A famous painting proves a jumping-off point for examining ecology and national heritage in this worksheet for students applying to study biology, environmental sciences and geography at university. There’s two formats: a worksheet for students to take home, but also if you want to replicate the format of a university interview with an interviewer posing questions, a sheet containing the painting to show the student as stimulus material and a set of questions and answers for the interviewer, with some possible extra hints if the student’s struggling. There’s questions about experiment design and statistical test to choose too. On a difficulty scale, I’d put this as about a three out of five: it’s an interesting case study with a nice, evocative stimulus material to get students thinking, but doesn’t really go beyond the A-level courses.

One-page set of notes on confocal microscopy targeting A-level biology (especially OCR A) with some selected images and a link to a recommended video. Although suitable for other courses, these notes were specifically targeted at OCR A-level biology A. The focus is on the images produced by confocal microscopy rather than on the details of how the mirror system works. Questions studied writing this pack (and recommended for exam technique) included: AS-level unit 2, question 1 from 2017 AS-level unit 2 specimen, question 6 (MCQ) A-level 2020 paper 1, question 2 (MCQ)

Notes on capture mark, release and recapture population estimates, suitable for courses including A-level biology and Edexcel GCSE statistics. Covering one page, the assumptions and the idea of a reciprocal are explained and there’s two model calculations.

You get a much better response explaining cyclic AMP when you draw it as a hat that makes enzymes happy when they wear it! One-page revision notes on cAMP for the AQA specification, with links to YouTube videos of some of the processes discussed. I am thinking of expanding this into a more full set of notes including details of the adrenaline receptor and with more diagrams-please comment if that’s something you’d want. It’s offered for free in the meantime.

You get a much better response explaining cyclic AMP when you draw it as a hat that makes enzymes happy and working harder when they wear it! One-page revision notes on cAMP for the OCR specification, combining the different places it’s used on the course (adrenaline receptors, ADH in the kidney collecting duct, lac operon of bacteria). Also has links to YouTube videos of some of the processes discussed. I’m thinking of expanding this into a larger resource covering this topic-contact me if that’s something you’d particularly want. It’s offered for free in the meantime.

Worksheet for Cambridge iGCSE biology plant hormones on two pages, covering IAA, phototropism, gravitotropism, the effects of auxin and an experiment design question. Versions for colour and black and white printing and a detailed mark scheme.

Two-page worksheet on plant hormones for the Edexcel 9-1 biology GCSE. Covers phototropism, geotropism, gibberellins and their industrial uses, ethene and an experiment design questions. Versions in colour and for black and white printing. There’s an in-depth mark scheme. Doing AQA GCSE? I have a separate version. Doing Edexcel iGCSE? This pack isn’t needed, the course doesn’t go into so much detail.

Two-page worksheet on plant hormones for the AQA 9-1 GCSE. Covers phototropism, geotropism, gibberellins and their industrial uses, ethene and an experiment design question. Versions in colour and for black and white printing. There’s an in-depth mark scheme.

Flow diagram showing the menstrual cycle on one page. Suitable for AQA 9-1 GCSE, Edexcel 9-1 GCSE, Edexcel iGCSE and Cambridge iGCSE exam boards, among others. Clean modern design, easy to follow. Explains roles of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, oestrogen and progesterone, the pituitary gland, ovaries and corpus luteum. I have a separate version for OCR Gateway GCSE science-that course has slightly different content.

Flow diagram showing the menstrual cycle on one page, suitable for OCR Gateway GCSE biology. Clean modern design, easy to follow. Explains roles of follicle stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, oestrogen and progesterone, the pituitary gland and ovaries, as well as the hormonal contraception methods. Two versions are included. One includes details of contraception methods, one doesn’t to give you a version with less text. This version of these notes is designed for OCR Gateway GCSE biology. I have an alternative version of this diagram for the AQA and Edexcel courses (amongst others) which contains some extra content, including more details about progesterone.

Worksheet on homeostasis and thyroid function, covering thyroxine, TSH and nutrient deficiencies as well as revising homeostasis and negative feedback generally. This two-page worksheet has plenty of illustrations and diagrams to help students remember the topic. Targets the AQA 9-1 biology GCSE. There’s versions of the worksheet for colour and black and white printing and an in-depth mark scheme. Doing Edexcel GCSE? I have a separate version targeting that course specifically.

