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A Level On the Ofqual register · 7402From £49.99/mo paying today

A Level Biology Online Course

AQA 7402 A Level Biology (601/4625/4) is the same A Level taken in UK schools, studied online with a named UK tutor and open to adults and anyone aged 14 or over. You sit three 2-hour papers in the May/June series at a Tutors & Exams centre, with the CPAC practical endorsement optional, usually after 12 to 18 months.

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Updated

Course facts
QualificationA Level Biology
LevelLevel 3
Awarding bodyAQA
Qualification number601/4625/4
ExamsExam entry and seat booking are through Tutors & Exams, and only on the +Exams plan.
Price£449.99 a year or £49.99 a month when you pay today: pay for 9 months, get 3 free, price fixed for life. Prefer to try it first? Free for 7 days, then £59.99 a month or £611.99 a year.
Typical duration12 to 18 months, or faster if you study more each week
AgeOpen to anyone aged 14 or over. Under 18s enrol with a parent or guardian's permission and support.
Who it suitsYou want the A Level for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, nursing, midwifery, biomedical or sports science, or a degree apprenticeship that asks for it.

What A Level Biology costs online

Pay today, pay for 9 months and get 3 free, with your price fixed for life. Pay monthly and start today for £10 a month less than after a trial. Prefer to try it first? Start for £0 today on the 7-day free trial.

A Level Biology prices at Lift College
Study+Exams+Exams & CPAC
Pay today, yearlyBest value3 months free, fixed for life£449.99 a yearthat is £37.50 a month£809.99 a yearthat is £67.50 a month£1,079.99 a yearthat is £90.00 a month
Pay today, monthly£10 a month less than after a trial£49.99 a month£89.99 a month£119.99 a month
7-day free trial first£0 today, first payment on day 8£59.99 a monthor £611.99 a year£99.99 a monthor £1,019.99 a year£129.99 a monthor £1,325.99 a year

+Exams and +Exams & CPAC paid monthly have an expected term of 9 months, as exam fees are built in: cancel any time with no exit fee, but unused exam credit is lost. No term applies if you pay yearly.

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  • No contract
  • No credit check
  • No finance agreement
  • Cancel any time

How the cost compares

NEC, CloudLearn, Open Study College and Oxbridge Home Learning charge £495 to £730 for the course, paid in full or in instalments. With Lift College you can start for £0 today, and a full year of Study is £449.99 when you pay today.

Full A Level Biology course fees (not sale prices), from each provider's own website on 21 October 2026
ProviderCourse feeHow you pay
Lift College Lowest cost to start£449.99for 12 months, Study, paid today£0 today on the 7-day free trial. Monthly or yearly, no contract, no credit check, cancel any time
NEC£730In full, or a £73 deposit then 0% APR finance with Omni
CloudLearn£499In full, or monthly instalments
Open Study College£499In full, 3 payments with Klarna or PayPal, or monthly Direct Debit
Oxbridge Home Learning£495Course fee

None of these fees includes exams, and nor does our Study plan. Our guide to the best online A Level Biology courses in the UK compares exam boards and exam arrangements provider by provider.

How exams work£0 today. Nothing is charged until day 8. Cancel any time from your account.
AQA
Awarded by AQAQualification number 601/4625/4. Same papers, same certificate as school candidates.
Tutors and Exams, exam centre partner
Exams at 10 Tutors & Exams centresOur official exam centre partner. On +Exams we enter you and book your seat.
Read our reviews onTrustpilot
Independent reviewsEvery review on our Trustpilot page is from a Lift College learner.
AQA
Awarding
body
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£809.99/year · +Exams · £67.50 a month

14-day money-back guarantee on every payment

£809.99 today for 12 months. Change your mind within 14 days and we refund the full payment.

Add CPAC practicals: £1,079.99 today for 12 months with the practical endorsement included.

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7-day free trial
14-day money back on every payment
No contract, cancel any time from your account
No credit check
Exams sat at 10 Tutors & Exams centres
LevelLevel 3
SpecificationAQA 7402
Exams3 written papers, 2 hours each
Practical endorsementCPAC, reported separately, on +Exams & CPAC
Exam seriesMay/June
Typical duration12 to 18 months
CourseworkNone. 100% examined; practical endorsement reported separately
How paying works

Try it free. Stay while it works for you. Leave whenever you like.

There is no course fee to find, no finance agreement to sign and no debt to worry about. Your first 7 days are free, then you pay for the month you are in, and every payment is covered by the 14-day money back guarantee. Prefer to pay today? Skip the trial and save up to 17%, with your price fixed for life, with the same 14-day guarantee.

