3 Essay Titles You Should Plan 2024 - AQA A-level Biology paper 3 | Biology essay

Paper 3 for AQA A-level biology contains the 25 mark essay (almost 10% of your A-level grade). Follow along as I plan 3 titles that haven't come up in nearly 10 years, but are really good titles!
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[@LibertyOn2Wheels]

I don’t know what I want more - An A in Biology or your skin care routine

[@MissEstruchBiology]

haha thank you. A mix of The Ordinary and Temple Spa products and Il Makiage foundation and primer!

[@adailyfact]

Miss, @21:54 you mention GP forming, I believe you mean TP.

[@zainab.7187]

hi, are you going to post the predictions for the 2024 paper? i definitely will not only focus on those essays, just wanted to have an idea of what might come up :)

[@Ganothic]

I back that question

[@MissEstruchBiology]

This video isn't predictions, as I don't use the terminology predictions. . . . . . .

[@fruitloops6839]

Hi, i’m wondering if you can repeat the same points in different topics when speaking about the importance of a concept - e.g. how you mentioned increasing hydrostatic pressure of blood can cause damage to blood vessels in both the osmoregulation and blood glucose control topics would they both be given credit as speaking about the importance of the topics separate. (sorry if my question doesn’t quite make sense 😅)

[@daveoloughlin-qv3ef]

I couldn’t find online where the last essay came up in 2016 or 2015 ? Only thing close in 2015 was “the importance of proteins on the control of processes and responses in organisms” could you lmk where you found the title pls

[@riihanna510]

hey do you sell predicteds papers at all?

[@e.1771]

Hi, how would you talk about respiration and photosynthesis for the first essay title?

[@alishamahmood3373]

I’m confused about the second title on energy transfer, your have talked about photosynthesis and respiration are these not in the same spec would I not just write about one of them. I remember my teacher saying to pick only either one rather than writing about them both.

[@MissEstruchBiology]

hey they are both in topic 5, but different subsections so they do no count as the same specification points

[@alishamahmood3373]

For tile 3 the importance of the controls of processes in organism , you said that you can talk about cholera but what would I write for the importance of that do I possibly liking it back to antibodies

[@adailyfact]

So in cholera what happens is the cholera produces a toxin that complementary binds to receptors on the epithelial cells of the ileum. This then leads to chloride ions being moved against their concentration gradient , out of the epithelial cell through the CFTR channel protein, and this is done by a second messenger model and is mediated by ATP. This leads to chloride ions decreasing the water potential of the lumen of the ileum. Water moves by osmosis into the epithelial cells from the blood, and from the epithelial cell to the lumen (down the concentration gradient). This leads to an increase in the volume of water in the ileum. This leads to diarrhea in addition to water and ion loss. This links to control as this shows what happens when there is a lack of it, cholera can kill people by simply dehydrating them, therefore control is important as otherwise you can die/ lose so much water. Oral rehydration solutions can be used to prevent death by replacing any fluids and ions lost. Hope this helps. Essentially the importance is that cholera is when you lose control (of the chloride ion channels), showcasing why control is important.

[@lottie1777]

Hi Thankyou for the video! I'd like to know for the out-of-spec topic, do I need to write a complete paragraph for it to get two marks or just mentioning it briefly in some paragraphs?

[@MissEstruchBiology]

it needs to be more than a few words or a few sentences, but not necessarily an entire paragraph.

[@paulteller7604]

Bless

[@daisylawrence7447]

Such a helpful video, thank you! When the title says 'organisms' would you be penalised for speaking only about human biology and not mentioning plants, or does it not matter?

[@YourGranHan]

I'd probably talk about both.. I think that the examiners like people to use both year 12 and 13 topics. To be safe, at least do one on plants unless you physically cannot :)

[@seranbradley9661]

If it’s organisms - always better to discuss more than just humans.

