A Level Biology

Course Codes

OSC1279 / OSC1297 / OSC1298

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We have a 94% pass rate** with our A Levels. Study A Level Biology from home and earn up to 56 UCAS points.

Gain an official A Level Biology qualification from AQA.
Achieve up to 56 UCAS points to help you land your dream place at university.
Nationally recognised A Level qualification that is the same course offered in schools and colleges.
No waiting around for term to start - you can enrol today and start studying as soon as you are ready.
Study from home at your own pace.
Benefit from the full support of your personal tutor via email.
Choose to include exams and practicals and save up to £770*.

Course Options	Please choose a course option to see prices	Course Material + Exams + Practical Course Material + Exams Course Material
Study Options	Study Online Study Pack
Payment Options	Pay Upfront Pay Monthly Pay Monthly is not available in your currency.

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Study the science behind life with our A Level Biology course. You’ll expand your knowledge of biological subject areas such as DNA, homeostasis, evolution, and gene technologies.

Depending on your future career plans, the A Levels we recommend studying alongside this online A Level Biology course are A Level Chemistry and A Level Maths.

You’ll gain the knowledge you need to prepare for a future career in the medical field and the university studies you’ll undertake to get you there, whether you want to work in medicine, midwifery, pharmaceuticals, or veterinary science, this course will help you get on track.

Degrees this subject could lead to

For students who have completed this A Level Biology course, you may want to consider studying a university degree in one of the following subject areas:

Nursing
Midwifery
Healthcare
Medicine
Veterinary medicine
Pharmaceuticals

Future career options

You’ll gain the knowledge you need to prepare for a future career in the medical field, whether you want to work in medicine, midwifery, pharmaceuticals, or veterinary science, this course will help you get on track.

A Levels via distance learning

This A Level Biology course is exactly the same as an A Level you would study at school or college, meaning you will take the same exams and get the same qualification. The only difference is that our courses are designed to be studied from home at your own pace, and you will receive full tutor support via email.

Course Duration

Up to two years.

Course Outcome

A Level in Biology from AQA.

Entry Requirements

It is recommended that you have at least a grade 4/C in GCSE Maths and Biology.

Assessment

Three written exams and four practical assessments.

Specification code: 7402

Monomers and polymers
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Many proteins are enzymes
Nucleic acids are important information-carrying molecules
ATP
Water
Inorganic ions

Cell structure
All cells arise from other cells
Transport across cell membranes
Cell recognition and the immune system

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

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

Photosynthesis
Respiration
Energy and ecosystems
Nutrient cycles

Stimuli, both internal and external
Nervous coordination
Skeletal muscles
Homeostasis

Inheritance
Populations
Evolution may lead to speciation
Populations in ecosystems

DNA and the structure of proteins
Gene expression
Using genome projects
Gene technologies
Organism function
Design of new industrial and medical processes

Course duration

You will have two years to complete your A Level Biology course.

The only deadlines involved in studying this course are concerning the A Level exam timetables. Please see the exams and assessments section for more information on this.

Exams and assessments

To achieve your A Level Biology qualification, you must complete the exams. There are three written exams and four practical assessments for this course which will cover the topics studied on this course. A breakdown of the exam papers and assessments can be found in the following section.

When you enrol on your course, you will have the option to add your exams to your enrolment, or you can select the course-only option.

Choosing to add the exams and practicals packages

If you choose to add your exams and practical assessments on to your enrolment, all you need to do is contact us when you are ready to sit your exams and practicals, and we will book and pay for them on your behalf.

Please note that if you book your exams with us, but do not add the practical option to your enrolment, you will be responsible for sourcing a centre and booking your practical assessments directly with the centre.

The examinations for this course will be taken at a centre in Birmingham. Additional exam centres in various locations will soon become available.

The A Level exam timetable typically takes place during May and June each year. You are advised to contact us well in advance of when you intend to sit your exams so that we can confirm your place with the exam board – cut-off dates apply.

The course only option

If you do not add your exams and assessments on to your enrolment, you will be responsible for booking and paying for your exams and practical assessments yourself. If you select this option, you must source and liaise with your chosen exam centre in order to book your exams, Open Study College will not be able to book your exams or practicals for you.

Study method

This course will be studied entirely via distance learning, meaning you will complete your learning either from home or a place that suits you. Full tutor support will be available via email, so if you have any questions or need some guidance, your tutor will be here to help. Your course materials will include a series of self-assessment exercises and tutor-marked questions to allow both yourself and your tutor to monitor your progress.

