IAL Biology Edexcel – Genetic Code Practice

Complete lesson for Pearson Edexcel IAL Biology Topic 2 spec 2.11: counting bases and codons plus real WBI11 genetic code questions with mark schemes.

Save precious planning time with a complete, ready-to-teach Pearson Edexcel IAL Biology lesson: open the folder and teach.

Lesson 39 · Topic 2, lesson 17 of 28 · Unit 1 (WBI11) · Spec 2.11: Decoding: counting bases and exam practice

What this lesson covers

• Ready-to-teach 17-slide deck on counting bases, codons and stop codons, with worked examples and a self-marking exit ticket.
• Two real WBI11 questions (June 2019, October 2020) with official mark schemes, Level 3 model answer and examiner-report traps.
• Six-mark levels practice: tick feature, explanation and example, then award a level, a skill that transfers to every extended answer.
• Includes student notes, 5 practice questions (32 marks), homework, a misconception check and The decoder’s case file activity.

Everything you need, in one folder

• Lesson PowerPoint (17 slides): retrieval starter, click-to-reveal teaching slides, quick checks with answers, real WBI11 exam questions with official mark schemes and model answers, and an exit ticket with answers. Full speaker notes.
• Detailed 3-page lesson plan: timed sequence with key questions, answers, misconceptions, differentiation and extension.
• Student notes (10 pages): knowledge organiser, revision-guide pages with answers, key terms and a “Can I…?” checklist, word bank and sentence starters, double-sided flashcards.
• Practice questions (5 questions, 32 marks) with a separate mark scheme — each question on its own page, using only content taught so far.
• Homework (18 marks) with a separate mark scheme, including spaced retrieval of earlier lessons.
• Misconception check (2 multiple-choice questions) with a teacher key explaining every wrong answer.
• Active-learning printable (1 page) for hands-on tasks, games and data activities, plus teacher notes with answers.
• Teacher notes: the starter and exit-ticket mark points and prompts, plus active-learning running notes and answer keys.
• Catch-up and Extension bank decks: 10 catch-up lessons on assumed GCSE knowledge (B13–B22) and 15 extension lessons (E14–E28).

Why teachers love it

• Complete and exam-focused: no prep; built from real Pearson Edexcel WBI11 papers, official mark-scheme wording and examiner-report insights.
• Strict teaching order and EAL-friendly: questions use only content taught so far; works 1:1 or with a whole class.

File formats: PPTX (PowerPoint, Keynote or Google Slides) and PDF.

Want the whole topic? See the Complete Topic 2 bundle in the bio_boffin_resources shop: all 28 lessons plus full-topic resources.

An independent resource by bio_boffin_resources, written by a Biology teacher with 10 years’ experience in a leading international school. Not endorsed by Pearson.