[@erinsamler1096]

My teacher (who is also an examiner) said that they would prefer you to talk about both otherwise you’re not assessing the whole question as you’re only talking about one type of organism :)

[@aa-gn6zn]

Hey sorry if this comes across as rude but wasn’t one of the essay titles a few years ago something like “the importance of interactions with the environment for organisms” (something like that) which I feel is quite similar to the first one? So although it’s been a while since they used the first one isn’t it quite unlikely they’d use it at all seeing as the essay title I mentioned is something they used relatively recently? Thanks

[@MissEstruchBiology]

Hey, there was one that was similar, interactions, but this one is responses. So there could be some overlaps, but not identical. As I said though, these aren't predictions, just essays I think will be helpful to plan

[@aa-gn6zn]

@@MissEstruchBiologyah okay that makes sense, thank you for responding. Do you think it’s possible they could repeat an essay title, either from old or new spec?

[@Elkay26]

are taxis/kinesis and tropisms different spec points? why did you say we can do either but not both??? thanks :DD

[@vrutitandel5939]

I thought hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to produce ADH hormone which is then released in the blood.

[@MissEstruchBiology]

Hypothalamus produces it and the pituitary gland secretes it

[@SMH_]

yeah you're also right - that's what it says in the mark scheme. (But what goes beyond the spec is that it's produced by the hypothalamus and actually stored in the pituitary gland)

[@EvieGroves-vd8jb]

how do I find the examiner reports for legacy alevels

[@Yani_122]

Hi. Does anyone know if she has posted the second video on essay titles which she mentioned at the end?

[@MissEstruchBiology]

Coming Wednesday!

[@SM-sr5qu]

I don’t quite get what you meant at about 8:13? Could you explain that point again please?

[@amaan1774]

Essentially if the blood glucose concentration is too high, all glucose cant be reabsorbed via selective reabsorption at the proximal convoluted tubule in the kidney like it usually does (due to saturated co transporter proteins at the surface of the epithelial cells lining pct). Therefore some glucose will remain in the filtrate and be expelled from your body in the urine. Usually urine contains no glucose. hope this helps !!!

[@adailyfact]

@@amaan1774 This is bad as leads to increased risk of urinary tract infection etc.

[@olivia-gx7bd]

Would blood glucose concentration/ IAA and plant growth be classified as the same marking point in the new spec?

[@MissEstruchBiology]

No,blood glucose control is it's own spec point for topic 6

[@jasminerichardson9876]

As for the structure of the essay, do we have to link each paragraph to each other as well as to the title? Also do we need to add an introduction and conclusion?

[@MissEstruchBiology]

Hey, no. No Intro or conclusion or linking to paragraph Just to theme

[@jasminerichardson9876]

@@MissEstruchBiology Thank you!

[@Emily-su2dh]

Hi. I quite often manage to bring in synapses in my essays , as it’s a topic I’m confident in. However, I always struggle when it comes to A-level importance for it . Like why is it important that we have action potentials? Thanks for your help! x

[@YourGranHan]

Hey! I too love talking about synapses (specifically transmission) in my essays! They can virtually go in anything :D I agree importance is hard, so perhaps this could help (its what I usually use for synaptic transmission) Importance of sodium ions (Na+) is that they trigger the opening of voltage gated calcium channels in the presynaptic membrane. If the pre-synapse wasn't depolarised, calcium ions (Ca2+) wouldn't be able to (facilitated) diffuse into the membrane and vesicles containing neurotransmitters (NT) won't fuse to the pre-synaptic membrane. Therefore no diffusion of NT across the synaptic cleft, so therefore the NT won't bind to receptors on post-synapse and an action potential won't continue along the neurones and the signal is lost as NA+ cannot diffuse into post-synaptic membrane. You can also use the above for importance of calcium ions, or diffusion of NT across the membrane, or reason for receptors/complementary shapes. As you probably already know, acetylcholine (ACh) hydrolyses the NT in the synaptic cleft so the post-synapse isn't constantly depolarised. Therefore, if you could also discuss: - If ACh isn't present/doesn't hydrolyse NT then continuous depolarisation of post-synapse will occur. Which could lead to myocardial infraction or muscle spasm due to constant depolarisation of muscles (contractions). - If NT don't bind to receptors on post-synapse (due to whatever reason) then the signal is lost, and no response is given. For example no contraction of muscle, which could also lead to a myocardial infraction. I hope this makes sense! This is also useful for then if you decide to talk about SAN node in the heart and therefore heart rate. Or pressure receptors in the skin (Pacinian corpuscle) or chemi/baroreceptors. (For linkage opportunities!) Hope this is useful, sorry for it being such a long reply hahaha. Good luck with your Alevels x

