Wales Β· WJECSyllabus
Biology syllabus, dot point by dot point
Every dot point in the Wales Biologysyllabus, with a focused answer for each one. Click any dot point for a worked explainer, past exam questions, and links to related dot points. Written by Claude Opus 4.8, Anthropic's latest AI.
Unit 1: Cells and exchange
Module overview β- How is the small intestine adapted to absorb digested food efficiently?The absorption of the soluble products of digestion in the small intestine, the adaptations of villi and microvilli for absorption, and the role of diffusion and active transport in taking up glucose and amino acids.9 min answer β
- What are the parts of animal and plant cells, and how do cells build up into organisms?The structure and function of the sub-cellular parts of animal and plant cells, the differences between them, and the levels of organisation from cells to tissues, organs and organ systems.9 min answer β
- How do substances move into and out of cells, and what is the difference between diffusion, osmosis and active transport?Diffusion, osmosis and active transport as ways substances move across cell membranes, the factors that affect diffusion, the effect of osmosis on plant and animal cells, and the osmosis required practical.10 min answer β
- Which enzymes digest each food group, and how do we test a food for starch, sugar, protein and fat?The action of carbohydrases, proteases and lipases in digestion, the products they form, the effect of temperature and pH on enzymes, and the food tests for starch, reducing sugars, protein and lipids.10 min answer β
- How are cells specialised for their jobs, and how do we measure their real size under a microscope?Cell differentiation and the adaptations of specialised cells, the use of a light microscope, and calculating magnification, image size and real size, including the use of scale bars and unit conversion.10 min answer β
- What are the parts of the human digestive system, and what does each one do?The structure and function of the organs of the human digestive system, the food groups in a balanced diet, the difference between mechanical and chemical digestion, and the role of bile.9 min answer β
Unit 2: Cells, genetics and evolution
Module overview β- What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis, and how are stem cells useful?Mitosis and meiosis and their purposes, the difference between haploid and diploid cells, the nature and uses of stem cells, and uncontrolled cell division leading to cancer.9 min answer β
- How are living things classified, and how do we measure and protect biodiversity?The classification of organisms into kingdoms and the hierarchy of taxonomic groups, the binomial naming system, the meaning of a species, the use of keys, and the meaning and measurement of biodiversity.9 min answer β
- How is genetic information stored in DNA, and how do we predict the offspring of a genetic cross?The structure of DNA, genes, chromosomes and alleles, the meaning of genotype and phenotype, monohybrid inheritance and Punnett squares, sex determination, and the inheritance of genetic disorders.11 min answer β
- How do scientists move genes between organisms and use DNA to identify people?Genetic engineering as the transfer of genes between organisms, the use of restriction enzymes and vectors, examples such as insulin-producing bacteria, genetic profiling and its uses, and the issues raised.9 min answer β
- Where does variation come from, and how does natural selection lead to evolution?Genetic and environmental variation, mutation as a source of new alleles, natural selection and evolution, the evidence from fossils, selective breeding, and the evolution of antibiotic resistance.10 min answer β
Unit 2: Micro-organisms and disease
Module overview β- What are micro-organisms, how are they grown safely, and how do we use them to make food, drink and medicines?The main groups of micro-organisms and the structure of bacteria, binary fission and growth conditions, aseptic technique for culturing micro-organisms, and the use of micro-organisms in food, fermentation, antibiotics and biotechnology.11 min answer β
- How does the body keep pathogens out, and how do white blood cells destroy those that get in?The body's non-specific defence mechanisms, the roles of phagocytes and lymphocytes, antibodies and antigens, antitoxins, and the difference between active and passive immunity.11 min answer β
- What causes disease, which pathogens are responsible, and how can the spread of infection be reduced?The causes of disease, the types of pathogen and example diseases, how pathogens are spread, and the ways the spread of infectious disease can be reduced, including non-communicable diseases and their risk factors.11 min answer β
- How do vaccines protect us, why is antibiotic resistance a problem, and how are monoclonal antibodies and new drugs developed?How vaccination produces immunity and memory cells, the use and limits of antibiotics and the rise of antibiotic resistance, the production and uses of monoclonal antibodies, and the discovery and testing of new medicines.12 min answer β
