Biology

National 4 Biology covers three units — Cell Biology, Multicellular Organisms, and Life on Earth — assessed internally, with an Added Value Unit in which pupils carry out and report on their own investigation.

Content includes cell structure and transport, DNA and inheritance, the systems that keep multicellular organisms alive, photosynthesis, respiration, ecosystems, biodiversity and the human impact on the environment. The emphasis is on understanding and describing rather than calculation.

The Added Value investigation is where most pupils need support: choosing a testable question, controlling variables, and writing up results in a structured report.