Efficacy - GCSE Biology Definition

Reviewed by: Lára Marie McIvor

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Efficacy is a term used in biology to describe how well something works or achieves its goal. In the context of GCSE Biology, it is often used to talk about how effective a medicine or treatment is at producing a beneficial result. When scientists test a new drug, they measure its efficacy to see how well it can improve health or cure a disease. A high efficacy means the treatment has a strong, positive effect, while low efficacy means it may not work very well. Understanding efficacy helps us decide which treatments are best for specific illnesses.

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Lára Marie McIvor

Reviewer: Lára Marie McIvor

Expertise: Biology, Psychology & Sociology Subject Lead

Lára graduated from Oxford University in Biological Sciences and has now been a science tutor working in the UK for several years. Lára has a particular interest in the area of infectious disease and epidemiology, and enjoys creating original educational materials that develop confidence and facilitate learning.

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