NEC Biology AS - questions

I've gone ahead and ordered the NEC Biology AS + A2 course and the materials arrived yesterday. Since I'm an international candidate I am not 100% sure about what to expect. The coursework certainly seems very daunting at this stage.

What is the difference between all the different "specifications" within Edexcel?

The pack NEC sent me is for a 2009 specification. What it says exactly in the pack under Aims of the Course is:

"The course is designed to cover the AS GCE 8BIO1 specification of the Edexcel awarding body. The AS will be examined for the first time in 2009."

Is it all right if it's for 2009 and not 2010 or 2011?

And does anyone know if it's necessary to purchase the textbook called Salters Nuffield Advanced Biology?

Thanks so much in advance!

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 1

hissyfit

lunchbox

The textbook they recommend is on their website or in your course pack.I m doin the from 2008 ,never heard of teh 2009 course :confused:

it is from ,so you will be able to sit it from that year onwards until they change the course.
Hope that answers your questions,if it doesn t maybe contact your tutor.
You can pm me if you get stuck :wink:

Reply 2

lunchbox

^^ Yippee! A response! Thank you!

Reply 3

hissyfit

lunchbox

^^ Yippee! A response! Thank you!

from what I know the international exams you don t have to do practical experiments,you do a paper instead.

The different specifications,I think you are mistaken,just checked on the Edexcel website :

http://www.edexcel.com/quals/gce/gce08/biology/Pages/default.aspx

from 2008 is the only one.I m pretty sure.
If you are doing that one,then I strongly suggest reading through the specifiation & bookmarking it.

http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/GCE%20New%20GCE/International-spec-Biology.pdf :biggrin:

Happy to help you out.Also there is the NEC bio forum.
See my sig for resources. :wink:

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 4

lunchbox

Well even though I'm doing this as an international, I still got sent the specification that isn't found in the "Specification - For international centres only." My packet definitely includes practical experiments. I don't think NEC accommodates international students studying from abroad.

What I would like to know is if it is possible to find past exam papers for my specification? I really am quite clueless when it comes to A-levels. Having just read this:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/jan/26/unfair-a-level-biology-exam-protest

I am quite worried! Is the specification too recent that there are no past exam papers to work through yet?

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 5

hissyfit

lunchbox

NEC don t allow you to do the international specification.
I live outside the UK & still have to do the practicals at home,you need to sned them to your tutor.Most things you will find in the supermarket.... some you will have to go to specialist shops...
Read through the materials they sent you carefully & use the other specification & you should be fine,its what I did.http://www.edexcel.com/migrationdocuments/GCE%20New%20GCE/UA024831%20GCE%20in%20Biology%20Issue%204%20250510.pdf

You have assignments (practice exams) & there are a couple of past papers,some of the old course correspond to the new course (2008)
see here,scroll down : http://www.advancedbiology.org/resources/snab-revision-tips,1430,NA.html

The link you posted is on AQA not Edexcel though...Sucks for those students,at least they said they would consider the complaints when marking papers.

(edited 13 years ago)

Reply 6

username847695

Hi, I realise these posts are from a while ago, but Im just wondering if you found this course good? My friend is seriously considering doing her A Level Biology and has heard good things about NEC. How did the practicals work/how were they assessed? Was there any coursework? Did you find you got enough support? Also how flexible were the study materials and timelines? If you had the time to commit and studied hard enough would you be able to complete the whole A level in 6 months or does NEC restrict you from doing this and make you use the whole year? Sorry for the amount of questions!

Thanks :smile: