Course Location

College

Trafford College

Location

Altrincham Campus

Further Details

Age

College 16-18

Department

A Levels

Course Start Date

Monday 1st September 2025

Course Duration

Full-time, 1 Year

Course Time

Course Fee

£
You may be eligible for support with your tuition fees - please visit the college website - funding and finance page for further information

Course Code

AFQ-AL3L-1101

Course Overview

A Level Biology is an exciting subject where over two years you will learn about the natural world and all the living things within it. Throughout your biology studies, you will gain a wide range of skills including investigation, analysing information, and general scientific skills. Studying Biology to A Level will build not only your knowledge of the biological world but also wider workplace skills of observation, research, teamwork, and communication.

Students follow the OCR A Level Biology A specification.

Course Requirements

PLEASE NOTE – YOU MUST APPLY FOR 3 A LEVELS

Standard A Level entry requirements: 5 x GCSE grade 5’s or above (must include Maths and English Language). However, certain subjects may have additional entry criteria, which can be found below:

Additional Entry Requirements:
A Level Biology will require a grade 6 in GCSE Biology and a grade 6 in GCSE Physics/Chemistry, or 66 in Combined Science.

This subject must also be studied alongside at least one other science-based course. Psychology can be counted as an additional science in this case.

What you will Learn

You will develop relevant practical skills alongside essential knowledge and understanding of a range of biological concepts and scientific methods. Biological mathematics and problem-solving skills will be fully integrated into your teaching and learning.

Assessment

3 papers are taken at the end of the two-year course:

Paper 1: Biological processes (37% of total A Level)
Paper 2: Biological diversity (37% of total A Level)
Paper 3: Unified Biology (26% of total A Level)

There is a special practical grade awarded on the basis of the practical reports completed over the two-year programme.

Progression

An A Level in Biology opens a vast range of further study and career opportunities, many of which can take you all around the world. Biology is a pre-requisite subject for many Biological Science and Medical related degree study areas though students can also use this A level for many other diverse courses and apprenticeships from education to engineering.

Biology though essential for many medical careers is also a facilitating subject for many future options including energy and the environment, animals and agriculture and, scientific, pharmaceutical and medical research.

Career Options

A Level Biology will prepare you for further study and careers in a variety of disciplines, from medicine, physiotherapy, and biochemistry to nursing, food science, and zoology.

Mandatory Units

In the first year you will study cells, biochemistry, gas exchange and transport in both plants and animals. You will also study the environment, how variation aids species to survive and look at the work of Darwin.
In the second year you will build and expand your knowledge of photosynthesis and respiration, energy transfer, homeostasis, genetics and gene technology.

Contact Details

For further information please contact T: 0161 886 7070 or E: info@trafford.ac.uk

Extra Costs Involved

Exam Validation Body

Hours Per Week

How Long To Complete

Programme Structure

Contact Details

Disclaimer

Although every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained within this document is accurate, there may be changes to this programme and provision. We will endeavour to keep prospective and current students updated where appropriate and when the information becomes available.
READY TO begin your journey?

Apply Now

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Latest Event
August 29th - September 12th

4:00pm-7:00pm

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