+Exams and +Exams & CPAC on Monthly: Monthly comes with a 9-month expected term because exam fees are built in. Cancel any time, no exit fee; exam credit you have not used is forfeited and unbooked exams are void. Pay annually and no term applies.

The Lift College promise

You never sign a credit agreement with us, so there is no debt and nothing for anyone to chase. If you stop paying, you simply stop studying. No finance company, no loan and no letters.

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Your exams, handled

Ten centres across England. One partner. Your seat booked for you.

The hardest part of studying an A Level outside school has always been the exam. Lift College and Tutors & Exams remove it: you study online with us, and you sit the same AQA papers as any school candidate at a professional Tutors & Exams centre, with your entry, venue and invigilation arranged through the partnership.

Tutors and Exams, exam centre partner
Specialist private-candidate exam centres. Lift College's official exam centre partner.
10dedicated exam centres across England, 10 approved for A Levels
95%+of GCSE and A Level specifications assessed
63%of UK adults live within reach of a centre
DBSevery centre staff member trained and enhanced DBS checked
JCQ compliant and approved by
JCQ, Joint Council for QualificationsAQAPearson EdexcelCambridge OCREduqas, part of WJECCambridge International Education
Figures and approvals published by Tutors & Exams, tutorsandexams.uk, September 2026.
May/June seriesMay to June

Runs from May to June. The one series each year; all papers are sat in the same series.

Practical endorsementBefore the written papers

The practical endorsement is assessed at a Tutors & Exams laboratory venue against the Common Practical Assessment Criteria and reported separately as a Pass on your certificate. It sits alongside the written A Level and is included on +Exams & CPAC.

On +Exams we enter you before AQA's deadline for the series you choose.

1
Enrol and study online

Start your free trial, meet your named UK tutor and work through the AQA specification at your own pace.

2
We enter you and book your seat

On +Exams, Lift College submits your AQA entry and books your place at the Tutors & Exams centre you choose, before the entry deadline.

3
Sit the same papers, get the same certificate

Trained invigilators, a room built for formal assessment, and an AQA certificate identical to a school candidate's.

BirminghamBoltonCoventryDoncasterHigh WycombeMitchamNewcastleRomfordSt NeotsTauntonFind your nearest centre →
Practical endorsement at a Tutors & Exams laboratory venue

The practical endorsement is assessed at a Tutors & Exams laboratory venue against the Common Practical Assessment Criteria and reported separately as a Pass on your certificate. It sits alongside the written A Level and is included on +Exams & CPAC.

  • BoltonBolton School
  • CoventryKing Henry VIII School
  • Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle High School for Girls, Jesmond
  • London SE19Norwood School
  • SuttonSutton High School
  • TauntonQueen's College
On +Exams and +Exams & CPACYour AQA entry fee and centre fee are included in the monthly price. We enter you before the deadline and confirm your seat by email.
Access arrangementsExtra time, a reader or scribe, rest breaks or a separate room are arranged by Tutors & Exams' in-house SEN team, free at the point of delivery, with evidence of your normal way of working.
“The one thing we could not control was the exam day itself, and now we can. Our learners are in the safest possible hands.”Kate Strohm, Managing Director, Lift College
“No learner should find their opportunities limited simply because they study outside of a traditional school or college setting.”Ben Connors, Managing Director, Tutors & Exams
Read the partnership announcement
About this A Level

What is A Level Biology?

A Level Biology is a Level 3 qualification in the study of living things, from biological molecules and cells to genetics, ecosystems and the control of gene expression, usually studied over two years at school or college. On AQA 7402 you study eight topics, complete 12 required practicals and sit three papers of 2 hours, with the practical endorsement reported separately as a Pass. Grades run from A* to E, worth 56 to 16 UCAS tariff points. Lift College teaches the full AQA 7402 course online from £49.99 a month when you pay today, save up to 17% for life, with a named UK tutor, or you can try it free for 7 days first.

Learners take A Level Biology for degrees such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, nursing, midwifery, biomedical science or sports science, or for a degree apprenticeship that asks for it, and adults take it to resit, change career or apply to university.

Is A Level Biology hard?

In summer 2026, 27.8% of the 73,925 UK entries in A Level Biology were graded A* or A, and 96.2% achieved A* to E, against 28.5% and 97.5% across all A Levels (JCQ, published 13 August 2026). It is content heavy, at least 10% of the marks test maths skills, and Paper 3 can draw on any topic, so steady weekly study matters more than cramming.

