The A Level Marine Science Online course with Learn Now follows the CIE (9693) specification and is equivalent to the qualification you would achieve if attending mainstream college. Once completed, you will obtain UCAS points which will support progression to university in degrees such as Marine Biology, Oceanography, Ecology and Conservation.
This course would suit adult learners returning to education, students resitting exams or studying alongside other commitments, and learners looking to be accepted into University.
Enrol Anytime | Enrolment Fee £395
This A Level Marine Science Course will provide a coherent and stimulating introduction to the science of the marine environment. The content of the AS part of the course concentrates on the scientific study of the sea and its ecosystems, while the Cambridge International A Level part of the course concentrates on human activities that depend on the sea and have an impact on it.
The course will foster creative thinking and problem-solving skills, which are transferable to any future career path.
The Full A Level Marine Science course has nine modules you will need to cover which is split into IAS and IA2. The IAS Level has five modules and all of these are listed below.
All matter including our oceans is made up of tiny particles. These particles are known as atoms which join together to form molecules, ions and compounds.
This topic introduces chemistry and particle theory. You will gain an understanding of how water can exist as a solid, liquid or gas. You will also look into the structure of the atom along with how atoms bond together through covalent and ionic bonding.
This topic focuses on the water molecule where you will learn how hydrogen bonding forms and gives water unique properties. These properties support marine life and maintain ocean conditions.
Earth processes shape the ocean floor, movement of sea water and formation of different marine habitats. You will begin this chapter by exploring tectonic processes including the internal structure of the earth. Plate tectonics are responsible for mid-ocean ridges, ocean trenches, hydrothermal vents and abyssal plains. They are also responsible for earthquakes and tsunamis.
Weathering, erosion and sedimentation are processes that shape our coastlines. By understanding these processes you will see how different types of coastal environments form.
Finally, you will look at tides and ocean currents. Winds, temperature differences and the earth’s rotation all drive ocean currents. Ocean currents are vital for mixing water globally and play a role in climate regulation.
This unit will cover the interaction between different organisms within the marine ecosystem. Interactions affect survival, energy transfer and nutrients.
You will explore feeding relationships, producers and photosynthesis/chemosynthesis. You will also look into processes such as upwelling, decomposition and runoff.
Classification systems are used to understand the variety of living organisms within the oceans. This topic will cover the classification of marine organisms along with the binomial naming system.
You will then cover key groups of marine organisms. Animal groups such as echinoderms, crustaceans, bony fish and cartilaginous fish will be covered along with plankton, photosynthetic plankton and consumer plankton.
You will look into biodiversity along with the benefits of marine biodiversity. Finally, you will examine populations and sampling techniques used to study organisms.
The open ocean covers the largest area of the Earth’s surface and is connected as a single global ocean. The global ocean is divided into depth zones based on light and availability.
This topic will cover tropical coral reefs and how they are formed by coral polyps living in a mutualistic relationship with photosynthetic zooxanthellae. You will also gain an understanding of the importance of coral reefs for biodiversity, coastal protection, food supply and tourism.
This topic will also cover rocky shores, sandy shores and the mangrove forest. You will learn about the importance of protecting these ecosystems for marine life and human societies.
Learners for the Cambridge International A’ Level Marine Science study BOTH A Level (below) and AS Level topics (above):-
Physiology studies how living organisms function for example, gas exchange and water balance. In this topic you will cover cell structure along with the common features shared amongst marine organisms.
You will also cover movement and substances across cell membranes along with diffusion, facilitated diffusion and osmosis.
The topic will also cover gas exchange in marine organisms and osmoregulation which is how organisms control the water content of their bodies.
Energy processes such as photosynthesis, chemosynthesis and respiration support marine food webs and life processes at every level.
In this topic you will learn how light energy is absorbed by pigments in chloroplasts and converted. You will also gain an understanding of how light intensity, wavelength, carbon dioxide and temperature can limit the rate of photosynthesis.
