NCEA Level 3 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 3 Biology course enables students to gain an understanding of fundamental living world concepts to prepare them for further biological study at university.  Students will use scientific evidence and develop critical thinking skills to link these observations to theory. 

The course introduces the biological evidence and ideas that explain how an organism’s responses provide a selective survival advantage in its niche, the evolutionary processes that lead to speciation, and trends in human evolution. 

Students will plan, conduct and report on a practical investigation, and through research, explain how and why a mammal maintains a stable internal environment despite fluctuating environmental conditions.