Suggested Learning and Teaching Sequence for the DSE Biology Curriculum

Level

Topics

F4

Compulsory Part
I. Cells and Molecules of Life a. Molecules of life
b. Cellular organisation
c. Movement of substances across membrane
III. Organisms and Environment a. Essential life processes in plants
b. Essential life processes in animals
d. Coordination and response
e. Homeostasis
f. Ecosystems

F5

Compulsory Part
I. Cells and Molecules of Life d. Cell cycle and division
e. Cellular energetics
II. Genetics and Evolution a. Basic genetics
b. Molecular genetics
c. Biodiversity and evolution
III. Organisms and Environment c. Reproduction, growth and development
IV. Health and Diseases a. Personal health
b. Diseases
c. Body defence mechanisms
Elective part
V. Human Physiology: Regulation and Control a. Regulation of water content
b. Regulation of body temperature
c. Regulation of gas content in blood
d. Hormonal control of reproductive cycle

F6

Elective part
VIII. Biotechnology a. Techniques in modern biotechnology
b. Applications in biotechnology
e. Bioethics

Time Allocation for the DSE Biology Curriculum

Scientific Investigations

20 hrs

Compulsory Part

180 hrs

I. Cells and Molecules of Life
II. Genetics and Evolution
III. Organisms and Environment
IV. Health and Diseases

(44 hrs)
(38 hrs)
(84 hrs)
(14 hrs)

Elective part

50 hrs

V. Human Physiology
VIII. Biotechnology

(25 hrs)
(25 hrs)

Total

250 hrs

Assessment

Component Weighting Duration
Public Examination Paper 1 Compulsory part
Section A 18% Multiple-choice questions

Section B 42% Short questions, structured questions and essay

60% 2½ hrs
Paper 2 Elective part

Attempt questions from any two of the four electives

20% 1 hr
School-based Assessment (SBA) Practical related task 20%
School-based Assessment (SBA) Requirements
Minimum number of assessments
Area A – Practical Skills (8%) Area B – investigative study (12%)
S5 1 1
S6 1 1

Relationship between Science (S1-3) Syllabus and DSE Biology Curriculum

Science (S1-3) DSE Biology (F.4-6)
Unit Title Topic

1.1

Learning about science Scientific Investigations

1.2

Practice of science

2.4

Further treatment of drinking water VI. Applied Ecology

2.5

Water conservation and pollution

3.1

Living things II. Genetics and Evolution

3.2

Grouping of living things

3.3

Biodiversity

4.1

Cells – the basic units of living things I. Cells and Molecules of Life

4.2

Human reproduction III. Organisms and Environment

4.3

Hereditary and variation II. Genetics and Evolution

5.2

Heat transfer V. Human Physiology

7.1

Air I. Cells and Molecules of Life

7.2

Photosynthesis

7.3

Respiration

7.4

Gas exchange in plants and humans III. Organisms and Environment

7.5

Balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen in
nature

7.6

Air quality VI. Applied Ecology

10.1

Senses and sense organs III. Organisms and Environment

10.2

Sight

10.3

Hearing

10.5

Other senses

10.6

The brain and our senses

12.1

Keeping our bodies healthy IV. Health and Diseases

12.2

Nutrition and health III. Organisms and Environment

12.3

Health and diseases IV. Health and Diseases

13.5

Materials of the modern world VI. Applied Ecology

14.7

Electromagnetic spectrum III. Organisms and Environment