A Level Biology

This course covers the brand new spec introduced in September 2015.

The course provides a seamless transition to A Level from previous studies and develops students interest and enthusiasm for Biology. It contains all the information you will need to pass the A Level Biology exam.

This course is designed for students working at home. The topics are presented in small "chunks" with worked examples followed by activities for the student. Revision tests are provided after every three or four sections and there is a test paper at the end of each module. This is a mock exam, so you should revise the content of the module before you do the test paper.

This course is self-contained, so you can learn everything you need by working through the materials provided.

DURATION

The approximate length of the course is 700 hours and you are provided with support for up to 2 years. You work through the course at your own pace, however bear in mind that exams can only be sat in June so some forward planning with regards to this is wise. The first date you may sit exams is June 2017.

It is up to you when you register to sit the exams, some people wish to do the course 'fast track' and sit the exams 12 months later (or next available exam dates), others prefer to study over the full two years. You make that decision yourself during your studies.

SUPPORT

Although you are studying from home, you are fully supported when taking the course. You will have a tutor assigned to you who is contactable by email and a support team by telephone should you have any questions or require assistance with your studies.

There are a series of assignments during the course that you complete and return to your tutor for assessment. They don't count towards your final grade, but they allow the tutor to monitor your progress and correct any areas you may have misunderstood.

QUALIFICATION

Exams are sat in May/June of each year, beginning in 2017.

It is up to you when you register yourself for the exams. For students in England the AS exam no longer counts towards your full A Level qualification so it is entirely optional whether or not you take it. Students in Wales and Northern Ireland will continue to sit the AS.

The exam board is AQA.

Students are responsible for registering to sit the exams at a test centre. We recommend that you make enquiries regarding a centre before you enrol for a course.

METHOD OF STUDY

Paper Based Version

The course comes to you as a paper-based pack delivered by courier.

You will receive the full course including all the AS and A2 material at the beginning. The course contains a number of assignments that you will complete and email to your tutor for marking and feedback. This allows the tutor to ensure you are picking things up correctly and to iron out any problem areas.

In addition there are a number of self testing exercises that will help you to gauge your progress.

You will be given guidance through the Study Guide on the nuts and bolts of studying and submitting assignments.

Online Version

The online courses are fully digitised so you can study on any smart device. Your learning programme is completely flexible so you can study at a pace that suits you. All the content is broken down into bite size chunks to make your learning manageable and effective.

Your course of study is broken down into units and sections, each of which contains lessons, activities and tests.

Courses are delivered on the Moodle based Digital Learning Environment CloudPort allowing you to study from anywhere on any smart device as long as you have access to the internet.

The course concludes by preparing you for an examination using past papers in your chosen subject.

FEES

The cost of the course if you pay in full is £399 for the paper version and £449 for the online version.

If you have a UK bank account you can also pay in stages as below:-

 Paper Version:

Enrolment Fee: £199
5 x Monthly Payments: £50
Total Payable: £449

Online Version:-

Enrolment Fee: £249
5 x Monthly Payments: £50
Total Payable: £499

ASSESSMENT

In order to achieve this qualification students will sit three examinations and twelve practical assessments. The practicals are not marked, but you will need to be observed by an examination centre to demonstrate competence in the different techniques. The practicals are usually held in Spring of each year, while the written exams are in May/June. Booking exams is the responsibility of the student. Any and all exam fees will be paid by the student directly to their chosen exam centre. Please arrange/confirm this prior to enrolling with your chosen centre.

Paper 1

Assessment details:

• 35% of A-Level
• 91 marks
• Written exam: 2 hours

What is assessed?:

• Any content from topics 1-4, including relevant practical skills

Questions:

• 76 marks = A mixture of short and long answer questions
• 15 marks = Extended response questions

Paper 2

Assessment details:

• 35% of A-Level
• 91 marks
• Written exam: 2 hours

What is assessed?:

• Any content from topics 5-8, including relevant practical skills

Questions:

• 76 marks = A mixture of short and long answer questions
• 15 marks = Extended response questions

Paper 3

Assessment details:

• 30% of A-Level
• 78 marks
• Written exam: 2 hours

What is assessed?:

• Any content from topics 1-8, including relevant practical skills

Questions:

• 38 marks = Structured questions, including practical techniques
• 15 marks = Critical analysis of given experimental data
• 25 marks = One essay from a choice of two titles

Practical Assessment

Your A Level grade will be based on your written examinations. It is NOT a requirement to have completed the practical assessments, however if you do not it will be marked as such on your certificate and the majority of universities will not accept it.

1. Use appropriate apparatus to record a range of quantitative measurements (to include mass, time, volume, temperature, length and pH)
2. Use appropriate instrumentation to record quantitative measurements, such as colorimeter or polotemeter
3. Use laboratory glassware apparatus for a variety of experimental techniques to include serial dilutions
4. Use of a light microscope at high power and low power, including use of graticule
5. Produce scientific drawing from observation with annotations
6. Use qualitative reagents to identify biological molecules
7. Separate biological compounds using thin layer/paper chromatography or electrophoresis
8. Safely and ethically use organisms to measure plant or animal responses/ physiological functions
9. Use microbial aseptic techniques, including the use of agar plates and broth
10. Safely use instruments for dissection of an animal organ, or plant organ
11. Use sampling techniques in fieldwork
12. Use ICT such as computer modelling, or data logger to collect data, or use software to process data

Assignment Information

Throughout the course there will be self-assessment questions, and tutor marked questions, to enable students to monitor their progress.

Students are able to sit a standalone AS paper as a measurement/guide of their progress if required. However this will incur additional exam fees with your centre. This will be available in May/June 2016 if required. This will not count towards your overall A Level exam and is purely available for students who wish to test their progress. (England only)

For students in Northern Ireland and Wales the AS will continue to count. 

SYLLABUS

Topic 1: Biological Molecules

Monomers and polymers
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Structure of DNA and RNA
ATP
Water 
Inorganic Ions 

Topic 2: Cells

Cell structure
Methods of studying cells
Transport across cell membranes
Cell recognition and the immune system

Topic 3:  Organisms exchange substances with their environment

Surface area to volume ratio
Gas exchange
Digestion and absorption
Mass transport

Topic 4: Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms

DNA, genes and chromosomes
DNA and protein synthesis
Genetic diversity
Species and taxonomy
Biodiversity within a community

Topic 5: Energy transfers in and between organisms

Photosynthesis
Respiration
Energy and ecosystems
Nutrient cycles

Topic 6: Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments

Stimuli (External and internal)
Receptors
Control of heart rate
Nervous coordination
Skeletal muscles
Control of blood glucose concentration
Control of blood water potential 

Topic 7: Genetic populations, evolution and ecosystems

Inheritance
Populations
Evolution
Populations in ecosystems

Topic 8: The control of gene expressions

Alteration of the sequence of bases in DNA can alter the structure of proteins 
Gene expression is controlled by a number of features
Gene expression and cancer 
Using genome projects 
Genetic fingerprinting