Chemistry A Level Environmental Science A Level Physics A Level
science
Biology A Level
Biology A Level When do I start studying for this qualification? September 2020. For how long will I study? For two years. What is this course about? Biology is a course that develops essential knowledge and understanding of humans and other living organisms, along with vital practical and study skills. You will look at cell biochemistry, DNA technology, genetics, physiology and the interactions of humans with their environment. You will be made aware of recent advances, be able to discuss the value and responsible use of biology in society and have the opportunity to sustain and develop your enjoyment of science. What topics will I study? • Biological molecules. • Cells. • How organisms exchange substances with their environment. • Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms. • Energy transfers between organisms. • How organisms respond to change in their internal and external environments. • Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems.
• The control of gene expression How will my work be assessed? There are three exams, taken at the end of the course. A combination of short and long answer questions, analysis of data, and comprehension exercises. You may be assessed for an AS qualification in this course at the end of your first year as a measure of your progress Is there any dissection? You may (if you wish) dissect and examine some animal tissue bought locally: e.g. heart, lung, kidney when we cover those organs. The specification no longer includes whole animal dissection. What skills and interests do I need beforehand to be a successful applicant for this course? You need to be very confident with all biology topics covered at GCSE. You need good mathematical skills and communication skills. You need to enjoy problem solving and analysing scientific information. What skills will I need to develop during the course to succeed? Good memory skills for facts, an organised approach to problem solving, careful and accurate practical skills, data analysis and evaluation.
Are there any specific entry requirements? You need a minimum of five GCSEs at 9-4 or A*-C, including double 6 in Science GCSE, or 6 in Biology plus another 6 in a single Science and grade 5 in Mathematics. Many people on this course will have achieved significantly above this minimum level. What are the lessons like? You will experience a range of learning activities that include whole group and small group work, note taking, discussions, presentations, practical work, independent research and use of ICT sources. There will be a field trip to help with some of the ecological and environmental work, other visits and some outside speakers. What have I got to do in order to do well? You must be willing to work hard and be keen to discover more about topical issues in biology and their ethical implications. Make sure you understand all that is covered in lessons and consolidate this by completing homework tasks and preparing thoroughly for tests and exams. There are facts you need to learn, but you will be tested mostly on applying your knowledge to new situations and your understanding of how science works.
What do students say about this course? “Nice teachers, interesting experiments and challenging!” “Biology is really consistently interesting – all the sorts of questions I had from GCSE about ‘how this works’ in more detail get answered. It isn’t that hard but you have to keep up with a lot of work, so be careful.” “I find Biology very interesting. It is full of useful things to know; however the course is challenging.” Is there a similar qualification to this one? If so how do I choose between them? Cambridge Technical Level 3 Applied Science is similar. This is a two-year course and the equivalent of one or two A Level. The course focuses on laboratory skills, practical techniques, and biology, chemistry and physics topics. Entry requirements are different. This BTEC course is 50% exam and 50% coursework. Are there any other qualifications which combine particularly well with this one? Biology combines particularly well with Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics. Also PE, Psychology or Geography. Many people take it alongside Sport courses or Health & Social Care, and some as their
only science to give themselves a broad and balanced advanced level programme. What do people do with A Level Biology? Biology provides you with the essential skills to continue to a variety of higher education courses or types of employment. Many students progress to courses such as Medicine, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Veterinary Science, Exercise Science and Nursing; others pursue scientific careers by combining Biology with other science A Levels, for example in the pharmaceutical industry. Frequently students may go on to completely different careers such as law or business.
