Natural Sciences
Commonly referred to as "NatSci"
Natural Sciences is generally split into two halves, biological and physical. The two areas have different
Directors of Study, but students may pick from any Natsci option, you are not constrained totally to one group or
the other.
In 1A (the first year) Natural Sciences there are seven subjects to choose from, along with a compulsory maths course.
Information by subject is provided below.
Biological Options:
Biology of Cells
Evolution and Behaviour
Phisiology of Organisms
Physical Options:
Chemistry
Geology
Materials and Mineral Sciences
Physics
Maths Courses
This is the main biology course that almost all biological natscis do. It covers all elements of biology
at the cellular level such as biochemistry, genetics, intra- and inter-cell activities. This is probably
the hardest biological course to do with no experience of biology at A/AS level as many topics are
complex and covered in great detail, however their aim is that it is possible.
Cells practicals occur on one afternoon every week; these are not assessed. Practical work
is instead assessed in a separate 3 hour cells paper at the end of the year. The cells theory paper
is also 3 hours and consists of short answer and essay questions.
This is the easiest biology course to do with no previous biology experience and is popular with physical
scientists. Reading books such as Richards Dawkins’ and others’ on evolution is helpful but not necessary
for this course. Evolution and behaviour also covers (necessarily) some taxonomy. Practicals are usually
every other week and several over the course of the year are assessed. These are usually easy and a good
way to pick up marks if the effort and time is put in.
The 3 hour paper at the end of the year is entirely
essays, with 35 minutes each on 5 essay questions of limited choice.
Known as PoO (you’ll get used to it), physiology is exactly what you would expect, covering the basic
bodily functions of organisms. The second term focuses on plant physiology, and the rest mainly on
mammalian physiology although other animals are considered as interesting examples within specific topics.
Many of the essay questions on the exam will ask you to compare plant and animal adaptations to a specific
topic (such as homeostasis, nutrition etc).
PoO has some quite physical aspects but is not easy for people with no previous biology experience (or even
those with A level biology for that matter!). PoO practicals are initially every other week, then every
week during the second term (alternating between animal and plant topics). These usually involve using
parts of specimens (such as frogs legs) or your partner as an experimental subject!
Practicals are not assessed but the material is in the exam. PoO is assessed by a 3 hour paper, part essay
questions and part multiple choice questions. The multiple choice questions are often based on the practicals
and don’t be fooled, they’re not easy and the questions are out to trick you!
Chemistry is a great crossover subject, taken by both physical and biological natscis. The first year
chemistry course covers all aspects of the subject from molecular orbitals to organic synthesis.
Practicals for this course are once every two weeks and involve a wide range of experiments,
techniques and apparatus.
There are three one hour lectures each week, and a three hour exam at the end of term.
Although primarily a physical science, geology has links with the evolution and behaviour course due
to the lecture course on paleontology in Lent term. The 1A course assumes no previous knowledge, and
introduces a range of topics across the range of geological topics, from geophysics to fossils.
Topics covered: Introduction to the Earth, Mineralogy, Igneous Rocks, Geophysics and Geochemistry,
Sedimentology, Paleontology, Geological history of Britain.
There are three lectures and three one-hour practicals each week, both of which happen on the Downing Site.
At the end of the year there is a practical exam [40%] and an essay-based written paper [60%].
Materials and Mineral Sciences
This is a combined course from the Materials Department and the Earth Sciences Department. You study material
relevant to both departments, and are taught by staff from both. The course assumes no previous knowledge, and
starts from scratch with an intorductory course on crystallography. While it can be boring to start with, it introduces
things that you need to know in later courses. In Lent Term there are two courses taught by Downing staff, on
microstructure and engineering properties of materials, which are interesting and well taught. Other courses
include Biomaterials and Devices.
There are three lectures and two two-hour practicals each week. Through the year there are three assessed practicals
and a longer project. At the end of the year there is a three hour written paper.
Physics has three lecture courses each consisting of 20 one-hour lectures. There are two parallel courses, with course B
covering the maths quicker to allow some non-examinable material to be taught at the end. The courses are very similar,
and many people choose course based on the lecturer. The first term's course is rooted in A level material, covering Mehanics
more rigourously and introducing Special Relativity. The second term covers Fields, Oscillations and Waves, taking topics
to a much greater depth than A level. The third term introduces Statistical and Quantum Physics, the use of mathematics to
model physical systems. This contains lots of new material, and is conceptually the most difficult course. All lecture courses
are supported by detailed notes and handouts.
In addition to lectures you attend bi-weekly practical sessions at the
New Cavendish Laboratory. These last 4 hours and
are not directly linked to lectures. Instead they are designed to develop preactical skills. Most practicals are assessed
and there is a formal write-up to do over the Easter break.
There is a three-hour exam at the end of the year.
Maths is an integral part of most science courses, and as such is compulsory for the first year. There are four maths courses in part 1A. Your course depends on your subject choices and on your previous maths experience.
| Biological Sciences | GCSE Maths | Elementary Maths for Biologists |
| Biological Sciences | A level Maths | Quantative Biology |
| Physical Subjects | A level Maths | Maths A |
| Physical Subjects | A level Further Maths | Maths B |
The difference between Maths A and B is small. Either course will enable you to do part 1B Maths.
Maths B progresses faster because it assumes knowledge of the further maths course, while the A course
has to teach this. This is a grey area for people with AS Further Maths. Some people with just the AS find
the B course manageable, others find it a struggle. It appears that knowledge of P6 material is of a great
help for B course students.
The extra material on the B course allows students to attempt more questions in the exam. The maths exam
consists of twelve questions, of which six must be attempted. Of these 12, only nine will be covered in the A
course. If undecided, it is easier to switch from B to A than the other way round. Help in choosing maths
course will be available from supervisors and your Director of Studies. Also it is possible to change from one
course to the other, as for most of the term they cover the same material.
© 2003 The Danby Society of Downing College, Cambridge