Biology A Level

Please note that applications to the sixth form close on Wednesday 14th January 2026. If you wish to make an application after this date please contact the sixth form office at office@derehamsixthform.norfolk.sch.uk or call 01362 696884.

For more information about a place at Dereham Sixth Form College for September 2026, please visit the website - www.dsfc.org.uk

Course Instructions

Most students will choose the equivalent of 3 A Levels but in some circumstances a maximum of 4. These are subjects that will continue for the full two years. Select only one subject from each option block (choosing more than 1 course from the same block will delay your application as courses from each block are timetabled at the same time). All courses are equivalent to 1 A Level except where specified differently below.

Dereham Education & Soccer Academy Including BTEC Diploma in Sport (equivalent to three A Level subjects, no other subject choices required).

If your choice of subjects are not available due to limitations of the blocks, please email us with the details: office@derehamsixthform.norfolk.sch.uk

Biology is a good subject to study alongside another science or mixed with humanities subjects. It develops crucial skills such as analysis, evaluation and application. This makes it an excellent subject when applying to university and people with an A Level in Biology have gone on to study a wide range of subjects – medicine, sports and the environment, to name just a few.

Biology is a very popular subject at the College. Over the last few years there have been up to 80 students taking the course, due no doubt to the quality of teaching, support of students and the consistently good results our students achieve.

We follow the AQA specification; a course that we believe provides a first-rate introduction to biology.

Year One

In the first year you will study some key areas of biology to give you a firm grounding for further study. These units are composed of the following
areas:

• Biological molecules
• Cells
• How organisms exchange substances with their environment
• Genetic information, variation and relationships between organism

Year Two

In the second year you will continue to examine the subject in greater depth and fully appreciate the beauty and complexity of biological systems. These units include the following:

• Energy transfers in and between organisms
• How organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments
• Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems
• The control of gene expression

Throughout both years there will again be a list of practical activities which you must carry out. Exams will include questions based on these practicals.

Assessment

Three exams containing a mix of short and long answer questions plus an essay-style question on Paper 3.

Minimum 66555 including 6 in Biology (or Combined Science) and 5 in Mathematics.

Biology is a good matching subject to study alongside another science or mix with a humanity. It develops crucial skills such as analysis, evaluation and application. This makes it an excellent subject when applying to university and people with an A level in Biology have gone on to study a wide range of subjects – Medicine, sports and the environment to name just a few.

Destinations of some of our A Level Biology students:

• Medicine at Oxford University
• Biology at Oxford University
• Veterinary Science at the University of Cambridge
• Medicine at the University of Cambridge

Popular careers:

Medicine (also requires A Level Chemistry); Ecology; Agriculture; Biomedicine; Physiotherapy; Geography; Psychology; Biochemistry; Veterinary Science; Dentistry.