[@Emily-su2dh]

@@YourGranHan you are an absolute LEGEND!! Thank you so so much for taking time out of your day to reply with such a helpful, detailed response. Will defo be using these in my essays, I appreciate you a lot!

[@YourGranHan]

@@Emily-su2dh No worries! Its useful revision for myself too hahaha :)

[@funkypigeondotcom7917]

hi! i like to talk about ventilation for synapses/muscle contractions as saying 'muscle contraction is needed to avoid predators' feels too GCSE to me. So action potentials are important at the neuromuscular junction to stimulate muscle contraction of the external intercostal muscles and the diaphragm so the diaphragm flattens and the ribcage moves up and out, increasing the thoracic volume and decreasing the thoracic pressure, causing air to flow down its pressure gradient into the lungs. oxygen is required in many metabolic processes like respiration (or removal of carbon dioxide if you talk about expiration). That might be a more straightforward one for muscle contraction but i could see it working for synapses too with the neuromuscular junction which is defo a level knowledge. Hope that helps! (that was very useful for my own revision too haha)

[@YourGranHan]

@@funkypigeondotcom7917 ooo I never thought of how to link it to inspiration or expiration before! Thank you so much :))))

[@alisalis1568]

How does excess glucose in the blood cause more glucose being removed in the kidneys? How does this affect the glucose content in the liver?

[@user-tu2nr8oh8k]

When you have excess glucose in the blood, some of it is taken in for respiration by the B islets of langerhan in the pancreas. The atp produced by this closes the K+ channels in the cell and the change in voltage opens voltage gated calcium channels. This leads to the release of insulin by exocytosis. When insulin is released, it binds to the receptors in the liver and lead to increased respiration, more of converting glucose to glycogen etc I’m not sure about your kidney question, but it could be that since the liver and muscle cells are taking a lot of glucose in, the glucose concentration decreases in the blood and it’s easier for glucose to leave the cells in the PCT via facilitated diffusion as the gradient is now steeper.

[@alisalis1568]

Wow how do you know all that😭

[@adailyfact]

@@user-tu2nr8oh8k Mate the first part of your answer is most definitely above spec for AQA, the extent we need to know it is that there is an increase in blood glucose concentration due to e.g. a meal, this is detected by the beta cells in the Islets of Langerhans. That is it.

[@adailyfact]

Mate if there is more glucose in the blood, that means the exact same concentration of glucose is being filtered out and is part of the ultrafiltrate after ultrafiltration in the kidney. As you initially had a higher blood glucose, the concentration of glucose in the filtrate must therefore also be higher. As we know in a healthy person all of the glucose is reabsorbed by selective absorption at the proximal convoluted tubule, a greater volume/ mass of glucose is reabsorbed from the kidney due to their initially being a higher concentration of glucose in the blood.

[@Y1512.]

Hi, I hope you'r well. I heard you mark student's essays and give them feedback, if thats true can you please let me know how i can send you my essays as it would greatly benefit me, thanks

[@MissEstruchBiology]

Hey! Yes I do. My essay marking service will start up again at the start of May. You'll be able to book in on my website

[@lottie1777]

are osmoregulation and blood glucose regulation considered as a single topic?

[@MissEstruchBiology]

no, they are different spec points

[@yourdad7902]

in the topics for the 3rd essay, wouldn't spindle fibres and IAA and osmoregulation be too simple for A level content? mitosis is basically gcse isnt it

[@MissEstruchBiology]

As long as its different specification points it's fine. Mitosis is in A-level too, but you must have A-level terminology

[@a3lexa]

My teacher told us not to talk about IAA because there's not much difference between GCSE and A level content?

