MATSEC AM Biology study plan

Map the full AM Biology syllabus into a one-page checklist of units, weighting each unit by likely exam emphasis and marking your weakest areas.

Define and correctly use the core biochemical terms for water, carbohydrates, lipids and proteins, writing a glossary of at least 40 entries in your own words.

Describe the structure of enzymes and explain, with diagrams you draw yourself, how temperature, pH, substrate concentration and competitive versus non-competitive inhibitors affect rate.

Solve at least 15 enzyme kinetics and calculation-style problems, showing full working for each.

Explain the fluid mosaic model of the membrane and compare diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis, active transport and bulk transport with named examples.

Calculate water potential and solute potential from given data, and predict the direction of osmosis across a membrane.

Describe the stages of mitosis and meiosis and explain how crossing over and independent assortment generate genetic variation.

Compare DNA replication, transcription and translation, and state where each occurs in a eukaryotic cell.

Trace the pathway of photosynthesis, naming the light-dependent and light-independent stages, the products of each, and the role of photolysis and photophosphorylation.

Explain how limiting factors affect the rate of photosynthesis and interpret a rate-versus-light-intensity graph, including the concept of compensation point.

Describe aerobic and anaerobic respiration stage by stage, including glycolysis, the link reaction, the Krebs cycle, oxidative phosphorylation and fermentation.

Calculate the net ATP yield of aerobic respiration and compare it with anaerobic pathways in named organisms.

Explain gas exchange in named organisms, comparing surface area to volume ratios and the adaptations that compensate for them.

Describe the mammalian circulatory system, including the cardiac cycle, the structure of arteries, veins and capillaries, and tissue fluid formation.

Interpret oxygen dissociation curves and explain the Bohr shift and the effect of carbon dioxide concentration on haemoglobin.

Explain how the kidney carries out ultrafiltration, selective reabsorption and osmoregulation, and describe the role of ADH.

Describe how sensory receptors, neurones and synapses transmit information, including the resting potential, action potential, saltatory conduction and neurotransmitter release.

Explain the roles of the major hormones in blood glucose regulation and compare the nervous and endocrine systems.

Describe the structure and function of skeletal muscle and explain the sliding filament model of contraction.

Explain how the immune system distinguishes self from non-self, and outline the roles of phagocytes, B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes.

Explain the principles of taxonomy and classification, and use binomial nomenclature correctly for named organisms.

Describe the characteristic features of the major taxonomic groups and explain how evolutionary relationships are inferred from molecular and anatomical evidence.

Explain natural selection, speciation and the evidence for evolution, including the roles of isolation and selection pressure.

Describe the carbon and nitrogen cycles and explain the role of microorganisms in nutrient recycling.

Apply the principles of experimental design to biological investigations, including controls, replication, randomisation and the identification of variables.

Select and justify appropriate statistical tests for given data sets, and interpret significance levels and probability values.

Describe the principles of genetic engineering and biotechnology, including the use of plasmids, restriction enzymes, PCR and gel electrophoresis.

Evaluate the ethical, social and environmental implications of at least three named biotechnological applications.

Consolidate all previous weeks into a personal list of the 20 highest-risk topics, ranked by your mock results.

Complete at least two full timed past papers under exam conditions, including any practical or data-response sections.

Rewrite every incorrect answer from your mock papers into concise revision notes organised by syllabus unit.

Rehearse definitions, units and key calculations until you can reproduce them without notes.