Description
This A Level Biology Online Course will give you essential knowledge and understanding of different areas of the subject and how they relate to each other. You will gain a deep appreciation of the skills, knowledge and understanding of scientific methods. You will also become competent and confident in a variety of practical, mathematical and problem solving skills and develop an interest in and enthusiasm for the subject, including developing an interest in further study and careers associated with the subject
The A Level Biology Online Course is ideal for anyone wishing to gain knowledge and understanding of this subject or for anyone who wishes to study at a higher level at University and gain UCAS points. You will also find this course extremely valuable if you are looking for a progression route for further training whilst employed.
Support
The course will be delivered online including Tutor Support for two years. All assignments are marked by one of our professional Tutors who will offer regular feedback and guide you through your course. Postal assignments cannot be accepted without prior permission from the tutor and you must have access to email in order to contact your Tutor.
Throughout your course, you'll have the support of a Tutor to guide you. Additionally, you can reach out to the Student Support Team for help with any other questions you may have. You can be assured that you will receive unlimited support for your home study course, so there is no need to struggle or feel isolated during your studies.
A Level Biology Online Course Assessment
The A Level Biology Online Course contains a number of assignments which your tutor will mark and give you valuable feedback on. You will also have access to a range of online resources.
Students will be required to arrange and pay for their examinations at an approved centre when an examination forms part of the course. We can provide an extensive list of these centres for you.
Science Practicals
All of our A Level awarding bodies will give you a full A Level qualification. There will be slight differences between the specifications and what you will actually learn.
For the Science courses (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics), there would be a difference in how you sit practical elements.
AQA offer practicals but they are optional.
With the Cambridge exam board, you will be expected to perform the practical elements, they are compulsory. Which means finding an exam centre that has a lab for you to complete this.
With Edexcel, the practical elements are all taught in theory and are assessed via a written exam, therefore you can sit your full exam at a typical Edexcel approved exam centre.
More information about science practicals can be found here.
Fees
Course fees for payment in full include:
- Assessment and feedback on all assignments.
- Access to your personal Tutor via our online portal.
- Access to a range of online resources, student materials, assessments, assignments, eBooks etc
- Practice exam papers to prepare you for the real thing.
- Help with UCAS application if attending University.
- Tutor references and predicted grades once a satisfactory amount of work has been completed.
- Help finding an exam centre for you to sit your exam.
AQA Exam Board
Awarding Body: AQA
AS Level Biology: 7401
A Level Biology: 7402
Exams: June
Study Hours: 300 – 360 hours
This A’ Level Biology Course with AQA, will give you the skills to make connections and associations with all living things around you. Biology is pretty much the study of life and being such a broad topic, you’re bound to find a specific area of interest.
The course is also ideal for anyone wishing to study at a higher level at University and gain UCAS points, Plus it opens the door to a fantastic range of interesting careers.
This course is designed to build naturally on GCSE understanding with minimal duplication of content and develop skills involving fieldwork.
This A’ Level Biology course forms part of the linear qualifications. This means that learners will sit exams for their particular qualification at the end of the completed course in the June series.
You will not be able to carry forward your AS qualification to the A’ Level qualification as they are now classed as entirely independent qualifications and you will sit either AS or A’ Level exams.
AS Modules:
Biological Molecules
- Monomers and polymers
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Proteins
- Nucleic acids
- ATP
- Water
- Inorganic ions
Cells
- Cell Structure
- All cells rise from other cells
- Transport across cell membranes
- Cell recognition and the immune system
Organisms exchange substances with their environment
- Surface area to volume ratio
- Gas exchange
- Digestion and absorption
- Mass transport
Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms
- DNA, genes and chromosomes
- DNA and protein synthesis
- Genetic diversity can arise as a result of mutation or during meiosis
- Genetic diversity and adaption
- Species and taxonomy
- Biodiversity within a community
- Investigating diversity
Overall, at least 15% of the marks for an AS Biology qualification will require the assessment of practical skills.
A Level Modules:
Biological Molecules
- Monomers and polymers
- Carbohydrates
- Lipids
- Proteins
- Nucleic acids
- ATP
- Water
- Inorganic ions
Cells
- Cell Structure
- All cells rise from other cells
- Transport across cell membranes
- Cell recognition and the immune system
Organisms exchange substances with their environment
- Surface area to volume ratio
- Gas exchange
- Digestion and absorption
- Mass transport
Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms
- DNA, genes and chromosomes
- DNA and protein synthesis
- Genetic diversity can arise as a result of mutation or during meiosis
- Genetic diversity and adaption
- Species and taxonomy
- Biodiversity within a community
- Investigating diversity
Energy transfers in and between organisms
- Photosynthesis
- Respiration
- Energy and ecosystems
- Nutrient cycles
Organisms respond to changes in their international external environments
- Stimuli, both internal and external, are detected and lead to a response
- Nerve coordination
- Skeletal muscles are stimulated to contract by nerves and act as effectors
- Homeostasis is the maintenance of the stable internal environment
Genetic, populations, evolution and ecosystems
- Inheritance
- Populations
- Evolution may lead to speciation
- Populations in ecosystems
The control of gene expression
- Alterations of the sequence of bases in DNA can alter the structure of proteins
- Gene expression is controlled by a number of features
- Using Genome projects
- Gene technologies allow the study and alteration of gene function allowing a better understanding of organism function and the design of new industrial and medical processes
At least 15% of the overall assessment of A-level Biology will assess knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to practical work.
