions which help the students assess their progress. In addition, there will be accumulative tests based on past exam questions. At the end of the course, students will be guided through revision and preparation for the exams.

Tutor
The tutor for these classes is Vehlia Button

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Who?
Students who have completed IG biology in 2024 and wish to finish AS biology by May/June 2026. Please note that students are expected to have completed and passed IG biology with at least a C-grade before starting AS Biology.

What?
The AS Biology is not as broad as the IG course (i.e. there are fewer topics covered in the AS biology course as compared to the IG Biology course) but there is a lot more depth in the AS Biology course. Students are expected to understand in more detail how the life processes studied work. Students tend to enjoy the AS biology course more than the IG course because of this depth of knowledge that is required.
The first part of the AS Biology course concentrates on the study of the cell and the various functions that take place in the cell. This means students will explore the cell as seen under the light microscope and electron microscope, consider the different organic chemicals that make up the cell and their function within the cell especially as regards enzymes and the structure and function of the cell membrane. Students will then explore how cells divide to make sure that all new cells have the identical genetic material as the original cell. Students will explore how the DNA gene codes for particular proteins. The next section explores transport systems in plants and the cardiovascular system and gas exchange system in humans, while the last section looks at some important infectious diseases and how the immune system works.
By the end of the course students should have mastered the concepts stipulated in the syllabus, have grown in the ability to communicate and apply scientific knowledge and come to a greater appreciation of God’s amazing creation. At the end of each chapter there are exam style questions which help the students assess their progress. In addition, there will be accumulative tests based on past exam questions. At the end of the course, students will be guided through revision and preparation for the exams.

Tutor
The tutor for these classes is Vehlia Button.

 Register

Who?
Students who wish to write A Level biology in October/November 2025. Please note that students must have completed AS biology no earlier than October/November 2024.

What?
The A2 course is the second half of the AS/A level coursebook. Students will explore the following topics: Energy and respiration, photosynthesis, homeostasis, control and co-ordination, inheritance, selection and evolution, classification, biodiversity and conservation and genetic technology. These topics will be examined in a structured question paper.
Students will also answer a paper on the practical skills of planning, analysis and evaluation.

Tutor
The tutor for this course is Vehlia Button.

 Register