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 should have been more clear. We are in the Netherlands and DS is doing the international version which doesn't have the same mark against the practical element.

I think it would be good to just make a list of why you want to do these courses, is it for a career change, if so what do you want to do as a career? If you want to use it then I suspect you’ll have to do practical work as it’s pretty difficult to work in a field of biology / chemistry without practical skills. My degree in biochemistry and microbiology was around 50% practical plus reports on the experiments we did which was much of the coursework element of the degree.
what was your first degree in?

Yes, it looks like you have to do the practicals for the A level award. When a university lists A level Biology or Chemistry as a requirement it usually stipulates that there needs to be a pass in the practicals. Quite a few of the exam questions allude to the practicals too. Is it Medicine that you want to study?

Ahh thank you! Cheers @Dutch1e i will still look into the exam board you mentioned x

Thank you

I just want to achieve something. And prove that I can do it! Maybe futher study down the line, when dd is older. Not sure i am smart enough for a biochem degree but maybe one day

I am sorting my adhd out and really want to push myself. Maybe Its turning 35 😄

First degree is in English lit - only got a Desmond - its a sore spot x

Good for you. The maths in any science degree is hard so I’d say an A level in maths would be useful (may not be required at all universities but would probably be preferred at the good ones).

That explains it. Their International A level is different to the A level.

Do have a look at what the Open University offers. A-levels are very much geared up to be a follow-on from GCSEs, and cover a really odd selection of topics. The OU is much more interdisciplinary in its approach, and is purpose-built for adult self-study with excellent materials and scheduling, plus tutors who really understand the situation. You could eventually build it up to a full degree if you persist! (I'm not on commission, honest.)

If you are going to look at the IAL, be aware not all exam centres who accept private candidates offer IALs.

Without GCSE biology and chemistry knowledge it would be extremely challenging to tackle those A levels. I certainly think you can learn the content without sitting in a class room being taught it. But maybe take the GCSEs first. There's got to be a way for you to be able to do the practical work somehow. It's a very important part of the course and fun too, you'd be cheating yourself of the experience without doing them. And if you wanted to go on to study a biology/chemistry based subject at uni you'd need the practical skills because labs are not something you can opt out of.

DS is halfway through doing A level Chem and Bio at college (as a standard 16+ student). His college also requires A level biologists and chemists to do at least AS/Level 3 core maths, and there really is a lot of maths in A level Chemistry, so this is something the bear in mind.