Debates in Biology for A Level OCR Biology A
Engaging articles with activities, based on topics across the entire A Level OCR Biology A specification – perfect for inspiring all students while they practise key essay-writing skills.
Includes…
- 13 well-reasoned and accessible articles including ‘The Story of DNA’, ‘Conservation: is It Working?’ and ‘Vaccines: a Question of Safety’
- A variety of stimulating activities for each article builds up the skill levels.
- Comprehension questions assess basic understanding
- Discussion points and tasks consolidate and extend both knowledge and skills
- Essay questions with indicative content provide essential writing practice!
Flexible!
- Students read through the articles in class, completing some or all of the activities for homework or…
- Flipped learning: students read through the articles in preparation for classwork, completing the activities during lessons!
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What do teachers say about this resource? (11743)
Detailed and a good stretch and challenge. High standard. Written concisely yet written in an engaging manner.
The answers are comprehensive. I like the structure and order of questions. I really like the weblink as it would save time. Section 17 with the graph and suggest questions are appreciated and mimic the exam style questions.
Could be used for those who are retaking A-levels to improve their knowledge.
At nearly 90 pages, it provides a wide range of articles on major controversies, paradigm shifts and debates in biology, each coupled with comprehension, discussion, exam practice and research tasks.
Its strength lies in its ability to place specification content into a wider historical and ethical context, making biology feel like a dynamic and evolving subject rather than a static list of facts.
I particularly liked the way the articles are pitched. They are written at an accessible level, but they do not patronise the reader; instead, they assume curiosity and the capacity to grapple with challenging concepts. This makes them ideal for Year 12 and Year 13 students who need to practise scientific literacy. The variety of topics...... from the discovery of DNA to classification, endosymbiosis, tropisms, Mendel vs Darwin, and science in the media — ensures that there is something here for both content consolidation and broader engagement. I also liked the way that “Meet the Spec” tasks tie the wider reading back to examinable content, bridging enrichment and exam preparation.
This resource enhances learning in a way few conventional resources manage.
It develops students’ ability to read and comprehend extended scientific writing, which is a vital skill for higher education and an often-overlooked element of A-level preparation.