[@tamsindave]

you talk about auxin at GCSE and IAA at A level ig

[@tamsindave]

With excess glucose in blood I don't think its removed in the kidney unless you have diabetes right?

[@alisalis1568]

I’m confused as well

[@funkypigeondotcom7917]

in ultrafiltration all the glucose is filtered into the glomerular filtrate, and unless theres excess glucose its all reabsorbed at the PCT. If you have excess glucose (because of diabetes or if there is no insulin hypothetically) not all the glucose can be reabsorbed as the symport proteins in the epithelium of the PCT are working at maximum capacity/are fully saturated so some glucose is excreted in the urine. Does that answer your question?

[@EllieDinsdale]

Hi, super helpful and detailed video! Just wondering what you could talk about for the importance of immunity? I'm assuming it's too brief to just talk about maintaining health and survival?

[@funkypigeondotcom7917]

I think you could talk about the primary and secondary response and say how pathogens can be killed faster the second time as memory cells are present which rapidly produce more plasma cells (clonal selection doesnt need to occur again) so the immune response is important as it increases chances of survival the second time of meeting it and so more energy can be focused on other areas (e.g mating?). If any of this is incorrect do correct me! i am not a fan of the immunity topic :(

[@adailyfact]

I would say immunity is important because it means if you are re-infected, you do not get symptoms. Another reason it is important is that it is the basis from which vaccines work, so by making memory cells from dead or damaged pathogens (by using their antigens) we can make vaccines that allow for potentially deadly diseases to not kill us, e.g. smallpox. Another example could be how by harvesting monoclonal antibodies like antivenoms from animals that won't be killed by the venom, you can use the antibodies as a type of antivenom to neutralise any venom, so many points. If you want any more help, or clarification feel free to ask as this is good revision for me too.

[@aoy1889]

ur cat is so cute

[@MissEstruchBiology]

Bee the cat 🐈

[@cherubic_axiom]

more help on essays please =((

[@MissEstruchBiology]

have you seen my essay playlist? Or take a look at my essay bootcamp

[@sarahsammer9922]

Hi Miss Estruch, do you offer essays marking and feedback? is this something I can find on your website?

[@MissEstruchBiology]

hey, yes I do. Bookings for this will start in May www.missestruch.co.uk/learn-with-miss-estruch

[@lolaplantard]

hi, what are all the equations we need to know by heart ?

[@MissEstruchBiology]

hey I posted some tiktoks on this last year. I'll dig them out and report soon

[@bruhruserious8571]

Cardiac cycle and cardiac output

[@daniella053]

@@MissEstruchBiology i second this

[@Ganothic]

13:00 Why is it important to respond to pressure changes in our fingers?

[@MissEstruchBiology]

protect your fingers from danger. The pressure could be squashing against something sharp that could cut skin example

[@Ganothic]

@@MissEstruchBiology I’m pretty sure that would classify as GCSE no?

[@alexandra129]

@@Ganothic yh my teacher always tells me to avoid GCSE-style comments at the end of the paragraph as it weakens the point..

[@ScarlettForeman-rb8zp]

i had thoughts to link to generator potential and muscle contraction could also mention neurons here. :)

[@athease]

Example could be to make the organism aware of it's physical surroundings and therefore allow it to move out of unfavourable conditions (such as rocky or sandy terrain) through processes of taxis and kineses and thus imporiving their chances of survival and reproduction? You could argue the converse by saying organisms wouldn't be able to carry out such functions if they didn't have paciniac corpuscles

[@Mrsa_xox]

hello miss estruch would you be able to go throguh full mark exemplar essay?

[@MissEstruchBiology]

Hey, I have this in my Biology Essay Bootcamp

[@SM-sr5qu]

May I ask what percent do people get 25/25?

[@MissEstruchBiology]

i think its usually around 1%

[@GeorgieB1]

I thought the essays were in paper 2

[@MissEstruchBiology]

Paper 3, comprehension is on paper 2

[@aryaanc47]

Nuh uh uh