| Unlike most school-based teachers I teach students sitting
for A-Levels with ALL of the examination boards, ie EDEXCEL; AQA(A) and
AQA(B) and
OCR. I teach both
Biology and Human Biology for the OCR, Edexcel and AQA(A) syllabuses
which
offer these options. Although I am familiar with all of the A-level
boards I will always recommend the AQA(A) syllabus if
asked to teach 'from scratch', as this is the most straightforward
board in terms of 'practical' requirements and its lack of 'options'.
I assessed AQA(A) A-level PRACTICALS for many years and am broadly familiar with the practical requirements for most of the other A-level boards and syllabuses. I can consequently also offer general advice on practical and project 'write-ups' for AS and A2-levels. I do a little GCSE teaching (as little as possible, and at premium rate to reflect its tedious nature!) and am reasonably familiar with most of the requirements of most of the examining boards. If asked to recommend a board 'from scratch' I recommend the Cambridge Local IGCSE (International GCSE) syllabus, which I have taught successfully on a number of occasions - a particularly useful syllabus as there is no requirement for 'assessed practicals', which can be tricky for private candidates to organise. I have complete collections of past papers for all four 'A-level' syllabuses and a large selection of past GCSE papers. I can very rapidly obtain any syllabuses or past papers I do not have, at no charge to the student. I have occasionally taught at lower levels (but prefer not to do so nowadays if at all possible) and have successfully coached a young man of 12 for his COMMON ENTRANCE science examination. I have also taught the occasional UNDERGRADUATE who has had problems with special topics such as genetics, as well as INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) Biology at both Subsidiary and Higher levels. Please ask and I will see what I can do - if I do not feel confident teaching what you request I will find someone who does. I might also add that if someone is having problems navigating their way through the labyrinthine regulations of the A-level examining boards and/or UCAS I will be very happy to do what I can to help. Such are the complexities of the current regulations for AS/A2-levels (many of which schools and even the examination boards themselves do not seem to fully familiar with!) that I cannot sell myself as an 'expert' - however, I invariably know where and who to ask. |