AQA GCSE Biology (8461) - Comprehensive Revision Guide

• Understand how scientific methods and theories develop over time.
• Use a variety of models to solve problems, make predictions, and develop scientific explanations.
• Appreciate the power and limitations of science and consider ethical issues.
• Explain everyday and technological applications of science and evaluate their implications.
• Evaluate risks in practical science and the wider societal context.
• Recognise the importance of peer review and communicating results.

• Use scientific theories to develop hypotheses.
• Plan experiments or devise procedures to test hypotheses.
• Apply knowledge of techniques, instruments, apparatus, and materials.
• Carry out experiments appropriately, considering accuracy and health and safety.
• Recognise when to apply sampling techniques.
• Make and record observations and measurements.
• Evaluate methods and suggest improvements.

• Presenting observations and data using appropriate methods.
• Translating data from one form to another.
• Carrying out and representing mathematical and statistical analysis.
• Representing distributions of results and estimating uncertainty.
• Interpreting observations and data, identifying patterns and trends.
• Presenting reasoned explanations, relating data to hypotheses.
• Being objective, evaluating data (accuracy, precision, repeatability, reproducibility), identifying errors.
• Communicating scientific rationale, methods, findings, and conclusions.

• Use scientific vocabulary, terminology, and definitions.
• Recognise the importance of scientific quantities and units.
• Use SI units and IUPAC chemical nomenclature.
• Use prefixes and powers of ten for orders of magnitude.
• Interconvert units.
• Use an appropriate number of significant figures in calculations.

• Decimals, standard form
• Ratios, fractions, percentages
• Estimations

• Significant figures
• Arithmetic means
• Frequency tables and diagrams
• Sampling, probability
• Mean, mode, median
• Scatter diagrams, order of magnitude calculations

• Using symbols
• Changing the subject of equations
• Substitution
• Solving simple equations

• Translating information between graphical and numerical forms
• Understanding linear relationships
• Plotting data
• Determining slope and intercept
• Drawing and using tangents to curves
• Calculating area under curves

• Calculating areas of triangles and rectangles
• Calculating surface areas and volumes of cubes and cuboids

Aim: Use a light microscope to observe, draw, and label plant and animal cells.

(Remember key parts: eyepiece, objective lens, stage, focusing knobs, light source. Consider magnification calculation.)

Aim: Investigate the effect of antiseptics or antibiotics on bacterial growth.

(Remember aseptic techniques, incubation, zones of inhibition.)

Aim: Investigate the effect of a range of concentrations of salt or sugar solutions on the mass of plant tissue.

(Remember variables, percentage change calculation, plotting results.)

Aim: Use qualitative reagents to test for a range of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.

(Remember reagents: Benedict's for reducing sugars, Iodine for starch, Biuret for protein, Ethanol/Sudan III for lipids. Remember positive results.)

Aim: Investigate the effect of pH on the rate of reaction of amylase enzyme.

(Remember controlling variables like temperature, measuring rate, optimum pH.)

Aim: Investigate the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis using an aquatic organism.

(Remember controlling variables like temperature/CO2, measuring rate e.g., counting bubbles, inverse square law.)

Aim: Plan and carry out an investigation into the effect of a factor on human reaction time.

(Remember methods like ruler drop test, variables like caffeine/practice.)

Aim: Investigate the effect of light or gravity on the growth of newly germinated seedlings (phototropism and gravitropism).

(Remember controlling variables, observing growth direction.)

Aim: Measure the population size of a common species in a habitat and investigate the effect of a factor on its distribution.

(Remember quadrats, transects, random sampling, measuring abiotic factors.)

Aim: Investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of decay of fresh milk by measuring pH change.

(Remember role of microorganisms, controlling variables, measuring pH.)