VCE BIOLOGY
An Overview
This page is not officially associated with the Board of Studies in Victoria.
For up to date information on any VCE subjects, you should consult your teacher, your VCE Coordinator or your school library if you are a student in Victoria, Australia.
If you are reading this from elsewhere, information about all aspects of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) can be obtained from the
Board of Studies
15 Pelham Street
Carlton
VIC 3053
Australia
Phone: (Int+613) 9651 4300 (Within Australia, 03 9651 4300)
Fax: (Int+613) 9651 4324 (Within Australia, 03 9651 4324)
VCE Biology is a two year course, usually studied during the last two years (Years 11 and 12) of secondary education.
The course is divided into four independent Units. Units 1 and 2 may be taken independently of each other, although, in practice this is unusual. Units 3 and 4 are taken as a sequence.
It is not necessary to have completed Units 1 and/or 2 before tackling Units 3 and 4, although all but the very brightest students find such a course rather challenging.
What follows is the outline of each of Biology Units 1 - 4, as described in the Board of Studies Biology Study Design.
The Study Design is © Copyright material of the BOS, it is used here with the written permission of the Board.
Click below to go straight to the Unit which interests you:
Unit 3: Survival mechanisms
Unit 4: Biological continuity and change
Each Unit is divided into a number of Areas of Study. Teachers may choose the amount of time spent on each Area of Study, but it expected that each Area will be covered.
Each Area of Study has one or more Work Requirements associated with it. Teachers, or teachers and students in consultation together, ensure that each of these Work Requirements is completed at a satisfactory level.
In Units 1 and 2, there is more flexibility in this arrangement than in Units 3 and 4, where the Common Assessment Tasks (CATs) are state-wide. All students enrolled for Units 3 and 4 are expected to complete these CATs.
Unit 1:
ORGANISMS IN THEIR ENVIRONMENTS
"This unit examines communities of living organisms and their non-living surroundings. It investigates the nature and extrent of interactions that occur between living organisms and between organisms and their environments. The complex interactions that sustain life on Earth, the interplay between human activities and ecosystems, and issues of conservation and preservation of species are also considered."
Page 9, VCE Biology Study Design ©
The Areas of Study are:
- The nature of ecosystems.
- Relationships within ecosystems
- Changes to ecosystems
- Human influences on ecosystems
More detail on each of these can be obtained from the VCE Biology Study Design.
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Unit 2:
FUNCTIONING ORGANISMS
"Animals and plants have characteristics which assist them to function effectively in their particular environments. There is great diversity among organisms yet there are basic biological processes which are common to all, for example, the provision of energy. This unit examines the functional and structural characteristics of organisms, and the similarities and differences between plants and animals. The application of technology to explore, maintain and modify biological functions, and issues associated with the use of this technology, are also investigated."
Page 15, VCE Biology Study Design ©
The areas of Study are:
- Requirements for life.
- Reproduction and development.
More detail on each of these can be obtained from the VCE Biology Study Design.
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Unit 3: SURVIVAL MECHANISMS
"Cellular processes and mechanisms of integration and regulation are the means by which complex organisms survive under changing conditions such as those associated with climatic change or exercise. Organisms have ways of defending themselves against challenges from other organisms; the function of the human immune system is of particular importance in this setting. Animals behave in a variety of ways which enhance their chances of survival and reproduction.
This unit examines the mechanisms which enhance the survival of individual organisms in the face of changing conditions, environmnetal extremes and challenges from other organisms. The nature of infection and disease, and their treatment are investigated in relation to the characteristics of pathogenic organisms. Throughout the unit consideration is given to examples of the use of modern technology to increase the chance of survival of an organism when the control systems or defenses are inadequate."
Page 15, VCE Biology Study Design ©
The Areas of Study are:
More detail on each of these can be obtained from the VCE Biology Study Design.
There are study notes being developed for each of these Areas of Study.
Click on the Area of Study above to go to the relevant study notes.
ASSESSMENT OF UNIT 3
Apart from the Work Requirements associated with the Unit there is a state-wide Common Assessment Task (CAT) in the form of a 90 minute written examination on the Unit.
This is known as Biology CAT 1 and usually takes place in early June.
The exam scripts are marked, twice, by independent markers who are carefully chosen for their level of training and experience as biologists.
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Unit 4: BIOLOGICAL CONTINUITY AND CHANGE
"The discovery of DNA (deoxyribose nucleic acid) and understanding of the mechanisms of genetics and hereditary may give humans the potential power to intervene and may alter the path of evolution.
This unit explores the mechanisms of inheritance, genes, DNA, mitosis and meiosis, and the causes of the variation, both genetic and environmental. An examination of the processes of evolution, including natural selection, for which variation is the raw material, leads to investigation of the origins and diversity of living organisms.
The consequences for society of developments in modern biology including advances in biological technology are also considered."
Page 31, VCE Biology Study Design ©
The Areas of Study are:
More detail on each of these can be obtained from the VCE Biology Study Design.
There are (or will be, in June/July) study notes for each of these Areas of Study linked to this page.
Click on the Area of Study above to go to the relevant study notes.
ASSESSMENT OF UNIT 4
Apart from the Work Requirements associated with the Unit there are two state-wide Common Assessment Tasks (CATs) in this Unit.
CAT 2 is a report of an investigation of a topic in applied genetics.
Students research their chosen topic and prepare a report on their findings.
This report is assessed initially by the students' teachers, according to criteria published by the Board of Studies.
Under certain defined circumstances, the grade awarded by the teacher may be verified by specially trained persons appointed by the Board.
In 1997, the School of Biochemistry at LaTrobe University, will be placing valuable information concerning CAT 2 on the World Wide Web.
This will explain the work done in Biochemistry which is directly applicable to CAT 2.
The final assessment is Biology CAT 3 , an examination on Unit 4. This usually takes place in early November.
The exam scripts are marked, twice, by independent markers who are carefully chosen for their level of training and experience as biologists.
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If you have not already visited the VCE Biology students' site and bookmarked it, click on Kick-the-cat now to do so!
We welcome your comments about this project.
This page is maintained by Jenny Herington, who can be contacted at bio_cat@bioserve.latrobe.edu.au by email.
All of the pages at the VCE Biology Students' site are copyright © Biochemistry, LaTrobe University.
Last update : 21 February 97