Who this is for

This course is for you if

  • You want the A Level for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, nursing, midwifery, biomedical or sports science, or a degree apprenticeship that asks for it.
  • You are resitting or returning to study and want the same A Level, from the same awarding body, that is sat in UK schools and colleges, with UCAS points on results day.
  • You have GCSE Biology or Combined Science and want to go deeper, with the option of the practical endorsement universities look for.
  • You are an adult returning to study who wants a recognised A Level at your own pace, with a tutor who marks your work and a clear route to the exam.
What you will need

Entry requirements

  • Open to anyone aged 14 or over. Under 18s enrol with a parent or guardian's permission and support. There are no formal entry qualifications.
  • Recommended starting point: GCSE Biology or Combined Science at grade 6 or above and GCSE Mathematics at grade 5 or above, because at least 10% of the marks test maths skills. This is recommended, not required, and the first unit revises the key ideas.
  • A computer, tablet or phone with internet access, a scientific calculator (allowed in all three papers), a ruler and a pencil.
  • The ability to attend a Tutors & Exams centre in England for your written papers and a Tutors & Exams laboratory venue for the practical endorsement.

There is no minimum study time. Most learners spend 8 to 12 hours a week and finish in 12 to 18 months, or faster if you study more each week. Assignments are for feedback and do not count towards your grade.

Video explainer

Can You Do A Level Biology Online?

The short answer: yes. You can study the full AQA A Level Biology online, with a named UK tutor. You then sit the same three written papers as school candidates, in person, at an exam centre. It is open to anyone aged 14 or over. Under 18s enrol with a parent or guardian's permission and support. Watch the short explainer, then read on for the details.

2 min 54 sLift College on YouTube
Prefer to read? See how you are assessed
New
For parents and guardians

Follow every step in the parent portal

Every family studying with us can have its own parent portal. See how your child is getting on week by week, agree a study plan together and get a short summary in your inbox, without ever having to ask "have you done any work?".

  • Progress at a glance. Study days, lessons finished and progress against their target.
  • Their work and marks. Everything they hand in, with the mark and their tutor's feedback.
  • A plan you make together. A weekly study plan, an alert if it slips and a weekly summary.
A quick tour of the parent portal
Download the parent guide
What you'll study

Every topic in the AQA 7402 specification, in one course

The AQA 7402 specification has eight topics. Topics 1 to 4 are examined on Paper 1, topics 5 to 8 on Paper 2, and any content can appear on Paper 3. Open each topic to see what it covers.

How the papers map to the topics
Paper 1
35%
Paper 2
35%
Paper 3
30%
Papers 1 and 2 are 2 hours and 91 marks · Paper 3 is 2 hours and 78 marksSource: AQA 7402 specification
1Biological molecules
Topic 3.1 · Paper 1
  • Monomers and polymers, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and enzymes
  • Nucleic acids, DNA replication, ATP and water
2Cells
Topic 3.2 · Paper 1
  • Cell structure, microscopy, mitosis and the cell cycle
  • Transport across membranes, cell recognition and the immune system
3Organisms exchange substances with their environment
Topic 3.3 · Paper 1
  • Surface area to volume ratio, gas exchange and digestion
  • Mass transport in animals and plants
4Genetic information, variation and relationships between organisms
Topic 3.4 · Paper 1
  • DNA, genes, protein synthesis and mutation
  • Genetic diversity, adaptation, species and biodiversity
5Energy transfers in and between organisms
Topic 3.5 · Paper 2
  • Photosynthesis and respiration
  • Energy and ecosystems, nutrient cycles
6Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments
Topic 3.6 · Paper 2
  • Stimuli and response, receptors, nervous coordination and muscles
  • Homeostasis, including blood glucose and water balance
7Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems
Topic 3.7 · Paper 2
  • Inheritance, populations and the Hardy-Weinberg principle
  • Evolution, speciation and populations in ecosystems
8The control of gene expression
Topic 3.8 · Paper 2
  • Mutation, stem cells and regulation of transcription and translation
  • Recombinant DNA technology, gene technologies and genome projects

The 12 required practicals

The practical endorsement is assessed at a Tutors & Exams laboratory venue against the Common Practical Assessment Criteria and reported separately as a Pass on your certificate. It sits alongside the written A Level and is included on +Exams & CPAC.