Unit 1: Plants and ecosystems
Module overview β- How does energy and food pass through an ecosystem, and why are food chains short?Feeding relationships in ecosystems, food chains and food webs, pyramids of number and biomass, the transfer of energy along a food chain and why energy is lost at each trophic level.9 min answer β
- How do humans damage ecosystems, and how can we protect biodiversity?The effect of human activities on the environment, including pollution, eutrophication, global warming and deforestation, the meaning and importance of biodiversity, and methods of conservation.10 min answer β
- How is a leaf built for photosynthesis, and how do xylem and phloem transport substances around a plant?The structure of a leaf and how it is adapted for photosynthesis, and the structure and function of the xylem and phloem in transporting water, minerals and sugars.9 min answer β
- How do plants make food by photosynthesis, and what limits how fast they can do it?Photosynthesis as the process that makes glucose using light energy, its word and symbol equations, the limiting factors of light, carbon dioxide and temperature, and the required practicals.10 min answer β
- How are carbon and nitrogen recycled through ecosystems, and what role do decomposers play?The carbon cycle and the nitrogen cycle, the roles of photosynthesis, respiration, combustion and decomposition, the types of bacteria in the nitrogen cycle, and the conditions affecting decay.10 min answer β
- What is transpiration, and what makes a plant lose water faster or slower?Transpiration as the loss of water vapour from a plant, the transpiration stream, the factors that affect the rate of transpiration, and the role of stomata and guard cells.9 min answer β
Unit 1: Respiration and circulation
Module overview β- How do cells release energy from glucose, and what changes when there is not enough oxygen?Aerobic and anaerobic respiration as the release of energy from glucose, their word equations and products, the uses of the energy released, and oxygen debt after exercise.9 min answer β
- What are the components of blood, and what causes cardiovascular disease?The components of blood and their functions, the risk factors and development of cardiovascular disease, and ways of preventing and treating it.9 min answer β
- How does the heart pump blood around the body, and how are arteries, veins and capillaries suited to their jobs?The structure and function of the heart, the double circulation, the pathway of blood through the heart and major vessels, and the structure and function of arteries, veins and capillaries.10 min answer β
- How is the human respiratory system built, and how does it move air and exchange gases?The structure and function of the human respiratory system, the mechanism of breathing in and out, the adaptations of the alveoli for gas exchange, and the effect of exercise on breathing.9 min answer β
Unit 2: Response and regulation
Module overview β- What is homeostasis, and how does the body keep its temperature constant in hot and cold conditions?Homeostasis as the maintenance of a constant internal environment, the role of the thermoregulatory centre and skin receptors, and the mechanisms of temperature regulation including sweating, shivering, vasodilation and vasoconstriction.10 min answer β
- How do hormones coordinate the body, and how are blood glucose levels kept steady by insulin and glucagon?Hormones as chemical messengers from glands, the main hormones and their effects, the control of blood glucose by insulin and glucagon, and the causes, symptoms and treatment of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.11 min answer β
- How do plants respond to light and gravity, and how does the hormone auxin control their growth?Plant responses to light and gravity as tropisms, phototropism and gravitropism, and the role of the plant hormone auxin in controlling the direction of growth.9 min answer β
- How does the eye detect light and change focus between near and distant objects, and how are sight defects corrected?The structure and function of the parts of the eye, accommodation to focus near and distant objects, and the causes and correction of long-sightedness and short-sightedness.10 min answer β
- How do the kidneys clean the blood and control its water content, and how is kidney failure treated?The role of the kidney in homeostasis and excretion, the structure of the kidney and nephron, ultrafiltration and selective reabsorption, the control of water balance by ADH, and the treatment of kidney failure by dialysis and transplant.11 min answer β
- How does the nervous system let the body detect and respond rapidly to its surroundings, and how does a reflex protect us?Stimuli, receptors and effectors, the central nervous system and neurons, the transmission of impulses, and the reflex arc as an automatic protective response.10 min answer β