AQA A-Level Biology: Aiming for A/A*

ABOUT THIS COURSE

This popular course has been refreshed for 2025 and will demonstrate how to guide your best students to achieve Grades A & A* in future AQA A-level Biology examinations. The course will explore the characteristics of A/A* students identified in research and why and how we must challenge our most able Biology students. Focused extensively on evidence-based teaching, learning and assessment practice as well as feedback from the most recent exams, you will leave with a vast range of resources and practical strategies that will enable you to meet the needs of your most able students and ultimately increase A & A* grade attainment. Finally, we will look beyond the course to focus on preparing these students to continue studying Biology at university.

---

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

• Increase awareness of what teacher should aim to achieve with the most able Biologists
• Gain the latest evidencebased practice that challenges A/A* students
• Develop greater understanding of what examiners are looking for in Grade A/A* responses
• Take away a range of innovative teaching ideas and electronic resources for your most able students
• Learn how to develop resilience so that talented Biology students achieve their A/A* potential
• Focused on identifying the demands of Grades A & A* and providing materials to help teachers prepare students effectively
• A detailed look at the different demands of questions

---

PROGRAMME

Challenging our Most Able Students

10.00am

• Who are our most able students?
• Why do we have to challenge our most able students?
• How are A/A* Grades achieved?

---

Break

10.45am

---

Focus on Assessment Demands for A/A* Students

11.00am

• Examine the assessment demands of all components including the use of assessment objectives as a framework for assessment
• Consider the most effective models for delivery of the course to ensure effective assessment
• Feedback and grading analysis from the most recent exam
• What is required for A/A*?
• Analysis of mark schemes – which sections/questions differentiated candidates?
• Grades A & A*: what are the differences between these?
• Key attributes of Grade A/A* students in the classroom
• Avoiding potential hazards: what can cost a top student their A/A* grade?

---

The Key Challenges for A/A* students in the Papers

12.00pm

• Developing a deep understanding of core Biology concepts
• Supporting students to write top band essays
• Developing a personalised approach to note taking to support recall
• Applying Biological concepts to consistently write top band evaluation
• Activating prior knowledge to improve retention of key topic areas

---

Lunch

1.00pm

---

Stretching and Challenging the Most Able Students

2.00pm

• Moving on from GCSE approaches – encouraging students to become sensitive readers
• Using wider reading to prepare for exams
• What makes a strong A-Level response? How can we build up to this?
• Working up to full essay questions, and using them to stretch students
• Planning with and designing support for students aiming for top grades
• Extra-curricular ideas that help get A and A* grades

---

Break

3.00pm

---

Tactics for achieving the highest grades 2.00pm

• Develop an action plan for success for students aiming for top grades
• The shorter questions: what are the potential pitfalls?
• Focus on the extended questions and essays: what does a grade A/A* candidate need to do?
• Varying response practice to stretch the most able
• Revision ideas to help students produce high grade essays

---

Depart

3.450m