Our A level Biology online course explores complex ideas using relevant, engaging topics using high-quality distance learning materials. Alongside subject knowledge, you’ll develop research, problem-solving, organisational and analytical skills – all highly sought by universities and employers.

You’ll have the flexibility to fit study around your lifestyle, learning at your own pace, with access to the support of a specialist personal tutor. Like many NEC students, perhaps you’ll go on to study a science-based subject at university, or use your qualification to support your next career move?

Our Biology A level course is ideal if you:

• Are keen to build on the knowledge you’ve gained at GCSE level.
• Enjoy working scientifically: making predictions, testing theories and evaluating and communicating your findings.
• Would like to build your observational, investigative and problem-solving skills, to improve your employability.
• Have career aspirations in health, STEM or conservation related fields
• Would like to discover how biology impacts everyday life.

Future opportunities

• Employers are crying out for candidates with science-based skills – such as enquiry, accuracy, initiative and inventiveness.
• Studying biology or STEM subjects at university.
• A range of rewarding careers in medicine, physiotherapy, nursing, veterinary science, zoology, microbiology, marine biology, pharmacology, forensic science, ecology, conservation and teaching.

Section 1: Lifestyle, health and risk

• What is cardiovascular disease?
• Who is at risk of cardiovascular disease?
• Risk factors for cardiovascular disease?
• Biochemistry involved in cardiovascular disease?
• Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease

Section 2: Genes and health

• The effects of cystic fibrosis on the lungs
• Why is CF mucus so sticky?
• The roles of proteins and enzymes
• How is the CFTR protein made?
• How is cystic fibrosis inherited?
• Testing for CF

Section 3: Voice of the genome

• Cells and their components
• In the beginning
• From one to many: the cell cycle
• How development is controlled
• Genes and environment

Section 4: Biodiversity and natural resources

• Why are there so many different species?
• How did organisms become so well adapted?
• Classification and speciation
• Plant cells and tissues
• Making use of biodiversity in plants
• On the brink

Section 5: On the wild side

• What is an ecosystem?
• Ecosystems rely on energy transfer
• Global climate change
• Predicting and coping with future climate change
• Adapt or die
• Getting the balance right

Section 6: Infection, immunity and forensics

• Forensic biology
• Cause of death
• The body’s response to infection
• Could the infections have been prevented?
• Are there treatments for AIDS and TB?

Section 7: Run for your life

• Getting moving
• Energy for action
• Peak performance
• Breaking out in a sweat
• Overdoing it
• Improving on nature

Section 8: Grey matter

• The nervous system and nerve impulses
• Reception of stimuli
• The brain
• Visual development and making sense of what we see
• Learning and memory
• Problems with synapses
• Genetic modifications: risks and benefits

Study A level Biology with us and benefit from:

• Flexible learning
• Support from a personal tutor by email, phone or Skype
• Any time enrolment
• Our exam booking service
• Assignments with tutor feedback
• Ongoing support from Student Support
• Forums to discuss your course with other students

learn@nec

Choose when and where you access your course, using learn@nec our 24/7 learning platform.

This easy-to-use learning platform includes interactive checkpoints, quizzes and activities to help you evaluate your progress.

You’ll have access to support from a personal tutor. All NEC tutors are subject experts, with experience of supporting online learners.

Meet Donal who is just one of our first-class biology tutors:

“My lifelong fascination with biology has led to a varied and interesting career. I worked at the Natural History Museum on insect taxonomy and the Commonwealth Institute for Biological Control where I studied the control of insect and plant pests using natural enemies. I also worked in government fisheries laboratories in England and Ireland and for ADAS on insects in field margins. In addition to teaching for the NEC I am an associate lecturer at the Open University, mainly in ecology and evolution. Previously, I was a teaching fellow for the OU developing new courses, and subsequently a staff tutor in Cambridge and Birmingham.”

Exam board

• Edexcel 9BN0

Format

• Online learning with support from a personal tutor

Hours

• Complete at your own pace
• Approx. 250-300 hours* plus time for completing assignments

*The specification suggests that 300 hours is needed. You’ll also need time to complete assignments and prepare yourself for exams and some courses like English literature involve a lot of reading. Everyone is different so it’s impossible to say with certainty how long a course will take you, but you should expect to spend longer than 300 hours. Taken across the length of time we recommend, this equates to approximately 5 hours per week. This will increase if you choose to take it over a shorter time frame or may be less if you are retaking a subject and have covered a lot of of the course content.

