Has anyone done A Level Biology & Chemistry as an adult? - via self funded self study?

[sexyscientistslag]

Posting here for traffic

I have a useless degree but never took science at gcse

I am mid 30s and a single mum, who is a carer

I want to take my biology/chemistry a levels, via programmes that offer self study material, the exams and practicals, as long as you complete it in 2 years

Itll cost around 3 grand

Has anyone done this? I have adhd so have struggled in the past with study, but want to achieve this!

Tia x

I think it's absolutely possible, OP. We're a home ed family and see young people studying for their A Levels all the time (my older DC opted for college post-GCSE, but their friends are doing self study A Levels). Self study if you're driven and focused can often be easier for ND people than sitting in a classroom type environment.

There are so many brilliant resources these days for alternative education, you'll find loads of people to connect with, if you choose it. Have you considered doing the GCSE first?

Not ‘A’ level biology but I did GCSE chemistry and physics and ‘A’ level chemistry and maths as an adult when my children were small. I went to evening classes and had a supportive husband!

My local college does an access to higher education course in science which is for people who don’t have science A levels and want to do a science degree. That might be worth considering?

What is your aim for this? Do you intend to take another degree? Or go in to something like nursing?

Do they do online lessons? If not I’d be inclined to find a course that does this, especially if you’re investing £3k. What’s your longer term plan? Another degree?

If you didn't take any science at GCSE ,which is unusual, I would suggest an Access course. A levels assume prior knowledge which adds another level of challenge

My husband has ADHD and this route was a complete non starter.
He did an access to science course instead which worked because he had to go to a college and actively engage instead of working from home.

I'm going to be honest, if you never took science at GCSE, A Level Biology and Chemistry will be very difficult for you to complete in a few years.

Have you tried reading some past papers to grasp the level?

An access course would be far more beneficial for you. They’re specifically designed for adult learners and no prior GCSE science knowledge would be necessary. A level biology & chemistry are notoriously hard, even for younger students with good science GCSEs & full time, in person teaching at sixth form - to study them at home with ADHD in the mix is frankly just not going to end well. The first step to success is being realistic with yourself.

Woild you have child care to cover the time you'd need to do the lab stuff?

I'm home-edding my son at this level now. We are going with the Pearson Edexcel exam board as they offer a paper exam that replaces the lab stuff.

This means that we will only pay the exam fees to whichever centre we sign up with to enrol him in the exams as a private candidate (but do ask around as the exam centres own fees, charged on top of the base fee paid to the exam board, vary wildly).

A couple of things to consider though:

• I am gathering all the basics equipment needed to recreate a lab experience at home. This is so he doesn't walk into a job or university lab having no previous experience. I just don't want him to sit practical lab exams as he will have never seen the lab before the exam begins, and that's too unrealistic as well as adding unnecessary pressure.

• He does not have ADHD

• He hasn't done GCSE level Chemistry or Biology [Edit: Physics, sorry] but his interests and our ad hoc home-ed projects have given him the foundational knowledge he needs to jump straight to A Level.

Best of luck, it's such an enriching experience and I hope you go for it in some way.

Thank you everyone

Honestly, for now, its just for me. I will be 37 by the time it ends, theoretically

Childcare - would have to pay for that when I go to do the exams. And I would hope that lab stuff is during school hours

My school didnt make science mandatory at gcse! So i didnt do it! Dunno, life was chaotic growing up

Will google access to higher education, but as I have a degree and can study, I dont think the entire course would benefit me. I just need the science stuff

One thing i know for certain, is that I just cant do a classroom environment. I cant be consistent in the school routine, I have never been able to.

I learn better alone, at my own pace. Working from home is ideal for me, as much as i want to be someone sociable

Now this is incredibly helpful thank you - the lab stuff is a big obstacle for me

Pearson edexcel, will take a look

Thank you - I think it will be fun to learn something new, and i'm quite interested in the human body and its functions

If that's your preferred style of learning then I would strongly encourage you to self-study.

There are vast amounts of resources available online (although less for Pearson Edexcel than for Cambridge, so if you want to sign up for that helper course that gives you lab access then definitely go the Cambridge route).

Also make use of sites like past papers.co to get a feel for previous exams as a great revision tool.

Lastly, I confess that I pirate the textbooks to read them before choosing the ones that are useful before buying the hard copy. They may be endorsed by Cambridge (or Pearson) but that doesn't make them good.

Have fun!

Just throwing this out there... if it is for personal interest, have you considered the Open University? It is more expensive than it used to be, but offers self-study courses supported by a tutor. The 'level 1' tier don't require any previous knowledge. The courses are uniformly excellent; I have both studied with, and taught for, the OU!

You can't do laboratory work online!

Chemistry has quite a lot of maths and Biology is very dense / there’s a lot of material to learn. I think you have to pass the practical elements of both courses to progress (but check this out). I think degree courses insist on this but it depends what you want to go on to do I guess.

That’s a bit of an ignorant statement re: access courses - a large proportion of people who complete them are in your exact position and already have degrees, they just want/need a change in direction. They’re designed for adult, independent learners in a way that A levels (especially the likes of bio/chem!) are not.

DD completed a biomedical science access course this year and now has secured a place to study physiotherapy. Others in her course are doing degree level biomed, nursing, midwifery, podiatry, microbiology, nutrition and radiography to name a few.

I'd see where I am at 37 - dc would be 9 then, in year 5

If i can avoid doing lab work, I would tbh! @Vaguelyclassical

I wouldnt be able to commit to the routine of online courses @StormGazing

I have to accept myself 😔. But there would be a tutor who could be contacted

I didnt mean to be ignorant - my google search of access courses showed stuff about preparing for longer term study, learning study skills, which I just dont need

Not knocking it at all! And will look again

Oo interesting - will look into whether future science degree courses require the practical element

I just dont want to have to go into a college tbh, bar for exams, i am much better alone, as lonely as it is

Many A-level specifications have replaced practical exams with a coursework portfolio requiring students to complete a large number of fairly detailed practicals. Obviously home-educated people find ways to do these, but it's worth checking the details!

Edexcel A level still has a practical endorsement. It isn’t compulsory for private candidates to take it, but if you don’t, you receive not classified for the CPAC element and that is recorded alongside the overall grade. If DS wants to go to university to study a science subject, this can be a problem at some universities so you/DS should check the universities he may be interested in.

I home edded my kids through all three GCSE sciences - which meant I pretty much learnt the courses myself. There’s no way I could tackle A level sciences without having done more foundational stuff first. Maybe worth getting some GCSE books and working your way through before starting A level courses?