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) |
Elective part |
50 hrs |
V. Human Physiology VIII. Biotechnology |
(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 |