8BIO

Year 13 8BIO – Biology (NCEA L3)

Course Option Description

Head of Learning Area (HOLA): Miss K. Murray.

Why this course: 
Biology at this level encourages students to develop skills and attitudes which will enable them to:

  • Effectively carry out independent and cooperative investigations.
  • Use resources for self-directed study.
  • Use their understanding of biology with respect to decisions individuals and the wider community have to make.
  • These skills and attitudes are important for either tertiary study or the workplace.

Course information:
Students will learn about:

  • Investigating responses of plants and animals 
  • Gene expression in relation to biotechnology 
  • The relationships between organisms and their environment
  • Human biological and cultural evolution
  • Biological understanding that relates to a contemporary issue

Scholarship

Students with a strong academic background in Science will be offered an opportunity for extension by participating in the Scholarship programme within their timetabled Biology class.

Prerequisites

Achievement in at least 2 Level 2 Biology externals with minimum of Merit grades

Equipment and Stationery

Field trip course costs will be incurred during the year (approximately $300.00). Should students not wish to pay to complete this field trip, they are reminded that these assessments are optional and, therefore, attendance on the field trip is recommended but not compulsory. The teaching leading up to the field trip will, however, still be carried out as a whole class.

Assessment Information

This course is assessed using Achievement and/or Unit Standards. Please note exact standards are subject to change and individual assessment programmes may be provided in consultation with student and teacher.

Credit Information

You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.

This course is approved for University Entrance.

Total Credits Available: 20 credits.
Externally Assessed Credits: 13 credits.
Internally Assessed Credits: 7 credits.

Assessment
Description
Level
Internal or
External
Credits
L1 Literacy Credits
UE Literacy Credits
Numeracy Credits
A.S. 91601 v2
NZQA Info
Biology 3.1 - Carry out a practical investigation in a biological context, with guidance
4
4
4
Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91602 v2
NZQA Info
Biology 3.2 - Integrate biological knowledge to develop an informed response to a socio-scientific issue
3
3
3
Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 3
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 3r *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91603 v3
NZQA Info
Biology 3.3 - Demonstrate understanding of the responses of plants and animals to their external environment
Level: 3
Internal or External: External
Credits: 5
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 5r,5w *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91605 v2
NZQA Info
Biology 3.5 - Demonstrate understanding of evolutionary processes leading to speciation
4
4
4
Level: 3
Internal or External: External
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 4r,4w *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91606 v2
NZQA Info
Biology 3.6 - Demonstrate understanding of trends in human evolution
Level: 3
Internal or External: External
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 4r,4w *
Numeracy Credits: 0
Credit Summary
Total Credits: 20
Total Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
Total University Entrance Literacy Credits: 16
Total Numeracy Credits: 0

Approved subject for University Entrance

Number of credits that can be used for overall endorsement: 20

Only students engaged in learning and achievement derived from Te Marautanga o Aotearoa are eligible to be awarded these subjects as part of the requirement for 14 credits in each of three subjects.