BIOLOGY

Biology Unlocks Opportunities

GCSE Biology is a highly engaging and stimulating subject that can unlock countless opportunities for students. Whether you are interested in pursuing a career in science or simply enjoy learning about the natural world, studying Biology at GCSE level can provide you with a wealth of knowledge and skills that can benefit you in all aspects of your life. From understanding the complexities of the human body to exploring the intricacies of ecosystems, biology GCSE offers a comprehensive education that is both fascinating and rewarding.

We offer expert guidance and support for students studying GCSE Biology. Our highly experienced tutors are passionate about biology and are committed to helping students achieve their full potential. Our tutors use a range of teaching methods and resources to make learning biology enjoyable and engaging, including interactive exercises and real-world case studies. Working with us, students can improve their understanding of biology, develop the confidence and skills needed to succeed and boost their exam performance.

GCSE Biology 2021 Results Snapshot Data

  • In 2021, 328,000 students in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland took GCSE biology, with 90.6% achieving a grade 4 (equivalent to a C grade) or higher. (Source: JCQ)
  • The proportion of students achieving a grade 7 (equivalent to an A grade) or higher in GCSE biology in England was 28.9% in 2021, a slight decrease from 29.4% in 2020. (Source: Ofqual)

The Importance of doing well in GCSE Biology

Career opportunities:

A strong foundation in biology can lead to a variety of career paths, including medicine, veterinary science, environmental science, and biotechnology. In fact, the number of people working in science, research, engineering, and technology occupations in the UK increased by 33%. between 2007 and 2017 (Source: UK Commission for Employment and Skills).

Higher education:

GCSE Biology is a prerequisite for many science-related courses at university, including medicine, dentistry, and biological sciences. In 2019, over 62,000 students applied to study biological sciences at university in the UK (Source: UCAS).

GCSE Biology Topics

Pearson Edexcel

AQA

OCR

GRADE 2 - 5

Start Date
Topic

30/10/2023

Cells & Specialisation

06/11/2023

Magnification & Microscopes

13/11/2023

Cells, Tissues,  Organ Systems & Maths (scales)

20/11/2023

Transport Across Cell Membranes - Diffusion

27/11/2023

Transport Across Cell Membranes - Active Transport & Osmoosis

04/12/2023

Cell Division (Mitosis) & The Cell Cycle

11/12/2023

The Digestive System & Enzymes

18/12/2023

Enzyme Graphs

08/01/2024

The Heart & Cardiac Cycle

15/01/2024

Blood & Blood Vessels

22/01/2024

CHD & Disease (Lifestyle vs Pathogen)

29/01/2024

Human Defence Systems

05/02/2024

The Nervous System & Reflex Arcs

12/02/2024

The Nervous System - the eye

19/02/2024

Respiration & Metabolism

26/02/2024

Photosynthesis

04/03/2024

Plant Tissues & Transpiration

18/03/2024

Homeostasis - blood glucose & water (kidneys(

25/03/2024

Hormones & Reproduction

01/04/2024

DNA structure & Biomolecules

08/04/2024

Chromosomes & Inheritance

15/04/2024

Inheritance

22/04/2024

Variation , Evolution & Selective Breeding

29/04/2024

Genetic Engineering & Cloning

06/05/2024

Ecology - adaptations, interdependence & competition (including food chains)

13/05/2024

Ecology - food webs & recycling

20/05/2024

Ecology - trophic levels

27/05/2024

Ecology - biodiversity & human influences

GRADE 6 – 9

Start Date
Topic

30/10/2023

The Digestive System & Enzymes

06/11/2023

Enzyme Graphs and Rates

13/11/2023

Respiration & Metabolism

20/11/2023

Photosynthesis & Rates & Limiting Factors

27/11/2023

Plant tissues

04/11/2023

Transpiration & Rates

11/12/2023

The Heart

18/12/2023

Blood & Blood Vessels

08/12/2023

The Nervous System & Brain

15/01/2024

The Nervous System - the eye

22/01/2024

Disease, CHD & Lifestyle

29/01/2024

Lifestyle & Risk Factors

05/01/2024

Microbial (Communicable) Disease & Viruses

12/02/2024

Bacterial, Fungal & Protists diseases (brief)

19/02/2024

Monoclonal Antibodies

26/02/2024

Monoclonal Antibodies

04/02/2024

Cell Division (Mitosis & Meiosis)

11/03/2024

Stem Cells & Cancer

18/03/2024

DNA structure, Protein synthesis & Mutations

25/03/2024

Chromosomes & Monohybrid Inheritance

01/04/2024

Homeostasis - body temperature and blood glucose

08/04/2024

Homeostasis - the kidney

15/04/2024

Hormones & Reproduction

22/04/2024

Genetic Engineering - 1

29/04/2024

Genetic Engineering - 2

13/05/2024

Ecology - adaptations, interdependence & competition (including food chains)

20/05/2024

Ecology - trophic levels and recycling

27/05/2024

Ecology - biodiversity & change

Pearson Edexcel

All topics will be covered in both papers. The first paper is 2 hours long and is worth 110 marks. The second paper is 1 hour and 15 minutes and is worth 70 marks.

