Environmental Science A Level
The Environmental Science A-Level course enables students to gain a deep and well-informed insight into the environment and the scientific processes that control and affect it.
Level 3 / AQA A Level / OSC27
over 12 months and £ deposit
over 12 months and £ deposit
Course summary
Course support
24 months expert tutor support
24 hour access
Unlimited Submissions
Accreditation
Fully accredited course
Awarding body
AQA
Course introduction
An Advanced Level in Environmental Science 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
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.
This course allows learners to earn UCAS points depending on the grade gained:
A* – 56
A – 48
B – 40
C – 32
D – 24
E – 16
Specification: AQA 7447
Please note: Students are fully responsible for the arrangement and funding of any examinations required.
Next Examination Period: Summer
Required knowledge
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
Assessment
To achieve the full Environmental Science A Level you will be assessed across the 7 sections and practical assessment. All units will be assessed by three paper-based examinations. A more detailed breakdown of the assessment details is provided below:
Paper 1:
Type: Written examination
Duration: 3 hours
Weighing: 50% of A Level
Total Marks: 120
Assessed: Any content from sections 2, 3, 4 and 7
Assessment format: A combination of multiple choice, short answer and extended writing questions
Paper 2:
Type: Written examination
Duration: 3 hours
Weighing: 50% of A Level
Total Marks: 120
Assessed: Any content from sections 1, 5, 6 and 7
Assessment format: A combination of multiple choice, short answer and extended writing questions
Please note: It is your responsibility to source and book your fieldwork and examinations.
Your practical skills will be assessed within the written exams only. Overall, at least 15% of the marks for A Level Environmental Science qualification will require the assessment of practical skills.
Students are fully responsible for the arrangement and funding of any examinations required.
Next Examination Period: Summer
Awarding organisation
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.
Course modules
Section 1: The Living Environment
- Conditions for life on Earth
- Conservation of biodiversity
- Life processes in the biosphere and conservation planning
- Opportunities for skills development and independent thinking
Section 2: The Physical Environment
- The hydrosphere
- Mineral resources
- Biogeochemical cycles
Section 3: Energy Resources
- The importance of energy supplies in the development of society
- The impact of the features of energy resources
- The sustainability of current energy resource exploitation
- Strategies to secure future energy supplies
- New energy conservation technologies
Section 4: Pollution
- The properties of pollutants
- Strategies to control pollutants
- Ionising radiation
- Noise
- Solid wastes
- Heavy metals
- Acid mine drainage
- Nutrient pollution
- Pesticides
Section 5: Biological Resources
- Agriculture
- Agroecosystems
- Sustainability of agriculture
- Aquatic food production systems
- Forest resources
Section 6: Sustainability
- Dynamic equilibria
- Energy
- Material cycles
- The circular economy
Section 7: Research Methods
- Scientific methodologies
- Sampling techniques
- Specialist techniques
- Fieldwork and laboratory activities
- Standard environmental techniques
Learner support
- The course comes to you as a proper paper-based pack, not as an electronic password
- The course materials and support will be provided by our partner OSC
- 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 24 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.
FAQs
NCC originally stood for the National Consortium of FE (Further Education) Colleges. This brought together the FE Colleges to achieve the best provision. Regular national meetings were attended by both Colleges and Government agencies who funded them. This was very helpful to them both to best deliver training to their students.
For more than 25 years NCC has supplied FE Colleges with learning materials as well as student marketing.
NCC now specialise in online training of a very high quality to students both self-funded, paid for by schools, employers and training providers.
Distance learning is the most flexible and convenient approach to studying. There is no need for you to attend college and you can study anytime, anyplace, anywhere that fits in with your lifestyle. Distance learning programmes are ideal for people who may have a job, family commitments, or any other commitment that won’t allow them time off to study.
Both our online and paper courses are completed via an online learning portal (LMS) which you can access after you receive your login details by email. Please ensure that you check your junk email if you do not receive your login details within 48 hours.
All learners will submit their assignments, receive feedback and correspond with their tutor directly through the LMS. If you require help from our support team, then simply email [email protected].
If you opt for the online course, you will not receive any course materials through the post. Everything is available via the LMS.
If you opt for the paper version, you are simply paying for a study book to be printed and posted to your home, or place of work. You will use this book as a reference guide, but you will still be required to upload your assignments and correspond with your tutor via the LMS.
If you are unable to access our online LMS, we do have alternative options available, so please email [email protected] in order to request further support.
We recommend that you choose a course that will interest you and help you to achieve your ambitions. If you would like some advice, or further information, contact us here or dial 0333 3445 690.
To purchase a course, simply click on the ‘Buy now’ button against your chosen course and follow the on screen instructions. Alternatively if you would prefer to purchase the course over the phone, call 0333 3445 690 and speak to one of our expert course advisors.
The price largely depends on the size and duration of the course. The course cost is determined by the expenses associated with its provision, taking into consideration the course's size and complexity, development costs, study materials, and the level of tutor support required. Some courses also necessitate additional in-person assessments by assessors, which incur additional expenses and consequently affect the course's cost.
The cost for each course is always listed clearly on the course description page before you make a purchase.
Additionally, extra fees may apply for courses that require externally monitored assessments (such as A Levels or ICB qualifications). For more details, it's best to consult with one of our course advisors.
Once you've chosen your course, you have two options for enrolment:
- You can purchase the course online by clicking the "Buy now" button, which will enrol you automatically.
- Alternatively, you can call our helpline at 0333 3445 690, and our expert course advisors will assist you in signing up for the course and arrange for the delivery of any requested additional learning materials to your address.
All courses are available to purchase in full or via affordable monthly payments over 12 months. A £29 non-refundable deposit is required for monthly payments, and you will be required to set up a monthly direct debit.
We do not require you to complete a credit check to sign up for monthly payments.
We ensure that you will receive your ordered course materials within 5 working days of registration, though for many courses, delivery may take as little as 48 hours.
Your course materials will be sent through a tracked courier service to guarantee delivery of your study book within the specified timeframe.
All the relevant information required to complete your course is available via the LMS. Additional research via the internet is encouraged, depending on the level you are working at, to bolster knowledge of the subject area.
There is no requirement to purchase any additional materials.
You will have access to a dedicated personal tutor whom you can contact through the Learning Management System (LMS) for assistance and guidance on any course-related matters. Your tutor will only initiate contact in response to your messages. If you encounter any difficulties reaching your tutor, please don't hesitate to email us at [email protected].
Many courses require you to submit work to your tutor during the period of study, and your tutor will assess your work and provide feedback to you within 10 working days. Your tutor is available to you as much as you need them.
Please note that the course includes tutor support for a duration of 12 months. If you require additional time, please inform us, and we will make every effort to provide you with an option for a paid extension, if feasible, to assist you in completing your course.
Please be aware that our tutors are actively assisting multiple learners, and to ensure they are not inundated with excessive workloads, we have implemented a policy limiting learners to submitting a maximum of three units of work for evaluation at any given time. We recommend that you upload your completed units as you finish them. This way, you can benefit from your tutor's feedback to enhance your future assignment submissions.
Your work will be marked and feedback returned to you within 10 working days after submission. This is because our tutors are required to provide detailed, considered feedback to our learners that may take a while to formulate. We find that by working this way, our learners actually complete their course in less time, as they rarely need to submit an assignment more than twice.
Whilst it is possible to submit multiple assignments at the same time, we advise that our learners submit only one at a time. We want our learners to develop as they progress through their course, and find this is best achieved when a student embarks on a new module having taken into account tutor feedback from the previous submission.
Kindly note that our tutors are currently supporting multiple learners simultaneously. In order to maintain a balanced workload for them, we have established a policy that restricts learners to submitting a maximum of three units of work for evaluation at any given time.
The time needed to complete your course depends on the specific course you've chosen and the time you're able to dedicate. Generally, it can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 12 months. You'll usually have up to 12 months from the date of purchase to complete your course if you wish to receive your certificate, this is your end of support date.
One of the biggest advantages of distance learning is the flexibility it offers. You can study at your own pace, fitting your coursework around your personal schedule and commitments. There's no pressure—no one will be chasing you to submit work or asking why you haven't turned in an assignment.
That said, we recommend considering your availability before enrolling to ensure you can devote enough time to stay motivated and complete the course within a reasonable timeframe.
All of our courses are fully accredited, and to successfully complete them, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding. Depending on the course you choose, this could involve an examination, but the assessment methods can vary.
For some courses, you'll be continuously assessed throughout your studies, while others may require a final exam or an assignment, which can be done from home and submitted to your tutor.
For specific qualifications like A-levels and GCSEs, you will need to sit invigilated exams at a registered test centre. You'll be responsible for arranging and covering the cost of these exams, but full guidance will be provided by the centre delivering the qualification.
If you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to email us at [email protected]. We can help or connect you with the course provider for more details.
All of our courses are accredited and you will receive a certificate upon successful completion of the course.
For more information about this please see the section of the website that details how awarding bodies work and what the different types of qualifications are: https://www.ncchomelearning.co.uk/awarding-organisations
Yes, you can take as many courses as your time allows, but we would recommend that you clearly evaluate how much time you can commit to your courses of study.
The good news is that if your circumstances change you can always take a limited break and come back to your studies to save your paid for support.
If you decide to enrol on more than one course at the same time, speak to our enquiries team for any bundle deals or offers.
Absolutely! In most cases, our courses are accessible regardless of where you're located. However, some courses may have geographical restrictions set by the Awarding Organisation, and any such limitations will be clearly outlined in the course details.
Keep in mind that all of our tutors are UK-based, and while most work can be submitted via email, there may be rare instances where submissions need to be sent by post.
For courses that require a monitored exam, there are many test centres available internationally. If you're planning to study from abroad, we recommend reaching out to us before purchasing the course to ensure everything is in place for your studies.
If, after receiving the course, you decide it isn’t the right course for you, you may return the materials within 14 days, provided you have not yet submitted any coursework for evaluation. Please note that you will be responsible for covering the return shipping costs. We will refund your payment, minus a non-refundable deposit of £29. Additionally, you have the option to select an alternative course that better matches your goals and aspirations.
For any help on cancelling your course please email [email protected], we will only deal with cancellation enquiries via email.
Totum is the new brand for UK student cards and replaces the old NUS student card. NCC students are eligible to sign-up for the Totum card where applicable, giving access to a multitude of retail, food and travel special discounts. For more information, you can visit their website: https://www.totum.com/
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