Chemistry A Level When do I start studying for this qualification? September 2020. For how long will I study? Two years. What is this course about? A Level Chemistry is a rigorous, rewarding course that builds on the concepts and skills developed at GCSE. In your first year you will learn about atomic structure, moles, bonding, energetics, kinetics, equilibria, periodicity, hydrocarbons, alcohols, halogenoalkanes and equilibria. In year 2 you will progress to more complex topics such as thermodynamics, transition metals, aromatic chemistry and acids, bases and buffers. How will my work be assessed? There will be three 2-hour exams taken at the end of the course. These will include different styles of questions such as multiple choice, chemistry calculations, short structured questions and questions that require a longer response. Approximately 20% of the questions will require the use of mathematics and 15% of the total marks will be based on practical skills. Your teachers will assess your progress at the end of year 1 and you will require a minimum of a D grade to
progress to year 2. For students not achieving this grade, we offer a wide range of alternative courses such as a fast track Applied Science. Is it all practical work? Practical work is at the heart of chemistry and so you will do some lab work every week and you will keep a lab book in which you record your experimental work. Practical skills will be assessed by your teachers and you will achieve either a Pass or Fail. Students who pass will receive an endorsement of practical skills which will be reported on their A Level certificate. We expect all our successful A Level students to achieve this endorsement. What skills and interests do I need beforehand to be a successful applicant for this course? You need to be fully confident with all chemistry topics covered at GCSE. You also need good mathematical skills – at least a grade 6 in GCSE. You should be interested in the importance of science in modern society and enjoy practical work. What skills will I need to develop during the course to succeed? You will develop research, problem solving and analytical skills. It helps if you can challenge ideas and show how you worked things out through logic and step-by-step
reasoning. You will need teamwork and communication skills too, when working on practical tasks and carrying out projects. You will also need to be confident with the mathematical calculations involved and writing extended answers using scientific language. Are there any specific entry requirements? You need a minimum of five GCSEs at 9-4 or A*-C, including double 6 in Science GCSE, or 6 in Chemistry plus another 6 in a single Science and grade 5 in Mathematics. Many people on this course will have achieved significantly above this minimum level. What have I got to do in order to do well? Make sure you understand all that is covered in lessons and consolidate this by completing homework tasks and preparing thoroughly for tests and exams. There will be a minimum of 4 hours independent study set per week on top of lessons. Chemistry is a subject where you need to be good at learning lots of facts and detailed definitions. What are the lessons like? You will experience a range of teaching styles, including whole class teaching, group work and independent study tasks. The course will enable you to develop critical thinking through problem solving. Through experimental work and interpretation of your results, you
will understand the unifying ideas in chemistry. You will develop your ability to communicate through discussion, writing, summarising, using formulae, graphs and calculations. You will use models to help you understand reactions at a molecular level. Through background reading and wider research, you will develop an appreciation of the social, environmental, economic and technological importance of chemistry. Extension and enrichment opportunities • Crest awards - research and design your own science project • Cambridge Chemistry Challenge • Young Analyst Competition • Chemistry Olympiad • Chemistry workshops at Brighton University and University of Sussex • Chem Net membership • Meet the universities day What do students say about this course? “It is quite difficult; some stuff is hard to get your head around. But if you don’t understand, you will get help.” “Lots of practicals which make it interesting. Lessons are enjoyable”. “It’s fun but harder than GCSE. You need a good memory to learn lots of formulae!” “Chemistry is...the hardest A Level I study but, if you put in the work, it’s
definitely the most rewarding.” “If you enjoyed and did well in Chemistry in GCSE then I would take Chemistry A Level.” “I really enjoy chemistry because we do lots more experiments than we did at my high school.” “...a very interesting course. it’s a lot of work...very rewarding.” Is there a similar qualification to this one? If so how do I choose between them? We also offer Level 3 CAMTEC in Applied Science. This is a one A Level equivalent course. This course includes practical laboratory techniques and how laboratories are run safely and effectively. Assessment is through coursework and two externally assessed units. Entry requirements are different; for example, you do not need to have taken higher tier maths. Are there any other qualifications which combine particularly well with this one? Chemistry combines particularly well with Biology, Maths and Physics - we recommend you select at least one of these in addition to Chemistry. Psychology or Geography are also popular combinations. What do people do with A Level Chemistry?
This qualification will help you get ahead in most STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) careers and more besides. Chemistry is an important subject for careers in: medicine, environmental science, engineering, toxicology, developing consumer products, metallurgy (studying how metals behave), space exploration, developing perfumes and cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, energy, teaching, science writing, software development and research.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE A Level When do I start studying for this qualification? September 2020. For how long will I study? For two years. What is this course about? Our A-level Environmental Science course will help to inspire students and nurture their passion for the subject and lay the foundations for further study and the workplace. Environmental Science is a highly relevant interdisciplinary fourth science option. It’s ideal study for anyone interested in contemporary environmental issues, systems thinking and sustainability. What topics will I study? There are 6 different units covered over 2 years: 1. The living environment 2. The physical environment 3. Energy resources 4. Pollution 5. Biological resources 6. Sustainability Throughout the course students will also cover a variety of research methods.