AQA

Papers are each 1 hour and 45 minutes long and worth 100 marks each. In Paper 1 you will be assessed on topics 1–4: Cell biology; Organisation; Infection and response; and Bioenergetics. Then in Paper 2 you will answer questions on topics 5–7: Homeostasis and response; Inheritance, variation and evolution; and Ecology.

OCR

There are 2 papers worth 90 marks each and last for 1 hour and 45 minutes and will cover Topics B1–B3 and B7: Cell level systems; Scaling up; Organism level systems and Practical skills. The second paper will assess you on Topics B4–B6 and also B7, which are: Community level systems; Genes, inheritance and selection; Global challenges and Practical skills
Overall, studying biology GCSE provides a comprehensive understanding of the natural world and how living organisms function, adapt, and evolve. It is a highly relevant subject that impacts all aspects of modern life, from health and medicine to climate change and conservation.

Subject Experts To Support Your Child

Prior to starting our Masterclasses, our Subject Knowledge Assessment Tool on our learning platform ‘Aim13’, will help identify key topics for revision and recommend masterclasses to plug any gaps in knowledge.

Our Subject Matter Expert for Biology is Dr Stuart Miller. He is currently a member of the Senior Leadership Team at Wisbech Grammar School.
https://www.wisbechgrammar.com/department/seniorteam/


With an excellent understanding of what GCSE Biology exams require from students, Dr Miller covers good exam technique, showing students how to understand what questions are really asking, and providing strategies to help them cope with tricky Biology questions.

Our GCSE and A-Level Biology masterclasses include:

  • Past papers:Students work through Biology past papers, both independently and as part of a group during our live masterclasses.
  • Teacher’s notes:Dr Miller presents a revision topic in full. This is very helpful in supporting students consolidate their class notes.

FAQs

The answers to your questions

The cost of a GCSE tutor can vary depending on their qualifications and experience. Generally, private tutors charge between £30.00 and £70.00 per hour, with online lessons often slightly cheaper than in-person lessons. We charge £1.50 to join a live masterclass with other students! This is a massive saving for you to access a lesson being taught by a highly experienced teacher. You can communicate with our teachers via Discord, Live QA and email at any time.

Yes! Our tutors, are subject matter experts in their subjects, due to their length of teaching experience and examiner experience. The majority of our tutors are currently employed in leading independent schools and they all have valid DBS checks.

We offer over 50 masterclasses per subject from November – June.
Schools can book additional masterclasses for GCSE & A-Level to suit their teaching groups.

In addition to the live class that is held, we also provide students with a pack containing:
Question papers
Lecture Notes
Presentation slides for each unit of study

The lessons are a live webcast of only the teacher. It is a one-way stream, and therefore, students will not be required to turn on their camera.

Yes! We use Slido, to help make our lessons more interactive and engaging for students.

Our online GCSE/A-Level tutors come with robust qualifications, typically possessing a degree/PHD in the subject. With ample teaching experience, these tutors specialise in their subject, ensuring they are perfectly positioned to cater to the diverse academic needs of their students.

Our GCSE/A-Level tutors are highly qualified and experienced, catering to the diverse needs of students. Many of them hold advanced degrees in biology, science, or related fields, ensuring a deep understanding of the subject with experience of teaching at University. They are trained to deliver biology lessons in ways that foster understanding and retention, making complex concepts accessible to students of all abilities. In addition to academic qualifications, our GCSE tutors have a track record of helping students achieve high grades in their exams. Their experience ranges from teaching in classrooms to providing one-on-one online tutoring.

Of course! our GCSE tutors can offer thorough support. Don’t hesitate to ask your tutor questions about particular areas where you feel you need additional support.

Absolutely! Our tutors offer valuable GCSE exam preparation strategies. These tutors provide practice questions and tailored techniques based on different exam boards like Edexcel, OCR, and AQA, ensuring you’re well-prepared for your GCSE Biology exams.

Yes, each masterclass is meticulously crafted to be interactive. Tutors use a wide range of GCSE teaching methods that aim to enliven your tuition experience. From using interactive quizzes to visual aids, our tutors are focused on making GCSE masterclasses both engaging and informative. Many students find the approach of our tutors in these interactive tutoring lessons particularly supportive for their GCSE studies.

Yes, you can. Throughout your tuition journey with our y tutors, our learning platform ‘Aim13’ allows you to take regular assessments and track your progress through past exam papers. These are designed to gauge your level of understanding and progress. You can then view these assessments, offered by the tutors, to get insights into your academic strengths and the areas that may need more focus in future masterclasses.

Our typical weekly masterclass is 1 hour long but during the holidays they can run for several hours! For example, Maths run a 2-hour masterclass on Error Bounds and Computer Science run a 4-hour masterclass on programming exam questions. There is no extra cost for the longer sessions.

Certainly! Our tutors, provide additional educational resources which are shared in the Google Drives. These may include extra practice worksheets or recommended reading lists to supplement your ongoing masterclasses.

×