British (UK)

The National Curriculum of England (UK) is a very structured curriculum that is designed to meet the needs of all students, stretching brighter children and supporting those who need it through differentiated teaching and learning activities. The curriculum extends and excites all students, whatever their interests or ability. Through it, teachers are able to identify, celebrate and nurture the talents and intelligences of students.

British education is renowned for concerning itself with the development of the whole personality.

In the British education system, students are taught to learn by questioning, problem-solving and creative thinking rather than by the mere retention of facts, hence giving them analytical and creative thinking skills that they will need in the working world. A variety of teaching and assessment methods designed to develop independent thought as well as a mastery of the subject matter is used.

The National Curriculum of England has a clearly defined series of academic and other objectives at every level. mydrasa focuses on Key stage 3 (Year 7-9), Key stage 4 IGCSE/GCSE (Year 10-11) and Key stage 5 A-Level (Year 12-13).

mydrasa added subjects related to Key stage 4 to Year 9, and added subjects related to Key stage 5 to Year 11 for student preparation.

IGCSE stands for the "International General Certificate of Secondary Education". It is a program leading to externally set, marked and certificated examinations from the University of Cambridge. Any student who takes an IGCSE subject will be gaining a qualification that is recognized globally.

The exam boards covered under the International GCSE are Cambridge, Edexcel, and Oxford AQA.

SUbjects

Subjects

Cambridge - Sciences - Coordinated (Biology) - 0654

  • Overview
  • Chapters

Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Sciences is a double award, worth two IGCSEs. It covers biology, chemistry and physics. Students are awarded two identical grades, e.g. AA or CC.

The curriculum content is set out in clearly defined biology, chemistry and physics sections, which are extensively cross-referenced to present subject content as a coherent scientific whole.

Teachers can reduce duplication of common themes, and also encourage students to see ideas common to all sciences, such as energy. Teaching in one subject reinforces another and stimulates interest in a third.

Candidates learn about the basic principles of each subject through a mix of theoretical and practical studies, while also developing an understanding of the scientific skills essential for further study.

The syllabus is aimed at candidates across a very wide range of abilities, and allows them to show success over the full range of grades from A*A* to GG.