Practical Assessment
Assessment of practical skills in the AS specification will be by written exams only. Therefore the practical endorsement does not apply to the AS specification. At least 15% of the marks for the AS Biology qualification will require the assessment of practical skills through written exams only.
For the Full A Level, practical assessments have been divided into those that can be assessed in written exams and those that can only be directly assessed whilst learners are carrying out experiments.
A-level grades will be based only on marks from written exams. A separate endorsement of practical skills can be taken alongside the A-level.
Exams
AS Assessments:
Paper 1:
Written Examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
Availability: June
Assessment Overview: Short answer and comprehension questions covering Topics 1- 4 including relevant practical skills
75 marks
50% of AS
Paper 2:
Written Examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
Availability: June
Assessment Overview: Short answer and extended response questions covering Topics 1- 4 including relevant practical skills
75 marks
50 % of AS
A Level Assessment:
Paper 1:
Written Examination: 2 hours
Availability: June
Assessment Overview: A mixture of short answer, long answer and extended response questions covering Topics 1- 4 including relevant practical skills
91 marks
35% of A Level
Paper 2:
Written Examination: 2 hours
Availability: June
Assessment Overview: A mixture of short answer, long answer and comprehension questions covering Topics 5- 8 including relevant practical skills
91 marks
35% of A Level
Paper 3:
Written Examination: 2 hours
Availability: June
Assessment Overview: structured questions, including practical techniques, critical analysis of given experimental data and one essay from a choice of two titles based on Topics 1- 8 including relevant practical skills
78 marks
30% of A Level
Cambridge Exam Board
Awarding Body: Cambridge
Course Code: 9700
Study Hours: Recommended 300 – 360 hrs
Exams Available: June & November (also March in India only)
Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE)
The key concepts for Cambridge International AS & A Level Biology are:
Cells as the units of life
A cell is the basic unit of life and all organisms are composed of one or more cells. There are two fundamental types of cell: prokaryotic and eukaryotic. Understanding how cells work provides an insight into the fundamental processes of all living organisms.
Biochemical processes
Cells are dynamic structures within which the chemistry of life takes place. Biochemistry and molecular biology help to explain how and why cells function as they do.
DNA, the molecule of heredity
Cells contain the molecule of heredity, DNA. DNA is essential for the continuity and evolution of life by allowing genetic information to be stored accurately, to be copied to daughter cells, to be passed from one generation to the next and for the controlled production of proteins. Rare errors in the accurate copying of DNA known as mutations result in genetic variation and are essential for evolution.
Natural selection
Natural selection acts on genetic variation and is the major mechanism in evolution, including speciation. Natural selection results in the accumulation of beneficial genetic mutations within populations and explains how populations can adapt to meet the demands of changing environments.
Organisms in their environment
All organisms interact with their biotic and abiotic environment. Studying these interactions allows biologists to understand better the effect of human activities on ecosystems, to develop more effective strategies to conserve biodiversity and to predict more accurately the future implications for humans of changes in the natural world.
Observation and experiment
The different fields of biology are intertwined and cannot be studied in isolation. Observation, enquiry, experimentation and fieldwork are fundamental to biology, allowing relevant evidence to be collected and considered as a basis on which to build new models and theories. Such models and theories are further tested by experimentation and observation in a cyclical process of feedback and refinement, allowing the development of robust and evidence-based conceptual understandings.
Modules
- Cell structure
- Biological molecules
- Enzymes
- Cell membranes and transport
- The mitotic cell cycle
- Nucleic acids and protein synthesis
- Transport in plants
- Transport in mammals
- Gas exchange
- Infectious diseases
- Immunity
AS Level candidates also study practical skills.
Candidates for Cambridge International A Level Biology study the AS topics and the following topics:
- Energy and respiration
- Photosynthesis
- Homeostasis
- Control and coordination
- Inheritance
- Selection and evolution
- Classification, biodiversity and conservation
- Genetic technology
A Level candidates also study practical skills.
Exam Papers
Paper 1:
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
40 multiple choice questions
Paper 2:
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
AS Level Structured Questions
6o marks
Paper 3:
Time: 2 hours
Practical work & structured questions. Questions are based on the practical skills in the practical assessment section of the syllabus.
4o marks
Paper 4:
Time: 2 hours
Based on the A Level syllabus
Structured Questions
100 marks
Paper 5:
Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
30 marks
Questions are based on the practical skills of planning, analysis & evaluation.
