A-Level Biology Practical Endorsement Course

The A-level Biology Practical Endorsement course at BioGrad Education comprises a minimum of 12 experiments, carefully chosen to enable students to demonstrate their competency in each of the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC). The key to Biology is the ability to design experiments to investigate the effects of changing variables on a biological system, and several experiments allow the student the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in this area. Students are also required to perform microbiological protocols through the preparation of agar plates and bacterial cultures, using the aseptic technique to investigate the effects of various antibiotics. Intricate dissection of a lamb’s heart develops fine motor skills and attention to detail, whilst the chromatography of red and green leaves reveals the components involved in photosynthetic processes.

The course is as much a learning experience as an assessment. The aim is for the student to improve their general and practical skills during practical work over the course of the week and to provide a tangible framework upon which preparations for A-level can be firmly secured.

Practical 1 – Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction.

Practical 2 – Preparation of garlic root meristems to investigate stages of mitosis and calculating the mitotic index.

Practical 3 – Production of a dilution series of a solute to produce a calibration curve with which to identify the water potential of plant tissue.

Practical 4 – The effect of a named variable on the permeability of cell surface membrane.

Practical 5 – Dissection of a mammalian heart.

Practical 6 – Microbiological techniques and investigation into the effect of antimicrobials.

Practical 7 – An investigation of pigments present in leaves.

Practical 8 – Investigation into the effect of a named factor on the rate of dehydrogenase activity in extracts of chloroplasts: the effect of ammonium hydroxide on the time taken for chloroplasts to decolourise DCPIP.

Practical 9 – An investigation of the effect of temperature on respiration in yeast.

Practical 10 – Using choice chambers to investigate responses in invertebrates to light/dark or humid/dry conditions.

Practical 11 – Use a colorimetric technique to produce a calibration curve with which to identify the concentration of glucose in an unknown ‘urine’ sample.

Practical 12 – Investigation into the effect of a named environmental factor on the distribution of a given species.

• Students must be studying an England A-level Biology qualification with AQA, Eduquas, Pearson Edexcel or OCR.
• This is an intensive practical course designed for students to “fast track” the A-level practical skills assessment required for the practical endorsement. This course contains a number of opportunities to access each of the assessed practical techniques, and CPAC.
• If the student has experienced minimal practical work opportunities before studying A-level Biology , BioGrad Education recommends they consider the 1- day introduction to laboratory skills course. This course also offers the change to gain vital skills required to be successful going forward.