  • 1: Characteristics of living organisms
    1.1: Characteristics of living organisms
    1.1.1: The characteristics of living organisms
    1.1.2: Movement, respiration, sensitivity, growth, excretion and nutrition
  • 2: Cells
    2.1: Cell structure
    2.1.1: Living organisms are made of cells
    2.1.2: The structure of a plant cell compared to an animal cell
    2.1.3: The functions of the structures seen under the light microscope
    2.1.4: The structures related to their functions
    2.1.5: Magnification and size of biological specimens
    2.2: Movement in and out of cells
    2.2.1: Diffusion
    2.2.2: The factors that influence diffusion
    2.2.3: Substances move into and out of cells by diffusion through the cell membrane
    2.2.4: Water diffuses through partially permeable membranes by osmosis
    2.2.5: Water moves in and out of cells by osmosis through the cell membrane
    2.2.6: Osmosis
    2.2.7: The effects of immersing plant in solutions of different concentrations
    2.2.8: Turgid, turgor pressure, plasmolysis and flaccid
    2.2.9: The importance of water potential and osmosis in the uptake of water by plants
    2.2.10: The importance of water potential and osmosis on animal cells and tissues
  • 3: Biological molecules
    3.1: Biological molecules
    3.1.1: The chemical elements
    3.1.2: Large molecules are made from smaller molecules
    3.1.3: Testing chemical elements
    3.1.4: Water is important as a solvent
  • 4: Enzymes
    4.1: Enzymes
    4.1.1: Enzymes
    4.1.2: Enzyme action
    4.1.3: The effect of changes in temperature and pH on enzyme activity
    4.1.4: The effect of changes in temperature on enzyme activity
    4.1.5: The effect of changes in pH on enzyme activity
  • 5: Plant nutrition
    5.1: Plant nutrition
    5.1.1: Photosynthesis
    5.1.2: The word equation for photosynthesis
    5.1.3: The balanced equation for photosynthesis
    5.1.4: Chlorophyll transfers light energy into chemical energy in molecules
    5.1.5: The subsequent use and storage of the carbohydrates made in photosynthesis
    5.1.6: The necessity for chlorophyll, light and carbon dioxide for photosynthesis
    5.1.7: The effect of light intensity and temperature on the rate of photosynthesis
    5.1.8: Leaves of a dicotyledonous plant
    5.1.9: The significance of the features of a leaf
    5.1.10: The importance of nitrate and magnesium ions
    5.1.11: The effects of nitrate ion and magnesium ion deficiency on plant growth
  • 6: Animal nutrition
    6.1: Diet
    6.1.1: Balanced diet for humans
    6.1.2: Sources of nutrients
    6.1.3: Age, gender and activity affect the dietary needs of humans
    6.1.4: The effects of malnutrition
    6.1.5: The causes and effects of vitamin D and iron deficiencies
    6.1.6: The causes and effects of protein energy malnutrition
    6.2: Alimentary canal
    6.2.1: Ingestion
    6.2.2: Digestion
    6.2.3: Mechanical digestion
    6.2.4: Chemical digestion
    6.2.5: Absorption
    6.2.6: Assimilation
    6.2.7: Egestion
    6.2.8: The main regions of the alimentary canal and associated organs,
    6.2.9: The functions of the regions of the alimentary canal
    6.3: Digestion
    6.3.1: The types of human teeth
    6.3.2: The structure of human teeth
    6.3.3: The functions of the types of human teeth in mechanical digestion of food
    6.3.4: The proper care of teeth
    6.3.5: The causes of dental decay
    6.3.6: The significance of chemical digestion in the alimentary canal
    6.3.7: The functions of enzymes
    6.3.8: Amylase, protease and lipase
    6.3.9: The functions of the hydrochloric acid in gastric juice
    6.3.10: The functions of the low pH of hydrochloric acid
    6.3.11: The role of bile
    6.3.12: The role of bile in emulsifying fats
    6.3.13: The significance of villi
    6.3.14: The structure of a villus
    6.3.15: The roles of capillaries and lacteals in villi
  • 7: Transport
    7.1: Transport in plants
    7.1.1: The functions of xylem and phloem
    7.1.2: The position of xylem
    7.1.3: Identify root hair cells
    7.1.4: The large surface area of root hairs
    7.1.5: The pathway taken by water through root, stem and leaf
    7.1.6: The pathway of water through the above-ground parts of a plant
    7.1.7: Water is transported from the roots to leaves through the xylem vessels
    7.1.8: Transpiration
    7.1.9: The mechanism by which water moves upwards in the xylem
    7.1.10: The effects of variation of temperature and humidity on transpiration rate
    7.1.11: The effects of variation of temperature and humidity
    7.1.12: Translocation
    7.2: Transport in mammals
    7.2.1: The circulatory system
    7.2.2: The double circulation
    7.2.3: The advantages of a double circulation
    7.2.4: The structures of the mammalian heart
    7.2.5: Blood is pumped into arteries and returns in veins
    7.2.6: The functioning of the heart
    7.2.7: The main blood vessels
    7.2.8: Coronary heart disease
    7.2.9: The effect of physical activity on pulse rate
    7.2.10: The effect of physical activity on the heart rate
    7.2.11: The structure and functions of arteries, veins and capillaries
    7.2.12: The structures of arteries, veins and capillaries
    7.2.13: The components of blood
    7.2.14: Red and white blood cells
    7.2.15: Functions of components of blood
  • 8: Gas exchange and respiration
    8.1: Gas exchange
    8.1.1: Gas exchange sites
    8.1.2: T?he features of gas exchange surfaces in humans
    8.1.3: The differences in composition between inspired and expired air
    8.1.4: The differences in composition of air
    8.1.5: Limewater as a test for carbon dioxide
    8.1.6: The effects of physical activity on rate and depth of breathing
    8.1.7: The effects of physical activity
    8.1.8: The role of goblet cells, mucus and ciliated cells
    8.1.9: Diseases caused by tobacco smoking
    8.1.10: Effects of tobacco smoke and its major toxic components on gas exchange
    8.2: Respiration
    8.2.1: The uses of energy in the body of humans
    8.2.2: Aerobic respiration
    8.2.3: The word equation for aerobic respiration
    8.2.4: The balanced chemical equation for aerobic respiration
    8.2.5: Anaerobic respiration
    8.2.6: The word equation for anaerobic respiration