The study method you choose depends on your personal learning style. Your options are:

Study pack: if you choose the study pack option, you will be sent a set of printed course materials.
Study online: if you choose this option, you will be sent your login details to our online portal through which you will access your course materials digitally. You can access your course via a desktop/laptop computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Course outcome

Upon successful completion of your exams, you will be awarded an A Level qualification in Biology issued by AQA. You will also receive UCAS points relevant to the grade you achieved to support your university application.

UCAS

The final grade you achieve in your A Level will be translated into UCAS points. Based on your grade, you will be awarded up to 56 points per A Level which can then be added together to reach the UCAS points you need to be accepted by your chosen university.

To help you achieve the best possible grade from home, we recommend that you complete the tutor-marked assessments included in your course materials. These are designed to provide you with detailed feedback to help you fine-tune your technique before you sit your exam. Completing your tutor-marked assessments will also help your tutor to provide you with a predicted grade if this is required for your UCAS application.

Type: written examination
Duration: two hours
Weighing: 35% of A Level
Total Marks: 91
Assessed: any content from topics 1-4, including relevant practical skills
Assessment format: short and long answer questions (76 marks) and extended response questions (15 marks)

Type: written examination
Duration: two hours
Weighing: 35% of A Level
Total Marks: 91
Assessed: any content from topics 5-8, including relevant practical skills
Assessment format: short and long answer questions (76 marks) and extended response questions (15 marks)

Type: written examination
Duration: two hours
Weighing: 30% of A Level
Total Marks: 78
Assessed: any content from topics 1-8, including relevant practical skills
Assessment format: structured questions, including practical techniques (38 marks), critical analysis of given experimental data (15 marks), and one essay from a choice of two titles (25 marks)

Four practical assessments – these will run on Sundays every other month from September through to May each year and you must attend four consecutive sessions. These must be attended prior to sitting your examinations however they must be attended in the same year as your examination.

Yes – you will study the same course, take the same exams and get the same qualification. The only difference is that our courses are designed to be studied from home at your own pace, and you will receive full tutor support via email.

We recommend that you have a minimum of GCSE grade 4/C or above in biology. You are also required to have a grade 4/C or above in GCSE mathematics as up to 10% of the marks awarded in this course will be related to mathematical principles.

In addition to this, you should also be familiar with the following:

Arithmetic and computation
Handling data
Algebra
Graphs
Geometry

When you enrol on an A Level course with OSC, you will receive:

Dedicated personal tutor support with unlimited email access.
Dedicated student support from our student services team.
Course materials with learning activities.
Assignment marking and feedback from your personal tutor.
A predicted grade on completion of your tutor-marked assignments, if required for your university application.
A free CV writing service and employability guide if you’re focusing on career advancement.
A free Student Discounts membership to save you money on your favourite brands.
A study pack including a pen, study planner, and notebook*.
If you choose to add exams to your enrolment with an A Level package, then your exam fees will be included. We will also handle the booking on your behalf. Otherwise, we can refer you to one of our partner exam centres located throughout the UK so you can book your exam yourself.
You can also opt to add your practical assessments to your enrolment. If you choose this option, we will book and pay for your practical assessments for you.

* Not included with the online study option

Yes, in order to achieve your A Level qualification, you must complete the exams required by the course’s exam board. A Level exams take place during the summer exam period which typically falls in May and June each year.

You can choose to add your exams to your enrolment with us, in which case we will book and pay for your exams for you when you are ready. Alternatively, if you choose the course only option, you will be responsible for booking and paying for your exams which can be done directly with your local exam centre.

Please note: if you choose to add your exams to your enrolment, you will need to sit your A Level Biology exams at our parter exam centre in Birmingham.

Students will also need to attend the practical assessments which will also take place at the Birmingham centre.

If you select the course-only option when enrolling on your A Level, you will need to book your exams and practical assessments directly with the exam centre and pay for them yourself. We highly recommend researching your options before enrolling as costs can vary between centres. However, if you choose to add your exams and practical assessments to your enrolment, we will take care of booking and paying for your exams for you when you are ready.

It's not a problem. We offer a course replacement service, so if you get into trouble and your course pack is lost or damaged, our Student Support Team can provide you with a new set of materials for a one-time additional fee.