  1. Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of an enzyme-controlled reaction
  2. Preparation of stained squashes of cells from plant root tips, use of an optical microscope to identify the stages of mitosis and calculation of a mitotic index
  3. Production of a dilution series of a solute to produce a calibration curve with which to identify the water potential of plant tissue
  4. Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the permeability of cell-surface membranes
  5. Dissection of an animal or plant gas exchange or mass transport system, or of an organ within such a system
  6. Use of aseptic techniques to investigate the effect of antimicrobial substances on microbial growth
  7. Use of chromatography to investigate the pigments isolated from leaves of different plants
  8. Investigation into the effect of a named factor on the rate of dehydrogenase activity in extracts of chloroplasts
  9. Investigation into the effect of a named variable on the rate of respiration of cultures of single-celled organisms
  10. Investigation into the effect of an environmental variable on the movement of an animal using either a choice chamber or a maze
  11. Production of a dilution series of a glucose solution and use of colorimetric techniques to produce a calibration curve with which to identify the concentration of glucose in an unknown sample
  12. Investigation into the effect of a named environmental factor on the distribution of a given species
Step 1Learn the required practicals as you go

Each of the 12 required practicals is taught with a video demonstration, a method sheet and real data, then examined through marked questions in the style of the papers.

Step 2Add the practical endorsement if you need it

Universities usually ask for a CPAC Pass for science degrees. On +Exams & CPAC the endorsement is assessed at a Tutors & Exams laboratory venue; the written papers stand alone on +Exams.

Step 3Sit all three papers in one series

On +Exams your entry and your seat at a Tutors & Exams centre are booked for you and the fees are included.

Read the full AQA specification ↗Lift College teaches to the current AQA specification, so what you study is exactly what is examined.
Assessment

How is A Level Biology assessed?

A Level Biology is assessed through three written examination papers. Paper 1 and Paper 2 each contribute 35% of your final grade. Paper 3 contributes 30%. A separate practical endorsement is available. There is no coursework. All exams are taken in person at an approved centre.

Three written papers of 2 hours, all sat in the same May/June series. Paper 1 (91 marks, 35%) covers topics 1 to 4 and relevant practical skills, with short and long answer questions plus a 15 mark extended response. Paper 2 (91 marks, 35%) covers topics 5 to 8 and relevant practical skills, with a 15 mark comprehension question. Paper 3 (78 marks, 30%) covers any content from topics 1 to 8: structured questions on practical techniques (38 marks), critical analysis of experimental data (15 marks), and one essay chosen from two titles (25 marks). Practical endorsement (CPAC): alongside the written A Level you complete 12 required practical activities, assessed against the Common Practical Assessment Criteria and reported separately as a Pass on your certificate. On +Exams & CPAC the practical assessment takes place at a Tutors & Exams laboratory venue. At least 15% of your written marks assess practical skills. Grades run from A* to E, with U below E; the practical endorsement is reported separately.

PaperLengthMarksWeightingContent
Paper 12 hours91 marks35%Topics 1 to 4 and relevant practical skills. Short and long answer questions plus a 15-mark extended response.
Paper 22 hours91 marks35%Topics 5 to 8 and relevant practical skills. Short and long answer questions plus a 15-mark comprehension question.
Paper 32 hours78 marks30%Any content from topics 1 to 8. Structured questions on practical techniques (38 marks), critical analysis of experimental data (15 marks), and one essay chosen from two titles (25 marks).
Study support

A named UK tutor from enrolment to exam day

Your named tutor

The same qualified UK subject expert supports you from enrolment through to your exam series.

Marked practice in every unit

Exam style tasks with individual written feedback within 5 to 7 working days.

Progress you can see

Unit scores and topic strengths on your dashboard, which your tutor uses to tailor feedback.

Exam readiness check

A timed mock paper and a written summary of what to focus on before you are entered.

Learner reviews

What our learners say

Six of our latest reviews, as posted on Trustpilot.

See all our reviews onTrustpilot
5 out of 5 · Verified

A Level Psychology On Line Course Lift College

I have enrolled on this on line course and the support/response to queries that I have received to date have been timely and effective. The college also provides a learning plan to comlete the course and mock exams, together with helpful reminders of allocated study days (you self select them and they send you a reminder to keep you on track). The modules are clear and easy to understand and a broken down into sections including question and answer sections and model answers and where applicable worked out calculations. There is a need to take notes from the online materials as there are no PDF work books to download. The assigments are completed in a text box and marked accordingly and saved into your records. Once you get used to using the learning portal (which is not too difficult) it is a fairly straightforward learning process. It is worth paying the money for this course and the level of support provided by the college.

Read more on Trustpilot
Simon G.A Level Psychology · 11 Nov 2026
5 out of 5 · Verified

Lift College is very flexible

Lift College is very flexible, allowing me to study GCSE Biology while working full time. The course is straightforward and include helpful tips for passing the exams.

