UOL27 Environmental Studies A Level (Standard or Fast Track)

Environmental Studies A Level | NCC Home Learning

The Environmental Studies course enables students to gain a deep and well-informed insight into the environment, and the scientific processes that control and affect it.

Course Description

Environmental Studies A Level

Do you need an A Level within 12 months to get into University?

We offer a range of A Levels where we guarantee to prioritise the marking of your coursework so you are fully ready to take your exams in June of each year.

WE DO NOT CHARGE EXTRA FOR THIS SERVICE.

An Advanced Level in Environmental Studies is a perfect qualification for those wishing to acquire knowledge and understanding of the subject to enable them to study at a higher level at university. It also provides a progression route for further training whilst in employment.

This specification is designed to:

• develop an understanding of how different events and cycles within the environment interrelate
• draw on experiences of human impacts on environmental events and cycles, and the strategies that can be used to minimise the problems caused
• enable students to gain a deep and well-informed insight into the environment, and the scientific processes involved
• prepare students for a very wide variety of higher education courses and be an ideal base for employment

On this course you will study four units:

AS Level

At AS, this specification develops a foundation of scientific knowledge and skills associated with the environment and how it works. Candidates study the biodiversity of life on Planet Earth and Physical resources which are essential for life on Earth:

Unit 1: ENVS1 The Living Environment
Written examination: 1 hour

Unit 2: ENVS2 The Physical Environment
Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes

A2 Level

At A2, the specification enables candidates to further develop their skills and understanding of 'How Science Works'. Candidates examine Energy Resources and Environmental Pollution, and Biological Resources and Sustainability:

Unit 3: ENVS3 Energy Resources and Environmental Pollution
Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes

Unit 4: ENVS4 Biological Resources and Sustainability
Written examination: 2 hoursFor further details visit

http://web.aqa.org.uk/qual/gce/science/environmental-studies-overview.php

Course Content

Unit 1 The Living Environment

An introduction to the biodiversity of life on Planet Earth.

Unit 2 The Physical Environment

Physical resources such as atmospheric gases, water and mineral nutrients are essential for life on Earth.

Humans exploit and manage physical resources to provide higher material living standards.

The use of many of these resources is unsustainable.

Unit 3 Energy Resources and Environmental Pollution

Future problems of energy supply and how these may be resolved are investigated through the study of the energy resources which are available for use.

Unit 4 Biological Resources and Sustainability

The factors controlling human population growth are considered in relation to the demands placed upon the planets resources and life-support systems.

How Science Works

An understanding of How Science Works is a requirement. How Science Works is an underpinning set of concepts and is the means whereby students come to understand how scientists investigate scientific phenomena in their attempts to explain the world about us. Moreover, How Science Works recognises the contribution scientists have made to their own disciplines and to the wider world.

Recommended reading

AQA A Level Environmental Studies Student Book, Richard Genn, 2008,
Nelson Thornes ISBN-10: 1408513900 ISBN-13: 978-1408513903

Environmental Science: A Global Concern (Ninth Edition), William P.
Cunningham, Mary Ann Cunningham and Barbara Woodworth Saigo, 2007,
McGraw Hill Higher Education Publisher: ISBN-10: 0071105964
ISBN13: 978-0071105965

AS +A2 = A level in Environmental Studies. Both AS and A2 level courses and examinations must be successfully completed to gain a full A level.

Previous Knowledge Required

This course builds from the knowledge gained in a range of GCSE science subjects, including GCSE Environmental Studies, although its study is not essential to undertake the A Level course. Some knowledge of biology or other GCSE Science subjects or Geography would be useful, so you may find the following books useful for revision.

AQA Science GCSE Science Students Book by Ann Fullick, Patrick Fullick, J Breithaupt, Lawrie Ryan (2006) Published by Nelson Thornes ISBN-10: 0748796347 ISBN-13: 978-0748796342

Understanding GCSE Geography: For AQA Specification A (Understanding GCSE Geography) by Ann Bowen and John Pallister (2006) Published by Heinemann Educational Publishers; 3Rev Ed edition ISBN-10: 0435351710 ISBN-13: 978-0435351717

Support

• The course comes to you as a proper paper-based pack, not as an electronic password
• You will get full tutor support via email
• You will receive feedback on your assignments from our experienced tutors
• You will be given guidance through the Study Guide on the nuts and bolts of studying and submitting assignments
• Postal assignments cannot be accepted without prior permission from the tutor
• You must have access to email in order to contact your tutor.

Our A Levels come with tutor support for 18 months.

You will have access to a tutor via our student portal who will mark your work and guide you through the course to help you be ready for your examinations. In addition you will be supplied with a comprehensive Study Guide which will help you through the study and assessment process.

Assessment

The course contains a number of assignments which your tutor will mark and give you valuable feedback on. We call these Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs). You need only send the TMAs to your tutor for comment, not the self-assessment exercises which are also part of the course to help you gauge your progress.

Exams are taken at an AQA centre and we can provide an extensive list of centres for you within the course pack.

Modules

• Unit 1: ENVS1 – The Living Environment
• Unit 2: ENVS2 – The Physical Environment
• Unit 3: ENVS3 – Energy Resources and Environmental Pollution
• Unit 4: ENVS4 – Biological Resources and Sustainability

Awarding Organisation

AQA (The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) has a leading reputation for promoting education for the public benefit and draws on long experience of setting and marking public exams such as GCSEs, A-levels and other qualifications. AQA is the largest of the three English exam boards, awarding 49% of full course GCSEs and 42% of A-levels nationally. In total, students take over 3.5 million exams with them each year.

For more information about Awarding Organisations click here