When we think of biology, our first thought is often its association with medicine. Hardly a day goes by without the announcement of a new diagnosis or treatment. The development of a vaccine to counter Covid-19 in only a few months has underlined the brilliance of biologists.

But there is far more to biology than healthcare alone. It is a subject that challenges our understanding of what life is, and even asks how we might recognise life on other worlds.

It’s no surprise that biology holds a strong appeal with school pupils. Living things are all around us; they have a tangible familiarity that is often missing from physics and chemistry. Benches in school laboratories are often lined with specimens of plants, insects or fish in various stages of development.

For biology students at any stage there are two main reasons why they may struggle. The first is that answers to questions often require an extended written answer. The second is the terminology. Words in biology are frequently long, complicated and unfamiliar. Yet their precision, both in use and spelling, is essential.