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11–12Biology 11–12 Syllabus (2025)

Record of changes
Implementation from 2027
Expand for detailed implementation advice
OverviewRationaleAimOutcomesContentAssessmentGlossaryTeaching and learning support

Content

Year 11

Cells as the basis of life

Relevant Working scientifically outcomes and content must be integrated with each focus area. All the Working scientifically outcomes and content must be addressed by the end of Year 12.

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Cell structures and functions

  • Use a variety of sources to compare the cellular structures of eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells

  • Conduct a practical investigation to prepare a wet mount slide and identify the cytoplasm, cell wall and nucleus under a light microscope

  • Describe the structure and function of the capsule, cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleoid, plasmid, ribosomes, flagella and pili in prokaryotic cells

  • Contrast the cell structure and organelles of plant and animal cells based on the function of the cell

  • Describe the structure and function of the cell wall, cell membrane, cytoplasm, nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplast, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi body, ribosomes, lysosomes and vacuoles in eukaryotic cells

  • Conduct a practical investigation to calculate the size of a variety of specialised cells under the microscope using a mini-grid and the equation Cell size=diameter of field of viewnumber of cells across the field of view

  • Assess the impact of technological developments in microscopy on scientific understanding of cell structure and function

Cells and their environments

  • Use the fluid mosaic model of the cell membrane to explain the structure and function of protein channels, phospholipids, peripheral proteins, integral proteins, cholesterol and glycoproteins

  • Explain the processes of simple diffusion, osmosis and facilitated diffusion

  • Conduct practical investigations to demonstrate the processes of diffusion and osmosis

  • Predict the effects of hypertonic, hypotonic and isotonic solutions on animal and plant cells

  • Explain the processes of active transport, exocytosis and endocytosis

  • Relate the movement of glucose, oxygen, carbon dioxide, salts and wastes across membranes to concentration gradients and the characteristics of the materials being exchanged

Biochemical processes

  • Relate carbon dioxide, oxygen, water, ions, amino acids and glucose to cell requirements

  • Use the summary equation C6H12O6+6O2→6CO2+6H2O+energy to describe the process of cellular respiration

  • Use the summary equation 6CO2+6H2O→lightchlorophyllC6H12O6+6O2 to describe the process of photosynthesis

  • Explain the role of enzymes in cells

  • Use diagrams of the induced fit model and the lock and key model to explain the interaction between enzymes and specific substrates

  • Plan and conduct laboratory experiments to demonstrate the effect of temperature, pH and substrate concentration on the efficiency of a selected enzyme

  • Analyse graphs to explain the effect of temperature, pH and substrate concentration on enzyme activity

Cell division

  • Use the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) double helix model to demonstrate the structure of DNA, including nucleotide composition, complementary base pairing and hydrogen bonding

  • Conduct a practical investigation to model the process of DNA replication, demonstrating the role of complementary bases, the replication fork with leading and lagging strands, and the enzymes of helicase, primase, DNA polymerases and ligase

  • Assess the use of models to demonstrate DNA replication

  • Construct diagrams to compare the forms in which DNA exists in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

  • Compare the structures and roles of somatic and gametic cells

  • Account for the phases of gap 1 (G1), synthesis, gap 2 (G2) and mitosis in the cell cycle

  • Conduct a practical investigation to model the named phases of mitosis and cytokinesis

  • Describe the processes of crossing over, independent assortment and random segregation during meiosis

  • Conduct a practical investigation to model the named phases of meiosis and cytokinesis

  • Evaluate the importance of DNA replication, mitosis, meiosis and cytokinesis in cell division

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