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A Level Biology
Course Codes
OSC1279 / OSC1297 / OSC1298
Study A Level Biology from home and earn up to 56 UCAS points. We have a 94% pass rate** with our A Levels!
- 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 overview
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 Level Biology 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 twelve practical assessments.
Course content
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
Extra info
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 twelve 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 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.
Please note, our A Level exam centre locations for this course are as follows:
- Birmingham
- Coventry
- Doncaster
- Bolton
- Wimbledon
- Taunton
- St Neots, Cambridgeshire
- High Wycombe
- Romford
- Belfast
Please note, if you choose to add your practical sessions to your enrolment, you will need to complete both your practicals and written exams at our Birmingham centre.
The course-only option
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.
If you do not add your exams and assessments 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.
Download our A Level prospectus
To find out more about Open Study College, the A Levels we offer and how they work, download our A Level prospectus.
Exam details
Paper 1
- 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)
Paper 2
- 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)
Paper 3
- 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)
Practical assessments
- Twelve practical assessments – these take place at our centre in Birmingham, and will take place over the course of one weekend. Sessions will run in October, February, March, April, and May. These must be attended prior to sitting your examinations however they must be attended in the same year as your examination.
Q&As
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 learner services from our learner 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 critique 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
There is no required reading for this A Level, however, you will need to conduct your own research using the internet during your studies.
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 add on exams you will need to sit these exams in either the Birmingham, Coventry, Doncaster, Bolton, Wimbledon, Taunton, or St Neots (Cambridgeshire) examination centre.
Please note, if you choose to add your practical sessions to your enrolment, you will need to complete both your practicals and written exams at our 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.
You are still able to study our A Level courses abroad, however, you must sit your exams and practical assessments within the UK at an official exam centre.
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.
That's not a problem. We want to make sure you're 100% confident about enrolling on the course and starting your study. So, just give our team of education specialists a call on 03300 563 100 and they'll do their best to help.