You will also cover chemosynthesis, a process where sunlight is absent. This will show that life within our oceans is not entirely dependent on sunlight.
Finally, you will cover respiration which is the process by which organisms release energy to fuel life processes. You will cover the steps of how energy is released as ATP.
This topic will cover the life cycles of marine organisms. Many marine animals have complex life cycles whereas mammals have simpler life cycles. You will cover metamorphosis, larval stages and the difference between sessile and non-sessile organisms.
You will then look into sustainable fisheries and why it is important to manage fish stocks carefully.
Finally, you will look at marine aquaculture. This is where marine organisms are grown within controlled systems.
Human activities such as pollution, resource extraction and changes to the atmosphere have an influence on the oceans. This topic will cover the ecological impacts of human activities. You will also cover bioaccumulation and biomagnification of toxins such as heavy metals, which can cause long-term damage to marine ecosystems.
Other parts to this topic include global warming, ocean acidification and marine conservation.
The skills you gain from the Advanced Level in Marine Science will provide a suitable foundation for the study of Marine Biology or Environmental Science or related courses in higher education.
Equally it is suitable for students intending to pursue careers or further study in Fisheries, Shipping, Tourism or Aquaculture, or as part of a course of general education.
There are no previous entry requirements for this course, however students are expected to have a reasonable standard of literacy.
You have the freedom to start the course at any time and continue your studies at your own pace for a period of up to 24 months from initial registration with the full support of your Tutor.
Our Enrolment fee for this course is noted at the top of this page where you can enrol directly onto the course. This fee includes access to your course including tutor support for 2 years.
Our enrolment fee includes:
The only other fee you will need to pay is for your exams which is due approximately six months prior and this will be paid directly to the exam centre.
Students will be required to arrange and pay for their examinations/practicals at CIE approved centre. We can provide an extensive list of these centres for you.
A Level Exams
There are four exams for the full A Level qualification. The length of each exam is as follows:
AS Level Exams
There are two exams for the AS Level qualification. The length of each exam is as follows:
For Cambridge International AS & A Level Marine Science, learners can:
On successful completion of all your exams, you will be awarded one of the following qualifications:
International A Level in Marine Science with CIE | International AS Level in Marine Science with CIE.
Marine Science is essentially a mix of chemistry, biology, environmental science and geography. You will need to understand processes such as photosynthesis, osmoregulation and global warming. There will be some questions surrounding a dichotomous key, calculating population size and interpreting absorption spectra. If you enjoy biology and ecosystems, this course should be no problem for you.
You will not be required to purchase any books with this course. We automatically include logins to our online e-Library which includes access to following eBook(s):
Cambridge International AS & A Level Marine Science – Matthew Parkin (Cambridge University Press)
Not see the book you are looking for? Ask us and we will let you know if we have it!
Good subject combinations to take alongside Marine Science include:
A Level Biology, Chemistry and Geography – These subjects all overlap with Marine Science and therefore will only improve your knowledge in certain areas. By doing so, you will have a good foundation for studying the rest of these A Levels.
Cambridge International A Level Marine Science can be taken outside the UK as well as within the UK. Cambridge provide global recognition for their A Level qualifications and are recognised by universities.
At the end of this course you will receive an Internationally recognised qualification which will allow you to apply a university situated anywhere in the world.
AS and A levels are standalone qualifications, however the Full A Level carries more UCAS points than the AS Level. It also requires more study hours as follows:
You will see the difference in the content above under ‘syllabus’ but you can also refer to our article on ‘what is as level’ for more information.
You will receive access and support for two years, however you can complete it much sooner if you want to. Exams for this subject fall in May/June and October/November each year and therefore you are able to choose which exam sitting you want to apply for. We have more information on exam timetables here.
Fill in the form below or call us on 0800 160 1556, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Also don’t forget to let us know which course it is that you are interested in…