How will my work be assessed? Paper 1: • The physical environment • Energy resources • Pollution • Research methods Students will be expected to draw on knowledge and understanding of the entire course of study to show a deeper understanding of the interconnections between topics. Paper 2: • The living environment • Biological resources • Sustainability • Research methods What skills and interests do I need beforehand to be a successful applicant for this course? Students need an interest in the world around them, particularly in climate change, pollution, sustainability and conservation. What skills will I need to develop during the course to succeed? Students will need to develop analytical skills, time management, practical scientific skills, skills in maths and statistics, independent research, ICT skills and team work.
Students will need to be able to make links between different environmental science themes, ideas and concepts. Are there any specific entry requirements? You will need a minimum of five GCSEs at 4-9, including grade 4 in Mathematics, Science and English. You do not need to have studied GCSE Geography, although this is preferable. You must have an interest in the world around you and be motivated by the subject. You will need to have a minimum of grade 5 in Maths and Science and 4 in English Language. What are the lessons like? You will have the opportunity to work in groups and individually to complete your work. Tasks are varied and are based around ‘real world’ examples which explain and highlight environmental theories and concepts. You will also complete a number of practical experiments both in class and outside What do students say about this course? “Teaching on this course is excellent, talking through and breaking down exam questions makes it easier for me to be clear what needs to be included”. “We are really involved with the learning in lessons, there are different teaching styles that make the lessons fun and interesting”.
Are there any other qualifications which combine particularly well with this one? Many students who are interested in pursuing a career in Environmental science will combine Environmental Science and Geography as well as another Science (Biology is the most common). What do people do with Environment Science? The course has been designed to prepare students either to enter the workplace in a related career, or to go on to higher education or further training. Are there any costs associated with this course? There are some day trips which incur a small cost.
Physics A Level When do I start studying for this qualification? September 2020. For how long will I study? For two years. What is this course about? Physicists explore the fundamental nature of almost everything we know of, from Newton to Einstein and beyond. They study everything from the fundamental particles that build matter, to the galaxies that make up the universe itself. Studying A level Physics develops useful and transferable skills for other careers. You’ll develop research, problem solving and analytical skills, alongside teamwork and communication. Universities and business regard all of these very highly. What topics will I study? The A Level content is split into six teaching modules which will include practical endorsement. A summary of the modules is shown below: Year 1: • Measurements and their errors • Particles and radiation • Waves • Mechanics • Electricity
Year 2: • Further mechanics and thermal physics • Fields • Nuclear physics • Plus one optional unit from: • Astrophysics • Medical physics How will my work be assessed? There will be three exam papers at the end of the two-year course with a range of questions including multiple choice, calculations and extended writing. You will be given a grade A* - E depending on your performance in these exams. The practical endorsement is assessed by the teacher and requires students to complete a minimum of 12 practical activities that demonstrate practical competence. The practical endorsement is pass/ fail and is reported separately to the A Level grade. What skills and knowledge do I need beforehand to be a successful applicant for this course? A Level Physics builds on the work done in GCSE Science and Mathematics, so you’ll need good GCSE results from both. Written communication is also important, so you’ll need to be a strong writer.
What skills and good practice will I need to develop during the course to succeed? You need to spend 4 hours per week on homework and independent study. You will also need to develop your Mathematics and English abilities, along with your practical and most importantly problem-solving skills. Are there any specific entry requirements? You will need a minimum of five GCSEs at 9-4 or A*-C, including a minimum of grade 6 in higher tier GCSE Mathematics and either a 6 in GCSE Physics plus a 6 in one other science, or 6,6 from higher tier GCSE Combined Science. What are the lessons like? Much of the theoretical work in physics can be tested practically and lessons usually contain a mixture of theory and group practicals. Most classes contain a tutorial element where the teacher will set examples and work individually with students to check on learning and progress. 1:1 support is available to all students. What students say about this course “It is really useful for engineering at university. It is hard but rewarding.” “I found that it went well with Maths with Mechanics.”
“I love solving problems and understanding how things work” Is there a similar qualification to this one? If so how do I choose between them? Physics A Level is most closely related to Mathematics A Level and we strongly recommend that you take both subjects. We also offer CAMTEC Engineering, and A level Electronics which are great courses if you like the more practical applications of Science. Are there any other qualifications which combine particularly well with this one? A Level Mathematics A Level Further Mathematics A Level Electronics What do people do with A Level Physics? Popular degree courses taken by students who have an A Level in Physics are: Mathematics, Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Economics and Business. You can also move into engineering, astrophysics, chemical physics, nanotechnology, renewable energy and more; the opportunities are endless.
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