Description

ABOUT THIS COURSE

Achievement in A-Level Biology requires students to overcome some key challenges in order to secure a top A/A* grades in the upcoming AQA A Level Biology 2023 exam. Students need to be able to recall a wealth of knowledge across the varied disciplines of Biology study and apply this knowledge in familiar and unfamiliar situations. Biology students have a variety of strengths and weaknesses so a range of techniques are needed to ensure they can achieve the best possible marks.

This intensive new course will demonstrate how to guide your students to achieve their maximise possible grades in future A-Level Biology examinations.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

• Focus on what teachers should aim to achieve with the most able PE students
• Develop greater understanding of what examiners are looking for in Grade A/A* responses
• Take away a range of innovative ideas and resources to help students reach these levels
• Engaging high ability students with the exam criteria to understand what is needed in A* answers

PROGRAMME

Key lessons for A and A* students from the 2022 results

10.00 – 10.40am

• Feedback: looking back at the summer exams. What went well? What did examiners look for at the top levels?
• Key differences between A and A* performance
• Missing out on the A/A* grades: common mistakes and key issues
• Analyse A/A* responses
• Ways to improve results and boost attainment

What teachers should aim to achieve with the most able students

10.40 – 11.10am

• The characteristics of A and A* students
• Stretching the top students: going beyond the specification content
• Access an array of techniques to promote independent learning and extend A/A* students
• Engaging high ability students with the exam criteria to understand what is needed in A* answers

Morning break

11.10 – 11.30am

A and A* performance in the exam papers

11.30 – 12.30pm

• Applying knowledge to questions
• What an excellent analytical answer looks like
• Synoptic teaching and its crucial impact on exam performance
• Turning lower-level answers into model answers

Lunch

12.30 – 1.30pm

Teaching mathematical and statistical skills to A/A* students

1.30 – 2.35pm

• Consider the different types of questions that require mathematical skills and preparing students to tackle them
• Stretching the more able students – what is required for top band marks?
• Power, exponential and logarithmic functions, their applied use in microbiology and ecology.
• Chi squared and the T test with applied resources to use with your students.
• The correlation coefficient with applied examples to use with your students.

Afternoon break

2.35 – 2.45pm

Exam strategies to maximise marks

2.45 – 3.30pm

• Analysing high level answers to the short answer questions.
• Potential pitfalls that can catch A* students out
• Tweaking teaching strategies to the expectations of questions
• What excellent answers look like and how to replicate this under exam conditions
• Effective assimilation of topics in order to achieve the highest levels