Description
Our AQA A Level Biology online course not only allows students to delve deeply into the fascinating world of biology, but also equips them with a highly valued qualification endorsed by key theoretical principles and practical skills. This comprehensive online biology A Level course is an ideal stepping stone for those looking to pursue further education and careers in the biological sciences at university and beyond.
Homework, Assessment and Reporting
Students in the sixth form are expected to complete at least one piece of homework per subject each week. However, success in the sixth form is assured by revising notes to consolidate learning after each lesson. As a guiding principle, students should complete an hour of independent study for every hour taught in class.
In the sixth form, each subject requires a minimum of one piece of homework per week. To excel in this A Level biology course online, students are advised to engage in independent study. For every hour of taught content, an additional hour should be spent on self-directed learning, including note revision and other activities that consolidate acquired knowledge.
Assessments are tailored to provide continuous feedback and improvements. Level 5 internal assessments are conducted in June, while Level 6 internal mock assessments take place in November and March. Reports, encapsulating grades for both attainment and effort, are issued at the end of the Autumn and Summer terms for Level 5, and following mock assessments for Level 6. These reports also include written comments from Success Coaches and the Head Teacher to provide holistic feedback on student performance.
Family Involvement
Parents are given the unique opportunity to closely monitor their child’s educational journey through a family Teams account. This not only fosters constant communication with teachers but also enables more detailed tracking of student progress than an annual parent consultation evening would allow.
Embark on a journey through the intricacies of the biological world with our online biology A Level course, and set the foundation for a fulfilling future in the sciences.
Click here to see this year’s Assessment and Reporting schedule
The course will follow the current AQA specifications.
The course will be based on the textbooks recommended for the AQA A Levels.
Candidates for AQA A Level Biology study the following topics:
1 Biological molecules
2 Cells
3 Organisms exchange substances with their environment
4 Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms
5 Energy transfers in and between organisms
6 Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments
7 Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems
8 The control of gene expression
These topics will be taught in Years 12 and 13 to prepare students for their AQA A Level examinations.
AQA science A Levels do not require a science practical endorsement examination to pass (all grades A*-G are achievable without a practical examination). However, students who wish to study sciences at degree level are advised to check with their intended university whether a science practical endorsement is required. If so, a separate science practical endorsement examination can be taken later, even after students have passed and left their CHS A Level course. Students should check with their local examination centre to see if they offer science practical preparation and examinations.
Examination Papers
Our lessons prepare students for June Series examinations only – at A level, not AS level.
Paper 1: topics 1 to 4, including relevant practical skills, written exam: 2 hours, 91 marks, 35% of A Level
Paper 2: topics 5 to 8, including relevant practical skills, written exam: 2 hours, 91 marks, 35% of A Level
Paper 3: topics 1 to 8, including relevant practical skills, written exam: 2 hours, 78 marks, 30% of A Level. (This includes a 25-mark synoptic essay.)
It is the parents’ responsibility to arrange their child’s examinations; our teachers will provide all the support required. Most students will sit their examination papers at a school or college who accept private candidates. Some students sit their examinations at private examination centres.
Unlike Cambridge examination board, the AQA examination board has few examination centres outside of the UK, and so it is likely that students will sit their science A Level examinations at a UK examination centre. As CHS students are applying to top UK universities, travel to the UK will be required.
Separate Science Practical Endorsement (Optional)
AQA science A Levels do not require a science practical endorsement to pass (all grades A*-G are achievable without a practical examination). However, students who wish to study sciences at degree level are advised to check with their intended university whether a science practical endorsement is required. If so, a separate science practical endorsement examination can be taken later, even after students have passed and left their CHS A Level course.
Students should check with their local examination centre to see if they offer science practical preparation and examinations. While separate practical endorsement preparation and examination courses (typically 1 week duration) are readily available in the UK, they may not be available internationally. International students do have the option of sitting examinations and the practical endorsement in the UK. Preparation for this additional practical endorsement will be carried out by your appointed examination centre and not by the school.
“The conducting of experiments is potentially dangerous and must be supervised by an adult. Cambridge Home School and its teachers do not demand that pupils conduct experiments. Parents and pupils must make the decision on whether to conduct experiments / dangerous activities and must therefore accept responsibility for any outcomes. Cambridge Home School does not accept responsibility for experiments or any other dangerous activity conducted at the homes of its pupils or in any other place.”
If you are intending to study A Level Biology after IGCSE, we recommend that you spend some time in the summer holidays preparing. Here are some suggested activities:
Watch:
Base editing: Revolutionary therapy clears girl’s incurable cancer
YouTube channels to look at for help with studying AQA A Level Biology:
A-Level Biology AQA (new spec)
Read:
The Galapagos giant tortoise Chelonoidis phantasticus is not extinct
Lab-grown meat could be 25 times worse for the climate than beef
Listen:
Subscribe:
Crossword:
What does the A Level Biology online course offer?
The AQA A Level Biology online course is tailored to provide students with both a strong theoretical understanding and practical skills in biology. This course is a highly regarded qualification that paves the way for further study at the university level.
How is assessment conducted in the online Biology A Level course?
Students will undergo Level 5 internal assessments in June and Level 6 internal mock assessments in November and March. Reports, which include grades for attainment and effort along with comments from Success Coaches and the Head Teacher, are issued at specific terms.
What resources are available for students taking the online Biology A Level?
The course follows the AQA specifications and is based on the recommended AQA A Level textbooks. Students are expected to complete at least one piece of homework per subject each week and are encouraged to engage in independent study.
How can parents track their child’s progress in the Biology A Level online course?
Parents can use their family Teams account to stay in touch with teachers, allowing for more detailed progress tracking than an annual consultation evening provides.
What topics are covered in the A Level Biology online course?
The course covers a comprehensive range of topics from biological molecules and cells to genetics and ecosystems. These topics are taught over Years 12 and 13 to prepare students for their AQA A Level exams.
General points
Assessment, apart from the final A Level exams, will be carried out continuously throughout lessons, via homework or short tests.
Practicals will not be possible due to the online nature of teaching, but students are welcome to carry out safe practicals at home. Students are also encouraged to watch videos of practicals online, for example using YouTube. Students will also be encouraged to think scientifically in an everyday context, making them aware of the science around them and how it can help in solving problems.
The Teachers
Biology at Cambridge Home School Online is taught by Mrs Perkins, Mrs Graham and Miss Neckles. Click on the names below to find out more about our Biology teachers.