NCEA Level 2 Biology

The course is at level 2 of the NZ National Curriculum for the Biology Learning Area.

The Achievement Objectives at this level are:

• Explore the diverse ways in which animals and plants carry out the life processes.
• Explore ecological distribution patterns and explain possible causes for these patterns.
• Understand that DNA and the environment interact in gene expression.
• Explain how the interaction between ecological factors and natural selection leads to genetic changes within populations.

In this course, students will be trying to gain 20 Level 2 credits for the National Certificate of Educational Achievement.

The work done throughout the year will be assessed by Internal and External Assessment submissions.

This course involves:

• Investigating Ecosystems – take a field trip to the beach to find out what lives where on the rocky shore and learn about relationships between different organisms.
• Understanding genetics – how does the DNA in your cells end up making you look the way you do?  Why are identical twins the same in some ways and different in others?
• Learning how cells do their jobs in plants and animals and how the parts work together to keep something alive.

NCEA Level 3 Biology

The course is at level 3 of the NZ National Curriculum for the Biology Learning Area.

The Achievement Objectives at this level are:

• Understand the relationship between organisms and their environment.
• Explore the evolutionary processes that have resulted in the diversity of life on Earth and appreciate the place and impact of humans within these processes.
• Understand how humans manipulate the transfer of genetic information from one generation to the next and make informed judgments about the social, ethical, and biological implications relating to this manipulation.

In this course, students will be trying to gain 20 Level 3 credits for the National Certificate of Educational Achievement.

The work done throughout the year will be assessed by Internal and External Assessment submissions.

This course involves full coverage of the Biology Curriculum at level 8. It aims to provide a foundation for the future study of Biology at tertiary level.

Topics covered include:

• Animal behaviour and plant response in relation to environmental factors
• Processes and patterns of evolution
• Maintaining a stable internal environment in humans
• Carrying out an individual practical investigation