Zimbabwe O-Level Biology: Forms 1-4

This syllabus covers the study of living organisms, their interrelationships, interactions with the environment, and the processes that sustain life. It aims to equip learners with theoretical and practical skills, fostering cognitive, emotional, physical, and social development. The curriculum balances knowledge, understanding, and practical application, preparing students for further studies and careers in fields like medicine, food technology, biotechnology, and environmental science.

Aims

The syllabus aims to help learners:

• Appreciate biology's role in Zimbabwe's socio-economic development.
• Develop practical skills like accuracy, objectivity, integrity, and inquiry.
• Cultivate safe and healthy practices.
• Apply scientific methods to daily challenges.
• Recognize the interconnectedness of biology's study and practice.
• Understand the influence of economic, technological, social, political, ethical, and cultural factors on biology.
• Develop an appreciation for local and global environmental care.

Syllabus Objectives

Learners should be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of biological terms, laws, facts, concepts, principles, theories, and phenomena.
• Utilize technology for data collection and analysis.
• Conduct experiments using scientific inquiry methods.
• Implement health and safety precautions.
• Create two-dimensional biological diagrams.
• Perform basic scientific calculations.
• Translate information between different formats.
• Draw logical conclusions from evidence.
• Communicate information clearly and concisely.
• Apply biological principles to problem-solving and new situations.
• Identify practical limitations in biological investigations.
• Utilize biological principles, methods, and techniques for value addition.
• Explain technology's environmental impact.
• Interpret relationships between organisms and their environment.

Topics Covered

The syllabus encompasses the following topics:

1. Safety, Careers, and Branches in Biology: Laboratory safety, branches of biology, career options. 2. Chemicals of Life: Water, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids – their constituents, identification, classification, chemical structure, and uses. 3. Cells and Cellular Activities: Plant and animal cell structure, cell specialization, cellular transport. 4. Enzymes: Nature, properties, mode of action, and industrial applications of enzymes. 5. Plant Science: Nutrition, productivity, transport, reproduction, coordination, and response in plants. 6. Animal Science: Nutrition, gaseous exchange, respiration, transport, immunity, reproduction, homeostasis, coordination and response, the endocrine system, and the skeletal system in animals, with a focus on humans. 7. Microbiology and Biotechnology: Characteristics, types, economic importance of microorganisms, and recombinant gene technology. 8. Genetics: Chromosomes, genes, monohybrid inheritance, mutations, variation, and selection. 9. Biodiversity: Classification of living organisms into five kingdoms and their characteristic features, threats to biodiversity, and conservation measures. 10. Ecosystems: Natural and artificial ecosystems, food chains and webs, nutrient cycles, management of ecosystems, and carrying capacity. 11. Health and Disease: Concepts of health and disease, infectious and non-infectious diseases, their causes, transmission, prevention, and treatment, and drug use and abuse.

Assessment

Assessment is divided into continuous assessment (40%) and summative assessment (60%). Continuous assessment includes practical tests (20%), theory tests (10%), and end-of-term examinations (10%). Summative assessment consists of three papers: Paper 1 (Multiple Choice - 30%), Paper 2 (Theory - 40%), and Paper 3 (Practical - 30%).