What is VCE Biology all about?
VCE Biology is an amazing subject that uncovers how life adapts, survives, and thrives through experiments, investigations, and real-world applications.
What will it prepare me for?
This course prepares you for careers in medicine, research, environmental science, and biotech. Also, VCE Biology prepares you to think like a scientist. It equips you with the skills to understand complex concepts, think critically, and apply scientific methods to solve real-world problems.
You should pick this subject if you…
- Are curious about the functioning of the body and living organisms
- Wish to continue a career in medicine, research, biotech, or environmental science
- Just love to learn new and exciting things!
How is the content structured?
The content is separated into 4 Units which contain 2 to 3 ‘Areas of Study’ (AOS). The units are deeply interconnected, with Units 1 and 2 building an important foundation for Units 3 and 4. There is also a deep focus on bioethics throughout the subject. To read more in detail, refer to the VCAA website. Below is a summary:
Unit 1: How do organisms regulate their functions?
- AOS 1: "How do cells function?" looks at cell replication, differentiation, and apoptosis.
- AOS 2: "How do plant and animal systems function?" explores cell specialization, water regulation in plants, and homeostasis in animals.
- AOS 3 focuses on scientific investigations.
Unit 2: How does inheritance impact on diversity
- AOS 1: "How is inheritance explained?" covers how genes and traits are inherited, including gene patterns, karyotypes, genotypes, and crosses.
- AOS 2: "How do inherited adaptations impact on diversity?" explores genetic diversity, adaptations for survival, reproduction methods, and species interdependencies.
- AOS 3 addresses a bioethical issue related to genetics, reproduction, or adaptations
Unit 3: How do cells maintain life?
- AOS 1: “What is the role of nucleic acids and proteins in maintaining life?” deals with the creation of proteins through nucleic acids and techniques and applications of DNA manipulation.
- AOS 2: “How are biochemical pathways regulated?” deals with how enzymes and coenzymes regulate photosynthesis and cellular respiration. It also connects CRISPR-Cas9 as a biotechnological solution to improve biochemical pathways and the concept of biofuels.
Unit 4: How does life change and respond to challenges?
- AOS 1: “How do organisms respond to pathogens?” deals with the immune response within living organisms. The key knowledge kicks off by showing how our body’s cells and structures react to antigens, helping us build immunity against ones we’ve encountered before. It then dives into the challenges of identifying diseases and developing treatments.
- AOS 2: “How are species related over time?” covers the changes in the genetics of species over time. It looks at how species are connected through history and the evolution of humans.
- AOS 3 focuses on the creation of a scientific poster through a student-designed investigation. Some schools decide to do the ‘poster SAC’ at the beginning of the year, so the placement is flexible.
What will my assessments look like?
The study design lists a variety of assessments with one main rule: an assessment done in Unit 1 or 3 cannot be repeated in Unit 2 or 4.
Unit 1 and 2 assessments: There will be a total of 6 different assessments throughout the year. Most often, the assessments for outcome 1 and 2 for both units will be case study analysis, modelling, response to a bioethical issue, or a problem-solving-basedoutcomes SAC. Unit 1 Outcome 3 requires the creation of a student-designed or adapted scientific investigation, which will be presented most likely in the form of a scientific poster or a practical report. Unit 2 Outcome 3 will be an investigation into a bioethical issue based on a topic learnt in Unit 2.
Unit 3 and 4 assessments: There will be a total of 5 assessments throughout the year. There are 4 different types of assessments that can be done:
- Case study
- Analysis of primary and/or secondary data
- Comparison and evaluation of 3 student practical activities
- Analysis and evaluation of a bioethical issue
The fifth assessment will be the creation of a scientific poster with a word limit of 600 words, focused on scientific and experimental design skills.
What will my exam look like?
Unit-specific exams are created and/or distributed by schools and thus vary greatly in content and difficulty.
The end-of-year exams are created by VCAA and test all key knowledge and key science skills from Units 3 and 4 in the duration of 2 hours and 30 minutes plus 15 minutes of reading time. The exam will consist of two sections:
- Section A: 40 multiple-choice questions worth 40 marks in total
- Section B: A selection of short-answer questions worth 80 marks in total
Here is a more detailed look into the types of questions in the VCE Biology exam.
What are some tips and tricks to excel in VCE Biology?
- Flashcards, flashcards, flashcards
Flashcards are great for revision because they make you review content twice—once while making them and again when studying. Also, writing on a small card forces you to focus on key points, helping you summarise and synthesise your knowledge.
- DO NOT overlook scientific and experimental skills
Many students overlook simple skills such as writing a hypothesis and designing an experiment and then struggle when such questions are asked on the end-of-year exam. To stay ahead, start practicing experimental design questions from the beginning of Year 12.
- Ask for help when needed
VCE can be stressful, and it's okay to feel overwhelmed. Your school counsellors, doctors, and teachers are there to support you. Often, an engaging private tutor can also ease the stress and assist with your learning. To get started, check out our Find a Tutor page.
- Start exam prep early
Starting early is key to a great study score, but it can be tough to know how. To begin, try multiple-choice questions. They're quick, fit into a busy schedule, and help you get familiar with VCAA-style questions while revising for SACs.
- Make connections and visualise
VCE Biology is interconnected, and drawing mindmaps helps visualize these links. This will prepare you for the pesky "Explain why…" and "Justify…" questions. Making these connections is also key for tackling unexpected questions.
FAQs
Is it worth studying VCE Biology when it is not a prerequisite for my course?
It’s definitely worth doing even if it’s not required for many uni courses because it acts as a great foundation for university-level biology courses!
Should I do VCE Biology because it scales well?
VCE biology is a fantastic subject to do. However, doing a subject purely because of scaling is never recommended. There is no point in doing a subject that makes you fall asleep!
I’m struggling to keep up in VCE Biology, what can I do?
The most effective way to stay on track (or even ahead) is to get a private tutor. Private tutoring adapts to your needs and pace, allowing you to understand everything better. Check out KIS academics and find your perfect tutor now!
Best of luck!
Want personalised study guidance to help drastically improve your marks? A private tutor can make the biggest difference!
Written by KIS Academics Tutor, Ersheen Waraich. Ersheen is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science at The University of Melbourne and received a 45+ study score in VCE Biology. You can view Ersheen's profile here and request her as a tutor.