Worksheet on homeostasis and thyroid function, covering thyroxine, TSH and nutrient deficiencies as well as revising homeostasis and negative feedback generally. This two-page worksheet has plenty of illustrations and diagrams to help students remember the topic. Targets the Edexcel 9-1 biology GCSE. There’s an in-depth mark scheme and versions for colour and black and white printing. Doing AQA? I have a separate version of the worksheet for the AQA course. Doing the Edexcel iGCSE? This worksheet isn’t needed, that course doesn’t go into so much depth on the topic.

Two-page worksheet for students to fill in covering reflex actions, case studies, synapses and drop tests, targeting the AQA 9-1 biology GCSE but suitable for other courses like Edexcel. An in-depth mark scheme is included. Questions consulted include the 84612H specimen paper and the 2018 paper. Update, December 2023: based on student feedback, added more hints and re-ordered some questions to make the pack flow more naturally.

Fill-in-the-blanks two page worksheet covering blood glucose regulation for AQA GCSE 9-1 biology. Topics covered include the meaning of homeostasis, type I and II diabetes, treatments and effects if not treated. The worksheet is particularly written for supporting one-on-one and small group tuition where the tutor can continuously guide the student, as there’s a lot of answers to fill in to practice spelling and writing key words. A diagram of blood glucose regulation and a full mark scheme is included. Based on personal experience, the worksheet was written with a goal of sensitivity to any students who have diabetes or relatives who do; links to trustworthy medical sources are given for students who want/need more information. The worksheet was written based on checking mark schemes such as the 2019 paper.

Teaching AQA 9-1 GCSE photosynthesis is difficult: with its emphasis on the inverse square law and light intensity data, it’s different to other courses and standard worksheets that haven’t been targeted don’t cover these points. Two-page worksheet with answers targeted at AQA specifically, covering a range of common questions and problems. Questions consulted for research include 8464B1H 2018 Q3 and 2021 Q1 and 84652H 2021 Q7, which would make great follow-ups.

Worksheet for AQA A-level biology plant tropism on two pages, covering IAA, phototropism, gravitotropism, the acid growth hypothesis and an experiment design question. Versions for colour and black and white printing and a detailed mark scheme. Written for the new 2015 specification.

Two-page link-up-the-boxes worksheet and two-page written worksheet recapping definitions of community, habitat, ecosystem and biotic/abiotic factors, along with case study questions. For the Edexcel 9-1 biology GCSEs. The link-up-the-boxes worksheet is deliberately written to be very easy for students with low knowledge and confidence. The written worksheet covers biotic factors, quadrats, transects and competition, along with a calculation question and practice identifying types of habitat. Versions for colour and black and white printing and a mark scheme are included. Could also be suitable as a quick recap exercise for A-level students. These worksheets are very similar to my set for AQA, if you tutor both courses you don’t really need the other version.

It’s a real difficulty for students that the AQA A-level biology textbook doesn’t include a diagram of an ELISA. So here’s notes on one page covering the ELISA stages, with a diagram of the specific type of ELISA on the AQA course (an indirect ELISA), and explaining how it links to other things students may know about like pregnancy tests and COVID lateral flow tests. There’s an explanation of what monoclonal antibodies are, explanation of artificial passive immunity as an extension, and links to some good videos. 9/3/2024 update: new version! Clearer numbering of the stages to link diagram to text, shortened URLs, brighter colours and better paragraphing. Also added a version tuned to print better in black and white.

Two-page link-up-the-boxes worksheet and two-page written worksheet recapping definitions of community, habitat, ecosystem and biotic/abiotic factors, along with case study questions. For the OCR 9-1 biology twenty-first century science GCSE. The link-up-the-boxes worksheet is deliberately written to be very easy for students with low knowledge and confidence with ecology. The written worksheet covers biotic factors, quadrats, transects and competition, along with a calculation question and practice identifying types of habitat. Versions for colour and black and white printing and a mark scheme are included. Could also be suitable as a quick recap exercise for A-level students. These worksheets are very similar to my set for AQA, if you tutor multiple courses you don’t really need the other version.