    8.2.7: Lactic acid builds up in muscles and blood during vigorous exercise
    8.2.8: Anaerobic respiration in yeast
    8.2.9: The role of anaerobic respiration in yeast during bread-making
    8.2.10: Energy released by anaerobic respiration
  • 9: Coordination and response
    9.1: Nervous control in humans
    9.1.1: Nerve impulse
    9.1.2: The human nervous system
    9.1.3: Voluntary and involuntary actions
    9.1.4: Motor (effector), relay (connector) and sensory neurones
    9.1.5: Simple reflex arc
    9.1.6: Reflex action
    9.2: Sense organs
    9.2.1: The structures of the eye
    9.2.2: The function of each part of the eye
    9.2.3: The pupil reflex
    9.2.4: Accommodation to view near and distant objects
    9.3: Hormones
    9.3.1: A hormone
    9.3.2: Adrenaline
    9.3.3: Situations in which adrenaline secretion increases
    9.3.4: The role of adrenaline in the chemical control of metabolic activity
    9.3.5: Nervous and hormonal control system
    9.4: Homeostasis
    9.4.1: Homeostasis
    9.4.2: Homeostasis is the control of internal conditions
    9.4.3: The concept of control by negative feedback
    9.4.4: The control of the glucose content of the blood
    9.4.5: Diagram of the skin
    9.4.6: The maintenance of a constant internal body temperature
    9.4.7: The maintenance of a constant internal body temperature in humans
    9.5: Tropic responses
    9.5.1: Gravitropism
    9.5.2: Phototropism
    9.5.3: Phototropism and gravitropism
    9.5.4: Gravitropism and phototropism in shoots and roots
    9.5.5: The role of auxin in controlling shoot growth
  • 10: Reproduction
    10.1: Asexual and sexual reproduction
    10.1.1: Asexual reproduction
    10.1.2: The advantages and disadvantages of asexual reproduction
    10.1.3: Examples of asexual reproduction
    10.1.4: Sexual reproduction
    10.1.5: The nuclei of gametes are haploid and that the nucleus of a zygote is diploid
    10.1.6: The advantages and disadvantages of sexual reproduction
    10.2: Sexual reproduction in plants
    10.2.1: Insect-pollinated flower
    10.2.2: Anthers and stigmas of a wind-pollinated flower
    10.2.3: The functions of the sepals, petals, anthers, stigmas and ovaries
    10.2.4: The pollen grains of insect pollinated and wind-pollinated flowers
    10.2.5: Pollination
    10.2.6: The agents of pollination
    10.2.7: Fertilisation occurs when a pollen nucleus fuses with a nucleus in an ovule
    10.2.8: The structural adaptations of insect pollinated and wind-pollinated flowers
    10.2.9: The environmental conditions that affect germination of seeds
    10.3: Sexual reproduction in humans
    10.3.1: The male reproductive system
    10.3.2: The function of the parts of the male reproductive system
    10.3.3: The female reproductive system
    10.3.4: The function of the parts of the female reproductive system
    10.3.5: Fertilisation
    10.3.6: Male and female gametes
    10.3.7: The adaptive features of sperm
    10.3.8: The adaptive features of egg cells
    10.3.9: The menstrual cycle
    10.3.10: Early development
    10.3.11: The functions of the umbilical cord, placenta, amniotic sac and amniotic fluid
    10.3.12: The function of the placenta and umbilical cord
    10.3.13: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
    10.3.14: The methods of transmission of HIV
    10.3.15: The spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
  • 11: Inheritance
    11.1: Chromosomes and genes
    11.1.1: Inheritance
    11.1.2: Chromosome
    11.1.3: Gene
    11.1.4: Allele
    11.1.5: The inheritance of sex in humans
    11.1.6: Haploid nucleus
    11.1.7: Diploid nucleus
    11.1.8: Diploid cell
    11.2: Cell division
    11.2.1: Mitosis
    11.2.2: The exact duplication of chromosomes occurs before mitosis
    11.2.3: The role of mitosis
    11.2.4: Meiosis
    11.2.5: Meiosis is involved in the production of gametes
    11.3: Monohybrid inheritance
    11.3.1: Genotype
    11.3.2: Phenotype
    11.3.3: Homozygous
    11.3.4: Two identical homozygous individuals that breed together will be pure-breeding
    11.3.5: Heterozygous
    11.3.6: Heterozygous individual will not be pure-breeding
    11.3.7: Dominant
    11.3.8: Recessive
    11.3.9: Monohybrid crosses and phenotypic ratios
    11.3.10: Punnett squares in crosses
    11.3.11: The inheritance of a given characteristic
    11.4: Variation and selection
    11.4.1: Variation
    11.4.2: Phenotypic variation and genetic variation
    11.4.3: Phenotypic variation is caused by both genetic and environmental factors
    11.4.4: Continuous variation results in a range of phenotypes between two extremes
    11.4.5: Discontinuous variation is mostly caused by genes alone
    11.4.6: A limited number of phenotypes with no intermediates
    11.4.7: The results of investigations into continuous and discontinuous variation
    11.4.8: Mutation
    11.4.9: Ionising radiation and some chemicals increase the rate of mutation
    11.4.10: Natural selection
    11.4.11: Evolution
    11.4.12: The process of adaptation
    11.4.13: The development of strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria
    11.4.14: Selective breeding
    11.4.15: The differences between natural and artificial selection
    11.4.16: Selective breeding by artificial selection
  • 12: Organisms and their environment
    12.1: Organisms and their environment
    12.1.1: The Sun is the principal source of energy input to biological systems
    12.1.2: Some terms definition
    12.1.3: Ecosystem and trophic level
    12.1.4: Energy is transferred between trophic levels
    12.1.5: Food chains usually have fewer than five trophic levels
    12.1.6: Simple food chains
    12.1.7: Food chains and food webs
    12.1.8: Consumers may be classed as primary, secondary and tertiary
    12.1.9: The trophic levels in food webs and food chains
  • 13: Human influences on ecosystems
    13.1: Human influences on ecosystems
    13.1.1: The carbon cycle
    13.1.2: The effects of the combustion of fossil fuels
    13.1.3: The undesirable effects of deforestation
    13.1.4: The undesirable effects of deforestation on the environment
    13.1.5: The sources and effects of pollution of water
    13.1.6: The process of eutrophication of water

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