2BIO

NCEA Level 2 Biology

Although next year's timetables have yet to be finalised, course selection has now finished. Please contact Ms Saunders if you wish to make changes to your 2025 selections.

Course Description

Teacher in Charge: Ms H. Dixon.


What is Biology?

Biology is at the centre of all life and students explore the living world, its ecology, plant and animal life processes, evolution, and relationships between biology and technology. Through this study, students gain an understanding of themselves, the world, and how organisms survive and live together. They also develop essential scientific knowledge, methods and techniques. From here, ākonga are able to analyse scientific information effectively and discuss the wide range of implications science has on our world, including medical and environmental issues. Biology is a broad interest subject and is important for careers and in a variety of areas, from health to forestry and zoology.



The Level 2 Biology course enables students to gain an understanding of fundamental living world concepts to prepare them for further biological study. This course includes an in-depth look at inheritance and other factors that influence the phenotypes of organisms. It introduces the biological processes that affect the expression of genes and how life processes occur at the cellular level.  Students will investigate through fieldwork patterns in an ecological community and present an internally assessed report on this. Students will also have the opportunity to research how different organisms have adaptations for life processes that allow them to survive successfully in their habitats. Finally, they will learn practically how best to use microscopes; preparing, viewing, and drawing biological material using higher definition.

If you are interested in understanding how we evolved, finding out how cells carry out so many different processes in a seemingly effortless fashion, tracking down natural resources, the true impacts of pollution on the natural world, or animal care and conservation programmes, to name a few, then this is your subject.


Pathway

Career Pathways

Credit Information

You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.

Total Credits Available: 22
Internal Assessed Credits: 10
External Assessed Credits: 12
Assessment
Description
Level
Internal or
External
Credits
L1 Literacy Credits
UE Literacy Credits
Numeracy Credits
A.S. 91153 v2
NZQA Info

Biology 2.1 - Carry out a practical investigation in a biology context, with supervision


Level: 2
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91155 v2
NZQA Info

Biology 2.3 - Demonstrate understanding of adaptation of plants or animals to their way of life


Level: 2
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 3
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91156 v2
NZQA Info

Biology 2.4 - Demonstrate understanding of life processes at the cellular level


Level: 2
Internal or External: External
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 4w
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91157 v2
NZQA Info

Biology 2.5 - Demonstrate understanding of genetic variation and change


Level: 2
Internal or External: External
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 4w
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91159 v2
NZQA Info

Biology 2.7 - Demonstrate understanding of gene expression


Level: 2
Internal or External: External
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91160 v2
NZQA Info

Biology 2.8 - Investigate biological material at the microscopic level


Level: 2
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 3
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0
Numeracy Credits: 0
Credit Summary
Total Credits: 22
Total Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
Total University Entrance Literacy Credits: 8
Total Numeracy Credits: 0