VCE Biology

Introduction:

From the start of my university journey in 2017 through the completion of my master’s in 2022, I had the privilege of teaching VCE Biology to numerous students across Victoria. After wrapping up my high school tutoring days, I felt bad that the teaching resources I had developed over the years were just sitting on my hard drive, inaccessible to those who might benefit from. To enable more students to benefit from these materials, I decided to make them freely available here.

🚩 Disclaimer:

I initially developed these resources for students studying VCE Biology (2017 - 2021 study design). Since then, I’ve been gradually reformatting and updating these materials to align with the current VCE Biology study design (2022-2026). While the pages below are still a work in progress, I invite you to explore them and welcome any feedback or questions you may have.

Even more disclaimer information

VCE Biology is the curriculum for Year 11 and 12 Victorian students intending to enter university post high school. The information below is thus likely to also be relevant to other Biology students in their final years of secondary or high school using a different curriculum.

Regardless of whether you are studying VCE Biology or another curriculum, please use these resources to guide your understanding, and not to dictate the level of detail and specific language you use while being examined. Only resources and teachers who know the requirements of your specific examination process have the knowledge to ensure you get the marks you worked hard for.

 

VCE Biology Notes and Related Articles

How to Study Well in VCE

Answers to the questions every VCE student asks: How should I study? How often? When?

Introduction to eukaryotic cell components

How is it that such a small unit is able to build, organise and export such complex proteins?

Movement across a membrane

The structure and function of the plasma membrane - and how they are related to each other.

Protein structure and function

How do we build a functioning protein from amino acids?

Enzymes

What are enzymes anyway? What factors change their functioning?

Nucleic acids: an introduction for high school students

Introduction to the structure and function of the molecules of life: DNA, mRNA, tRNA, and rRNA

How to make a protein from DNA

Transcription, translation, and everything in between

Mutations and the Genetic Code

Let's learn how to define all those fancy genetic code words VCAA loves (redundant, degenerant, universal ...)

Regulating Gene Expression

What is the structure of a gene? How does this relate to gene activity?

Photosynthesis

Let's focus on what you actually need to know on everyone's favourite VCE Biology topic (sarcasm btw)