| Biology | 1. Cells as the Basis of Life • Use prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, organelles, stem cells, cell differentiation, cell membranes, transport across membranes, surface-area-to-volume ratio, diffusion, microscopy, and structure-function relationships.• For harder questions, include cell diagrams, microscopy-style interpretation, surface-area-to-volume data, membrane transport scenarios, experimental data, model comparison, and evidence-based explanation.2. Exchange of Nutrients and Wastes • Use exchange surfaces, digestion, circulatory systems, nutrient transport, waste removal, nephrons, enzymes, enzyme structure and function, enzyme activity, induced-fit and lock-and-key models, and factors affecting enzymes.• For harder questions, include exchange-surface diagrams, nephron diagrams, enzyme-rate graphs, experimental data, limiting-factor reasoning, and explaining how structure supports exchange or waste removal.3. Cellular Energy, Gas Exchange and Plant Physiology • Use ATP, catabolism, anabolism, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, photosynthesis, gas exchange in animals and plants, alveoli, capillaries, xylem, phloem, stomata, guard cells, and transpiration.• For harder questions, include respiration/photosynthesis pathway summaries, gas-exchange data, transpiration graphs, plant tissue diagrams, experimental data, and explaining energy or material exchange.4. Data Test and Working Scientifically • Use QCE Biology data-test and working-scientifically skills: microscopy, biological drawings, experimental design, variables, controls, data collection, uncertainty, graphing, analysing trends, evaluating methods, interpreting evidence, and drawing justified conclusions.• For harder questions, include unfamiliar data sets, microscope images, uncertainty or error analysis, graph interpretation, method evaluation, limitations, and evidence-based conclusions. | 1. Homeostasis • Use homeostasis, internal and external stimuli, negative feedback, nervous system responses, endocrine system responses, receptors, effectors, thermoregulation, osmoregulation, blood glucose regulation where appropriate, and stimulus-response models.• For harder questions, include feedback-loop diagrams, stimulus-response scenarios, homeostatic data, graph interpretation, comparing nervous and endocrine responses, and explaining regulation mechanisms.2. Infectious Disease and Epidemiology • Use infectious disease, pathogens, transmission, barriers to infection, immune responses, vaccination, herd immunity, epidemics, pandemics, quarantine, epidemiological data, and public health strategies.• For harder questions, include disease transmission graphs, vaccination data, epidemiological tables, immune-response diagrams, intervention evaluation, and evidence-based public-health reasoning.3. Student Experiment and Working Scientifically • Use QCE Biology student-experiment skills: research question, hypothesis, variables, controls, risk, ethical considerations, method design, data collection, uncertainty, graphing, analysis, conclusion, validity, reliability, and improvements.• For harder questions, include experimental scenarios related to homeostasis or infectious disease, judging method validity, interpreting uncertainty, identifying limitations, improving investigations, and evidence-based conclusions. | 1. Biodiversity and Populations • Use genetic, species and ecosystem diversity, biological species concept, classification, dichotomous keys, sampling methods, quadrats, transects, capture-recapture, Lincoln index, Simpson's diversity index, distribution and abundance, population growth, and K- and r-selected strategies.• For harder questions, include ecological fieldwork data, sampling-method evaluation, biodiversity index calculations, population-growth graphs, classification evidence, and interpreting ecological evidence.2. Functioning Ecosystems and Succession • Use ecosystem structure, biotic and abiotic factors, species interactions, food webs, energy flow, nutrient cycling, carrying capacity, population dynamics, primary and secondary succession, pioneer species, and ecosystem change over time.• For harder questions, include food-web diagrams, ecological succession data, carrying-capacity graphs, species interaction scenarios, spatial/temporal ecosystem comparisons, and evaluation of ecosystem management claims.3. Student Experiment and Working Scientifically • Use QCE Biology Unit 3 student-experiment and fieldwork skills: ecological sampling design, quadrats, transects, capture-recapture, data collection, controlling bias, precision, uncertainty, graphing, analysis, conclusion, validity, reliability, and improvements.• For harder questions, include IA2-style ecological fieldwork scenarios, sampling bias, biodiversity or population calculations, uncertainty, method critique, data interpretation, and improvements. | 1. Genetics and Heredity • Use DNA structure and replication, genes, chromosomes, mutations, meiosis, variation, protein synthesis, gene expression, HOX genes, dominant/recessive/autosomal/sex-linked/polygenic/multiple-allele inheritance, genetic crosses, pedigrees, and karyotypes.• For harder questions, include DNA sequence interpretation, codon tables, mutation-effect reasoning, pedigree analysis, inheritance-pattern identification, genetic cross reasoning, gene-expression data, and evidence-based explanation.2. Continuity of Life on Earth • Use evolution by natural selection, gene pools, allele frequencies, population genetics, selection pressures, genetic drift and gene flow where appropriate, speciation, DNA profiling, gel electrophoresis, gene technologies, GMOs, CRISPR and evidence for continuity/change in life on Earth.• For harder questions, include allele-frequency data, population-genetics scenarios, evolutionary evidence, DNA-profile interpretation, gel electrophoresis diagrams, biotechnology workflow diagrams, and evaluation of gene-technology claims.3. Research Investigation and Working Scientifically • Use QCE Biology research-investigation skills: analysing secondary sources, evaluating evidence, identifying claims, comparing models, judging credibility, synthesising information, evaluating bioethical implications, and communicating a justified conclusion.• For harder questions, include research-style prompts, secondary data, competing claims, source limitations, model evaluation, bioethical reasoning, and evidence-based conclusions. |
