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gcse human biology

10 replies

shewhoneverdusts · 16/05/2006 14:37

Hiya
a quick question to all you wonderful science teachers out there. Is gcse human biology being scrapped? The reason for my question is this,
I signed up to do this at a local adult ed. college. I have just noticed that my pink paper which I need to take into the exam is for gcse human physiology and health, and so are the past papers the lecturer has given us. Any advice would be gratefully received.

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Blandmum · 16/05/2006 16:20

TBH, if it is the SEG board exam there is very little difference between it and Human Biology. Have they had to put two classes into one due to falling numbers?

I don't tthink that HB has been scrapped. I would have a word with your tutor if I were you. I have taught the HPH GCSE as an adult ed course and will be happy to help if you ever need any.

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shewhoneverdusts · 16/05/2006 16:41

Hi
thanks for that. Its the AQA syllabus I am doing. We haven't even covered everything yet and exam is June 23rd!!! The tutor has been teaching us to pass the intermediate paper and is going to put on one extra night to teach us everything we need to know for the Higher paper!! I think I gave come to the conclusion that I am going to fail big time! LOL. Oh well, at least I am not doing to get a job or anything like that, just because I am interested in biology. Thanks again

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Blandmum · 16/05/2006 16:43

If I can help , then just ask. Thinking back i taught the AQA board paper.

There is a good textbook for this course....do you have one?

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shewhoneverdusts · 16/05/2006 17:19

I have 'human biology and health studies' second edition by Peter Givens and Michael Reiss. I also bought the Letts revision guide as it is more visual,iyswim.
I think what bothers me most is that I wanted a GCSE in Human Biology not HPH, does that make any sense?

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Blandmum · 16/05/2006 17:25

I understand. There isn't that much difference though, and there is a lot of shared curriculum.

The best book I found is Human Physiology and Health by David Wright, published by Heinemann. It is written for the course (or damn near) . Has a page of text and a page of diagram for each topic. It aslo has self assessment tests with the answers at the back

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shewhoneverdusts · 16/05/2006 17:46

Thanks, that sounds good. I'll go on the hunt for it this week. In your experience, is there much difference between the higher and foundation papers, I mean, is there a lot more knowledge required for the higher?

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Blandmum · 16/05/2006 19:19

yes, and those bits that are just in higher are harder to understand IYSWIM.

In general it is probably a bit easier to get a grade C on Foundtion than it is on Higher. I also teach GCSE science and GCSE Biology to kids in school. If they are a bit of a wobbly c/d we tend to put them in to foundation.

If for no other reason that they will find loads of the questions very easy, and this will make them more confident and less panicy

If I can help, just ask

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shewhoneverdusts · 08/06/2006 08:03

Hiya MB if you are out there can I please pick your wonderous brain a moment?? Last night out tutor put on an extra session to cover the extras needed for the higher paper. We covered meiosis/mitosis, genetics, and sex hormones. There are still so many sections and she is not going to cover them. With 2 weeks until exam, could you let me know of any sites where I might be able to find the info for the higher tier. I would be soooo grateful if you could.
thanks again

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Blandmum · 08/06/2006 15:27

have a shufti at the BBC bitesize website. KS4

It will not be a 100% match, as they do biology and not human biology, but it isn't a bad 'match'.

HTH and if you get stuck, post any questions and I will do what I can to help you out.

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shewhoneverdusts · 23/06/2006 14:00

Hi just to let you know, I took the exam today and it was worse than I thought!! There seemed to be so much on environmental things rather than bodily things! I swatted up on genes, immunity, heart etc etc and there was nothing on anything other than the kidneys and what waste material the liver produces. Oh weel, just have to wait 2 months for my result.