LalaineGCSE Biology · 2 Nov 2026
5 out of 5

I have just enrolled with Lift College

I have just enrolled with Lift College today on a free trial. So far so good, I have accessed my course (GCSE Maths) on my platform and everything looks great. Also met my tutor who is very friendly and helpful too. Will update the reviews when I am further down the line.

Read more on Trustpilot
Paul S.GCSE Maths · 2 Sep 2026
5 out of 5

Prompt Assignment Feedback

I have been studying with Lift College for the past month, and so far, my experience has been positive. The team provides excellent support, and assignments are marked with helpful feedback, usually within three working days. This quick turnaround is particularly valuable as it helps me manage my studies alongside my workplace commitments.

Read more on Trustpilot
ChinthakaLift College learner · 11 Nov 2026
5 out of 5 · Verified

Clearly structured and designed for learning

I recently started the CMI Level 5 course through Lift College. I was attracted to this provider due to the clean and modern design of their website. I asked the support staff a few questions before enrolling, and their responses were fast and informative. When I started the course, I was impressed by how well organised the material was and how the lessons were structured. I have taken many online courses before, including postgraduate courses from UK universities. What I expected was a few videos made using a webcam, plus several dozen PDF files that had to be read. However, the materials provided by Lift College are of excellent quality, well designed, and purpose-made. As a teacher myself with 20 years' experience, I recognised clear and deliberate efforts to help students learn more effectively. Lift College isn't just giving you a load of reading material and letting you get on with it. They have designed prompts, revision boxes, spot quizzes, and other features to ensure that learning is actively facilitated.

Read more on Trustpilot
Derek H.CMI Level 5 · 6 Nov 2026
5 out of 5

Excellent customer service

Excellent customer service and the enrolment process was very smooth. Started my course three weeks ago and I’m loving it.

George B.Lift College learner · 6 Nov 2026
See all our reviews onTrustpilot
Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is A Level Biology?

A Level Biology is a Level 3 qualification in the study of living things, from biological molecules and cells to genetics, ecosystems and the control of gene expression, usually studied over two years. On AQA 7402 you study eight topics, complete 12 required practicals and sit three papers of 2 hours, with the practical endorsement reported separately as a Pass. Grades run from A* to E, worth 56 to 16 UCAS tariff points, and Lift College teaches the full course online from £49.99 a month when you pay today, or you can try it free for 7 days first.

Biology A Level online: can adults study it from home?

Yes. The course is open to anyone aged 14 or over, with no formal entry qualifications and no upper age limit; under 18s enrol with a parent or guardian's permission and support. You study AQA 7402 from home with a named UK tutor, and you sit the three written papers in person at a Tutors & Exams centre.

Is there a biology A Level course for adults with exams included?

Yes. On +Exams Lift College enters you for AQA 7402 and books your seat at one of ten Tutors & Exams centres, with the entry and centre fees included. +Exams & CPAC adds the practical endorsement, assessed at a Tutors & Exams laboratory venue. Study does not include exam entry.

A Level Biology distance learning: how does it work?

You study online with a named UK tutor, who marks your exam style questions and timed mock paper with written feedback within 5 to 7 working days. The three written papers of 2 hours are sat in person in the May/June series, all in the same series.

Do I get an A Level Biology tutor online?

Yes. Every learner has a named UK tutor from enrolment to exam day. Your tutor marks the exam style tasks in every unit, uses your unit scores and topic strengths to tailor feedback, and gives you a written summary of what to focus on after your timed mock paper.

Which exam board is this A Level Biology course, AQA, OCR or Edexcel?

AQA. This course is AQA A Level Biology 7402, qualification number 601/4625/4, and we do not teach the OCR or Edexcel A Level Biology specifications. Our International A Level Biology is a separate Pearson Edexcel qualification (YBI11).

Can I find A Level Biology past papers to practise with?

Yes. AQA, the exam board, publishes the past papers and mark schemes for 7402; start from AQA's A Level Biology 7402 page. On the course your tutor marks your exam style answers and a timed mock paper, with written feedback within 5 to 7 working days.

How long does an A Level Biology course online take?

Typically 12 to 18 months at 8 to 12 hours a week, or faster if you study more each week. The papers are sat once a year, in the May/June series, so plan your study back from the series you want to enter.

Not sure if A Level Biology is right for you?

A UK adviser calls you back within 2 working hours, Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm. No sales script.

Not sure what the AQA specification involves? Read our AQA A Level Biology guide for a paper-by-paper breakdown before you enrol.

Further readingWhat are UCAS points? →A Levels as a mature student →A Level Biology guide →
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