A Level Biology

Now available as a 12 month FAST TRACK course at no extra cost!! Just select the option at the bottom of this page.

Guaranteed exam place: venues in Bristol, Harrogate, Birmingham & London.

Specification
AQA:2410-Biology A Level specification

Course Overview
Among the many benefits, this new specification is designed to encourage candidates to have:
?an enthusiasm for biology
?practical skills alongside understanding of concepts and principles
?an appropriate and relevant foundation of knowledge and skills for the study of biology in Higher Education.

Testing Centres
http://www.aqa.org.uk/admin/p_private.php

Course Content

1 Biology and Disease
Pathogens & Lifestyle: Analyse and interpret data associated with specific risk factors and the incidence of disease.
Recognise correlations and casual relationships.
The digestive system, proteins, enzyme action, enzyme properties and carbohydrate digestion.
Cells, plasma membranes, diffusion, osmosis, active transport, absorption and cholera.
Lung function and the biological basis of lung disease.
Heart structure and function; the biological basis of heart disease.
Principles of immunology, including evaluating the methodology, evidence and data relating to use of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies, ethical issues arising, the role of the scientific community in validating new knowledge and how society uses scientific knowledge to inform decision making on vaccines etc.

2 The Variety of Living Organisms
The learners will gain an understanding and be able to discuss:
Investigating variation between members of a species, the need for random sampling, the concept of normal distribution about a mean.
Causes of variation discussing the various environmental and genetic factors and their contribution.Structure of DNA, genes and polypeptides, DNA and chromosomes and meiosis.
Haemoglobin, carbohydrates (basic structure and function) and cells.
Replication of DNA, mitosis and cell cycle.
Cell differentiation.
Size and surface area, gas exchange, mass transport, the blood system and the passage of water through a plant.
Principles of taxonomy.
Genetic comparisons, DNA, proteins and behaviour.
Antibiotics and genetic variation in bacteria.
Biodiversity: Species diversity and index of diversity.

3 Investigate and practical skills in Biology.
The learners will be able to:
Pose scientific questions and define scientific problems.
Identify the independent variable and describe an appropriate method for varying it.
Identify other variables.Explain why appropriate control experiments should be established.
Explain how they would collect a full range of useful quantitative data.
Distinguish between accuracy and reliability and describe adequate precautions.
Show full regard to safety and ethical issues.
Carry out an investigation in a methodical and organised way.
Take all measurements accurately.
Collect and present raw data in a suitable table.
Process data correctly.
Select relevant data to present an effective summary of results.
Describe the trends in collected data.
Recognise correlations and causal relationships.
Draw valid conclusions and apply biological knowledge to findings.
Identify the limitations of the material, apparatus and techniques used.
Discuss the effects of these limitations and the conclusions; resolving conflicting evidence.
Suggest ways as to how effects of limitations may be reduced.

4 Populations and Environment.
The learners will gain an understanding and be able to discuss:

Populations and ecosystems, investigating populations, variation in population size and human populations.

ATP.
Photosynthesis, light-dependent reaction, light independent reaction and limiting factors.

Aerobic respiration and anaerobic respiration.

Energy transfer and energy and food production.

Nutrient cycles, carbon and nitrogen.

Succession.
Inheritance, the Hardy-Weinberg principle, selection and speciation.

5 Control in Cells and in organisms
The learners will gain an understanding and be able to discuss:
Survival and response, control of heart rate and receptors.
Principles, nerve impulses and synaptic transmission.
The sliding filament theory of muscle contraction and muscles as effectors.
Principles, temperature control and control of blood glucose concentration.
Principles and control of mammalian oestrus.
The genetic code, polypeptide synthesis and gene mutation.
Most of cell’s DNA is not translated and the regulation of transcription and translation.
Gene cloning and transfer, gene therapy, medical diagnosis and genetic fingerprinting.

