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GCSE Biology Tutor

GCSE Biology Tutor

GCSE Biology explores the key principles behind the science of living organisms. As GCSE compared to the other sciences, Biology is more content-heavy and less mathematical. GCSE Biology requires students to memorise a significant amount of course content with precision. However, A GCSE Biology tutor will help further each section of written content, to obtain top marks.

GCSE Biology tutor looking through a microscope

Exam boards

It’s important to identify which exam board your child’s school is following for GCSE Biology as the topics can vary. 

The main exam boards for GCSE Biology are:

Most boards have two papers with the option of taking the foundation level or higher level. However, many of the key ideas in Biology are consistent across the exam boards (e.g. cells and organisation, ecosystems, genetics, and more.) Paper 1 explores the essential concepts of GCSE Biology and Paper 2 includes more complex ideas and applications. However, your GCSE Biology tutor will help to prepare for each paper and improve how your child tackles these questions in a way to get top marks.

At this moment in time, exam boards include several compulsory practical experiments that students will normally complete at school. IGCSE is the exception, with the option to sit a written paper that tests experimental understanding. This can suit students who are home-schooled without access to a well-equipped lab.

What is GCSE Biology all about?

GCSE Biology students work towards a broad understanding of the scientific method and how this applies to the living world. Therefore, students will learn core topics and apply them to topical issues ranging from habitat destruction to climate change to genetic engineering.

A GCSE Biology tutor will help students develop their understanding of:

  • Increase their understanding of the technological world
  • Take an informed interest in scientific matters
  • Recognise the usefulness (and limitations) of scientific method, and how to apply this to other disciplines and in everyday life
  • Develop relevant attitudes, such as a concern for accuracy and precision, objectivity, integrity, enquiry, initiative and inventiveness
  • Gaining an interest in, and care for, the environment
  • Developing an understanding of the scientific skills essential for both further study and everyday life

How to do well at GCSE Biology with the help of a GCSE Biology Tutor

To be successful in GCSE Biology students will have memorised the course content accurately. A GCSE Biology tutor will develop a sufficient depth of understanding, this will help students to apply this knowledge in unfamiliar contexts.

The current GCSE Biology exam is no longer the memorisation test that it once was. Therefore, students should expect to be faced with novel applications and experimental contexts that require them to mould their knowledge in new ways.

To achieve this, your GCSE Biology tutor will focus on:

  1. Developing memorisation strategies
  2. Learning how to use past papers and mark schemes

Memorisation strategies

There is no quick fix for the large amount of information that students are expected to memorise for GCSE Biology. Therefore, by having a GCSE Biology tutor, students can develop a strategy that suits them and maximises their limited revision time. Whether this is through flash cars, mind maps or spoken conversations.

Using past papers/mark schemes

It is difficult to achieve a top grade in GCSE Biology without dedicating time to past papers and learning the exact wording that examiners expect. For example, even a student with a confident grasp on the genetics topic may fall short when asked to define a “gene” if they haven’t seen this question before. It is rare for an exam question to be completely unique, and students who have revised with past papers will begin to spot patterns and recognise certain questions. Exams can be repetitive, and students should take advantage of this.

What is different for this year? Exam cycle 2022

Currently, we understand that for Biology GCSE there will be no changes or adaptations for the exam cycle 2022.

Some exam boards are being lenient with their practical components in recognition of the challenges involved in providing frequent hands-on practical experiences for all students. However, in some cases, students can study the required practical activities through the use of demonstrations and simulations, if it’s not possible for them to carry out all of the practical activities.

Sitting public exams for the first time

Children can feel immense pressure around the time of their first public exams and it is part of your job to help them navigate this. However, this can be a time of great personal growth for teenagers, as they juggle many subjects, manage hard work over many months and push through the exam nerves. Self-care, such as sufficient sleep and good nutrition to help deal with exam season stress.

GCSE Biology Tutor

The best way to support your child through their Biology GCSE is to ensure they have the tools and skills to succeed. Having an experienced GCSE Biology tutor can make all the difference. However, our GCSE Biology tutors are experienced, qualified teachers, Heads of Department and Examiners who know the GCSE Biology syllabuses back to front. Furthermore, they will teach your child in the manner they learn best, explain the latest mark schemes, help them get to grips with tricky quadratic equations and dramatically improve their problem-solving skills.

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