The assessment requirements for all SQA Biology levels are detailed in the tables below:
| Subject Name | Biology |
| Subject Level | Advanced Higher Biology |
| What is the 2020-21 course structure? (eg Class Theory & Practical Assignment) | Course Theory |
| How many formal assessments are expected between March and June? | 2 |
| Are assessments long or short? | Long |
| Likely Duration | 3 hours (split over double periods) |
| Exam formality | Formally supervised under exam conditions |
| How much of the 2020-21 revised course will be covered? | 100% of the 2020-21 revised course |
| What % of the 2019-20 course does this represent? | 75% (25% removed by SQA for 2020-21) |
| Topics expected in the assessment(s) | 1. Cells and proteins 2. Organisms and Evolution 3. Investigative Biology |
| Assessment Format | Multiple Choice, Short Answer Questions and Extended Response Questions |
| Are there any additional assessed components? (eg practical assignment) | No, this was removed by SQA for 2020-21 |
| How are these to be assessed? | n/a |
| In terms of grading, what is the balance of each component | n/a |
| Subject Name | Biology |
| Subject Level | Higher Human Biology |
| What is the 2020-21 course structure? (eg Course Theory & Practical Assignment) | Course Theory |
| How many formal assessments are expected between March and June? | 2 |
| Are assessments long or short? | Long |
| Likely Duration | 3 hours (split over double periods) |
| Exam formality | Formally supervised under exam conditions |
| How much of the 2020-21 revised course will be covered by this/these assessments? | 100% of the 2020-21 revised course |
| What % of the 2019-20 course does this represent? | 80% (20% removed by SQA for 2020-21) |
| Topics expected in the assessment(s) | 1. Human Cells 2.Physiology and Health 3. Neurobiology and Immunology |
| Assessment Format | Multiple Choice, Short Answer Questions and Extended Response Questions |
| Are there any additional assessed components? (eg practical assignment) | No, this was removed by SQA for 2020-21 |
| How are these to be assessed? | N/A |
| In terms of grading, what is the balance of each component | N/A |
| Subject Name | Biology |
| Subject Level | National 5 Biology |
| What is the 2020-21 course structure? (eg Class Theory & Practical Assignment) | Course Theory |
| How many formal assessments are expected between March and June? | 2 |
| Are assessments long or short? | Long |
| Likely Duration | 2.5 hours (split over double periods) |
| Exam formality | Formally supervised under exam conditions |
| How much of the 2020-21 revised course will be covered? | 100% of the 2020-21 revised course |
| What % of the 2019-20 course does this represent? | 80% (20% removed by SQA for 2020-21) |
| Topics expected in the assessment(s) | 1. Cell Biology 2. Multicellular Organisms 3. Life on earth |
| Assessment Format | Multiple Choice, Short Answer Questions and Extended Response Questions |
| Are there any additional assessed components? (eg practical assignment) | No, this was removed by SQA for 2020-21 |
| How are these to be assessed? | n/a |
| In terms of grading, what is the balance of each component | n/a |
| Subject Name | Biology |
| Subject Level | National 4 Biology |
| What is the 2020-21 course structure? (eg Class Theory & Practical Assignment) | Course Theory |
| How many formal assessments are expected between March and June? | 18 |
| Are assessments long or short? | Very short |
| Likely Duration | 10-15 minutes each |
| Exam formality | Formally supervised under exam conditions |
| How much of the 2020-21 revised course will be covered? | Unit 1, 2 and unit 3 key areas still to be covered depending on class |
| What % of the 2019-20 course does this represent? | 75% (25% removed by SQA for 2020-21) |
| Topics expected in the assessment(s) | 1. Cell Biology 2. Multicellular Organisms 3. Life on earth |
| Assessment Format | Short Answer Questions |
| Are there any additional assessed components? (eg practical assignment) | No, this was removed by SQA for 2020-21 |
| How are these to be assessed? | n/a |
| In terms of grading, what is the balance of each component | n/a |
