can i teach myself a level biology in a year?

hi!! ive just finished my a levels and got BCE but i want to do biology aswell so i can study marine bio at uni, is it possible to teach a 2 year course in a year by myself?

are there any good free resources that i can use? thank you!!

Reply 1

saskiahdltea

Would it not be easier to do a foundation year in Marine Bio than to teach yourself the A LEvel?

Reply 2

glumdata

Original post by tubbo13

hi!! ive just finished my a levels and got BCE but i want to do biology aswell so i can study marine bio at uni, is it possible to teach a 2 year course in a year by myself?
are there any good free resources that i can use? thank you!!

you can try but make sure you drink plenty of water

Reply 3

EssexStudentRep

Official Rep

Original post by tubbo13

hi!! ive just finished my a levels and got BCE but i want to do biology aswell so i can study marine bio at uni, is it possible to teach a 2 year course in a year by myself?
are there any good free resources that i can use? thank you!!

Hey @tubbo13 :smile:

I'd definitely recommend a foundation year over trying to teach yourself 2 years worth of A Level biology!

Here are some resources to look into though: https://tutorhouse.co.uk/blog/a-level-biology-best-online-resources. Past papers are pretty key in grasping the type of knowledge needed, it would help to know which exam board you would be taking: Edexcel, OCR or AQA, if you did choose to do this on your own.

If you were interested, a foundation year for Marine Biology at Essex would follow the Life Sciences Pathway where in your 'year zero' you study 4 modules to get you ready for university. Plus you still qualify for student finance and bursaries, as well as on-campus accommodation.

The four pathway modules:

•

Introduction to Biology: furthers your understanding of biology, encompassing plant biology, animal biology, and microbiology.

•

Chemistry for Biology: deepens your knowledge of chemistry, essential for advanced studies in Life Sciences.

•

Mathematics and Statistics for Life Sciences: this module hones your mathematical and statistical skills, which is vital for all Life Sciences disciplines.

•

Research and Academic Development Skills: learn to navigate academic sources effectively and communicate proficiently within the Life Sciences study environment.

The Life Sciences Pathway aims to help you develop a diverse skill set crucial for success. You work on communication skills, critical thinking, specialist IT software, data analysis, practical lab skills, presentation of experimental findings, problem-solving, etc. This would be difficult to teach yourself unless you had some form of guided study plan.

Our BSc Marine Biology with Foundation Year course is fantastic, and really hands-on with field trips to the local coastal estuaries and opportunities to visit Scotland, Greece and Indonesia!

Passing your foundation year guarantees you a place on your chosen degree, and if at the end of the year you decide marine biology might not be for you, the Life Sciences pathway will allow you to switch to BSc Biomedical Science or BSc Biological Sciences.

We're still open for Clearing if you want to call for a chat, 01206 873666 the hotline is open Monday-Thursday: 9am-5pm and Fridays: 9am-4.45pm. If you're not sure you meet the entry requirements, it's very much on a case-by-case basis so it can't hurt to ask!

Best of luck whatever you decide :smile:

Essex Student Rep - Hayley

(edited 3 months ago)