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Science & Research

A Level Biology Course

We have designed our online A-Level Biology course to align with the AQA specification. Our Biology A Level course is ideal for those seeking additional qualifications or a deeper grasp of Biology.



With an explicit curriculum and expert guidance, you will explore the details of biology, including molecular concepts and ecological systems. Our A Level Biology course provides the knowledge and skills essential for success, and you can study at your own pace.

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Level 3 / AQA A Level / OSC54

Buying options

Special offer
Online study
Paper study
Online study
Pay in full
Pay monthly
Pay in full

over 12 months and £ deposit

over 12 months and £ deposit

 

Course summary

tutor

Course support

24 months expert tutor support

tutor

24 hour access

Unlimited Submissions

qualification

Accreditation

Fully accredited course

award

Awarding body

AQA

Course introduction

Do you need an A Level to get into University?

We meticulously designed our A-level biology course to prepare you for exam success, focusing on prioritizing coursework marking to ensure your readiness for the June exams each year.


A Level Biology is a stepping stone to higher education, offering the ideal foundation for university-level studies in biology. This biology A level also serves as a pathway for further training while you are employed.


Our A Level Biology course is structured to ignite your passion for biology and nurture practical skills. You'll gain a profound understanding of key concepts and principles, laying a solid foundation for higher education in biology.

A Level Biology Course - How Science Works 

An understanding of How Science Works is a requirement. This fundamental concept encompasses how scientists explore scientific phenomena to elucidate our world. Furthermore, "How Science Works" acknowledges scientists' valuable contributions to their respective fields and the broader global community.

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 code: 7402

Required knowledge

Minimum of GCSE grade C or above. Candidates will be required to have an understanding of the following terms: molecule, ion, compound element, isomer, isotope, oxidation, bond, reduction, hydrolysis, condensation, and wavelength.

Assessment

Paper 1
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
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

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. However, in order to receive your A Level you must also undergo a separate endorsement of 12 practical skills. These are listed below:

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

Please note: Students are fully responsible for the arrangement and funding of any examinations required.

Next Examination Period: Summer

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

The AQA A Level Biology Course specification is structured into eight topics, assessed across three examinations. This course has been designed to reflect this, and will take students through each topic, as listed below:

Topic 1: Biological molecules
Topic 2: Cells
Topic 3: Organisms exchange substances with their environment
Topic 4: Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms
Topic 5: Energy transfers in and between organisms
Topic 6: Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments
Topic 7: Genetic populations, evolution and ecosystems
Topic 8: The control of gene expressions

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 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

What does NCC stand for?

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.

What is distance learning?

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.

What is the difference between the online and paper versions of courses?

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.

What do I need to do to get started?

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.

How much will it cost?

The cost largely depends on the type and size 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, the presence of a 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.

All prices are clearly stated on the course description page and will always be displayed prior to you committing to purchase a course.

Please note that there may be additional fees required should your course require an external invigilated assessment, such as A Levels, ICB qualifications etc. To clarify, please speak to a course advisor.

How do I enrol?

Once you've chosen your course, you have two options for enrolment:


  1. You can purchase the course online by clicking the "Buy now" button, which will enrol you automatically.
  2. 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.

How quickly will I receive my course materials?

We guarantee that you will receive any course materials ordered within 5 working days of registering, but for many of our courses it may take no more than 48 hours.

The course materials are always sent to you via a tracked courier service, to ensure that you receive your study book within our stated period.

Do I need any additional books or equipment to do my course?

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.

What support will I receive?

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.

How long will it take for my work to be marked by my tutor?

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.

How long should it take to complete a course?

Depending on the course you have chosen, and the amount of time you can commit, it could take from 6 weeks to 12 months to complete your course. Your end of support date is when you need to have your course copmpleted by in order to be able to be certificated, this is usually 12 months from purchase.

The duration of the course is largely down to you. The beauty of home learning is that it allows you complete flexibility to fit your studies around your lifestyle and other commitments. You can dedicate as much, or as little, time as you want to your studies - no one will be chasing you for your work or asking why you haven’t submitted an assignment.

We do strongly recommend, though, that before you purchase a course you assess your ability to commit the necessary time to completing the course in a timeframe that will not leave you losing your motivation.

Will I have to sit an examination?

All of our courses are accredited, so you need to show that you have acquired the knowledge to pass the course – this may involve sitting an examination, but it depends on the course you have chosen.

Some courses require you to be continually assessed throughout the course, while others may require an end of course exam or assignment (which may be completed at home) to be submitted to your tutor.

Certain types of qualifications, A-levels and GCSEs for example, do require you to sit invigilated exams at a registered test centre. You will need to organise and pay for the examinations yourself, however full details of what you need to do will be available from the centre who are delivering the qualification.

If in doubt, please email [email protected], NCC can then discuss or put you in touch directly with the course provider.

Will I receive a qualification when I complete the course?

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

Can I take more than one course at a time?

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.

Can I study from outside the UK?

Certainly, in most instances, there are no geographical constraints on where you can undertake your studies. However, it's important to note that specific courses may be subject to geographical limitations imposed by the Awarding Organisation, and these restrictions will be clearly stated in the course description.

You just need to be aware that all tutors are based in the UK and work may need to be submitted to them via post, although in most cases e-mail can be used.

Where the course requires that you sit an invigilated exam at a test centre, there are many exam centres outside of the UK. However, we would advise that you check with us before purchasing one of these courses if you want to study from abroad.

What if I’ve chosen the wrong course?

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.

What is a Totum Card?

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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