6 Investigative and Practical skills in A2 Biology
The learners will gain an understanding and be able to:
Pose scientific questions and define scientific problems.
Identify the independent variable and describe an appropriate method for varying it.
Identify other variables.
Explain why appropriate control experiments should be established.
Explain how they would collect a full range of useful quantitative data.
Distinguish between accuracy and reliability and describe adequate precautions.
Show full regard to safety and ethical issues.
Carry out an investigation in a methodical and organised way.
Take all measurements accurately.
Collect and present raw data in a suitable table.
Select and justify an appropriate statistical test.
Construct an appropriate null hypothesis.
Calculate the test statistic.
Interpret the calculated test statistic.
Draw valid conclusions.
Identify the limitations in apparatus and technique.
Assess the effects of these limitations on the data.
Suggest ways that these effects may be reduced.
Suggest further investigations as additional evidence.

How science works
Learners should be able to demonstrate a working knowledge in:
• the concepts, principles and theories that form the subject content
• the procedures associated with the valid testing of ideas and, in particular, the collection, interpretation and validation of evidence
• the role of the scientific community in validating evidence and also in resolving conflicting evidence.
• the contribution that scientists, as scientists, can make to decision-making and the formulation of policy
• the need for regulation of scientific enquiry and how this can be achieved
• how scientists can contribute legitimately to debates about those claims which are made in the name of science.

Suggested reading
AS Biology for AQA, author; Michael Kent, publisher; Oxford University Press, ISBN:978-0-19-915267-4

AQA AS Biology, author; Glenn Toole and Susan Toole, publisher; Nelson Thornes, ISBN:978-0-7487-8275-8

AQA A2 Biology Student's book: Student's Book – Glenn Toole, Susan Toole.

Publisher: Nelson Thornes (25 Nov 2008)

ISBN-10: 0748798137

ISBN-13: 978-0748798131

Study Time
To complete a full A level it will take in the region of 200 study hours.

Pre-requisites
To take an A Level you should have a GCSE grade C or above, or the equivalent and preferably in your chosen subject.

Support
You will have access to tutor via email who will mark your work and guide you through the course to ensure you are ready for your examinations.

Examination Centres
The examining body will provide you with a list of examination centres but it is entirely your responsibility to find a centre which will accept you as an external candidate.

In some cases you should be prepared to travel to another town or city to take your exams.

The contract for sitting exams is between you and the centre  and we will provide you with comprehensive instructions on when and how to deal with the examination centre.

Please email for a list of centres and we will provide you with a link or a pdf for you to contact centres directly. We are unable to provide this information by telephone.

This specification is available to private candidates under certain conditions. Because of the nature of the centre assessed units, candidates must be attending an AQA centre which will supervise and assess the centre assessed work.

Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do your courses meet the latest syllabus changes?
A. yes, all our course materials meet any changes and will be updated free of charge if further changes are made.

Q. Why do I have to find a centre myself?
A. We have students all over the UK and Europe and it is impossible for us to arrange dates and times for individual students.

Q. What if I cannot find an examination centre in my home town?
A. If you wish to gain the qualification then be prepared to travel it is worth it!

Q. How much are exam fees?
A. These vary from centre to centre so please check with your local centre.

Q. Are the courses paper based or on-line?
A. All our courses are paper based and come in attractive sturdy folders.

Q. How do I contact my tutor?
A. Tutors are all working Teachers or Lecturers so contact is by email only.

Q. Why can I not take my exams when I have completed the course and why do I have to wait?
A. Exams are taken at the same times as schools and colleges and are not flexible.

Q. I want to take my exams but there are only a few months to study, is this possible?
A. Depending on the time of year, it is sometimes impossible to complete your studies in a short space of time as your work has to be marked and checked. More importantly the examination boards have cut off times which are not flexible. See our web site for further information.

Q. Will I receive UCAS points on completion of this course?
A. Yes all of our A Levels carry UCAS points. The number of points awarded will depend on the grade you achieve.