Assignments

• 10 assignments (one introductory) – these do not contribute towards your final grade
• 18 core practicals

Resources

• Set textbooks – included as a free ebook with your course:
• Salters-Nuffield AS/A level Biology Student Book 1, University of York Science Education Group, Pearson Education, 2015
• Salters-Nuffield A level Biology Student Book 2, University of York Science Education Group, Pearson Education, 2015

Requirements

• Maths Skills for A level Biology, J Penny, Oxford University Press, 2013
• Internet access
• Computer operating system and browser to support learn@nec

Our course fees are clear and transparent to help you plan for any additional costs.

Your course fee includes:

• 24/7 access to learn@nec platform and resources
• Expertly designed online course materials (including ebook versions of textbooks where specified) that you need to complete the course
• Support from our Student Services team
• Structured assignments carefully designed to prepare you for exams
• Guidance from your tutor for up to 24 months from your date of enrolment
• Extensive feedback to all assignments that will support your learning
• NEA (coursework) marking and authentication
• Marking for one examination paper (from a previous year)
• Guaranteed exam place
• NEC’s guide to study skills: How to Succeed as an Independent Learner
• Spelling, punctuation and grammar guide
• Time planner template to help you plan your study timetable
• Information on how to apply for exams

Your course fee does not cover:

• Any fees in relation to exam entries or assessments
• Centre Assessment Grades (CAG) in the event of exam cancellation
• Recommended textbooks for additional reading or set texts
• Equipment for core practicals

If you need more support, you can purchase:

• Online tutorials – if you need help with a specific topic you can arrange a 30 minute or 1 hour tutorial
• Additional past paper marking – to help with your exam preparation
• Revision tutorial –  to plan your revision and explore revision techniques
• Help with your UCAS application service

For further information on additional/optional support you can purchase, please visit our additional services page.

Studying science A levels by distance learning

How does practical non-examination assessment work?

Why I love biology

Assessment

Exams (three):

• 33.3% of marks  (2 hours)
• 33.3% of marks  (2 hours)
• 33.3% of marks  (2 hours)

The exams are written, with no practical element, but throughout the exam you will be expected to use your understanding of practical theory – gained through the 18 core practicals within your course – to answer questions.

Non-exam assessment (NEA):

• an additional assessment providing opportunity to gain a practical skills endorsement to demonstrate practical skills as well as knowledge
• separately endorsed and reported as a separate grade
• does not contribute to the result of the A level  qualification
• for some university programmes, like medicine, you will need to have the endorsement as well as the A level

We know that our younger students often need an extra helping hand with their studies.  In our experience, learning online works best when the parents are involved, so when you enrol your child with NEC, you’ll have a unique set of services to help you to support your child.

This includes:

• Your own log in to learn@nec to access the course so you can view the course materials and other information for yourself.
• Access to your child’s gradebook to help you to monitor progress and provide appropriate and timely intervention and support
• You’ll receive emails and forum posts so that you have all the examination and assessment updates/information provided by the NEC team
• Dedicated Progress Portal Pages and targeted blogs with updates/information/help and advice on many aspects of home education.

Read more about how we work with young students who are studying at home or through a school.

As well as our standard A Level route above, we also offer a structured Fast Track A level course, at an additional cost, which is particularly useful if you’re studying with a specific purpose in mind, like applying to university, and need your grades quickly, applying for a new job, or seeking promotion. Perhaps you’re retaking an A level and still want to apply to your chosen university?

NEC are offering structured Fast Track A levels in the following subjects:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Maths
• Physics
• Psychology

The flexible nature of distance learning and home study courses means that it’s possible to do this, as long as you’re able to schedule in enough study time. What’s different about our structured Fast Track A level Biology course compared to our standard A Level course is that it has been specifically designed to follow a carefully considered 36 week study programme, providing you with the extra support you need to gain the all important grades you require.

Find out more about studying Structured Fast Track A level Biology in September 2020.