NCEA Level 2 Biology

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 builds on the genetics learning from Level 1 Science, with a more 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.