There is no coursework component needed to complete Cambridge International AS and A Level Marine Science (9693) although getting practical experiences will be valuable for students. That is, students can attain the qualification by examination only. At the moment, only CAIE board offers Marine Science at AS and A Level.
The exam board uses a syllabus to clearly state, among other things, the subject course content and methods of final assessments. Additionally, CAIE exam board will give suggested textbooks and other resources, some of which are endorsed (that is, they carefully follow the specific syllabus or specification). Teachers and students can choose the best resources to facilitate learning. You don't need all the suggested resources, but it is useful to have one or two textbooks as a scaffold, alongside the syllabus and online resources as needed.
I taught Cambridge A Level Marine Science to my son in 2011, and though he chose not to study this subject at university, he has kept fish for many years. Even though I am not currently teaching Marine Science, I would like to give information about the course as there is only one exam board offering AS and A Level Marine Science.
Please take time to thoroughly research the AS or A Level subjects you intend to pursue. This website is intended to give you information, but each of you will have different educational journeys, and the exam boards change syllabuses often. For instance, the syllabus for Marine Science is changing for 2022-2024.
The exam board uses a syllabus to clearly state, among other things, the subject course content and methods of final assessments. Additionally, CAIE exam board will give suggested textbooks and other resources, some of which are endorsed (that is, they carefully follow the specific syllabus or specification). Teachers and students can choose the best resources to facilitate learning. You don't need all the suggested resources, but it is useful to have one or two textbooks as a scaffold, alongside the syllabus and online resources as needed.
I taught Cambridge A Level Marine Science to my son in 2011, and though he chose not to study this subject at university, he has kept fish for many years. Even though I am not currently teaching Marine Science, I would like to give information about the course as there is only one exam board offering AS and A Level Marine Science.
Please take time to thoroughly research the AS or A Level subjects you intend to pursue. This website is intended to give you information, but each of you will have different educational journeys, and the exam boards change syllabuses often. For instance, the syllabus for Marine Science is changing for 2022-2024.
Syllabus
To have the most success in final assessments (exams), read the syllabus carefully. Consider this as the rule book, as it gives clear details about the subject.
Here are the links for the AS and A Level Marine Science course offered by CAIE:
Here are the links for the AS and A Level Marine Science course offered by CAIE:
Cambridge AS and A Level Marine Science (9693)
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-international-as-and-a-level-marine-science-9693/
https://www.cambridgeinternational.org/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-international-as-and-a-level-marine-science-9693/
Past paper practice
One of the best ways to understand how well you will do in the final assessments is to complete some past papers, mark them, and reflect on your strengths and challenges. Then repeat the process. Strong AS and A Level knowledge and skills are built through practice, so you should make sure to get support from teachers, tutors, or mentors as necessary. In the meantime, visit the examination board's website and look for past papers, the mark schemes (answer keys or rubrics) and the examiners' reports. All these documents will be helpful in honing your skills in this subject.
Suggested textbooks
There are endorsed textbooks that are closely aligned to exam board courses and these will be the best resource to use as a scaffold for learning. The exam board also suggests other textbooks and resources for each subject course. The choice of books for teaching and learning is yours, but I have always relied on one or two endorsed textbooks, and then used other resources to supplement my own learning and teaching.
Here are some useful suggested textbooks for AS and A Level Marine Science:
Here are some useful suggested textbooks for AS and A Level Marine Science:
Cambridge AS and A Level Marine Science (9693)
- Parkin, M. et al. (2017) Cambridge International AS and A Level Marine Science. ISBN: 9781316640869 [Endorsed]
- Parkin, M. et al. (2017) Cambridge International AS and A Level Marine Science: Teacher's Resource CD-ROM. ISBN: 9781316643631 [Endorsed]
- Parkin, M. et al (2020) Marine Science for Cambridge International AS and A Level: Workbook. ISBN: 9781108790499
- Pinet, P.(2019) Invitation to Oceanography, 8th Edition. ISBN: 9781284164695
- Castro, P. & Huber, M (2018) Marine Biology, 11th Edition. ISBN: 9781260085105
- Garrison, T. (2015) Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science, 9th Edition. ISBN: 9781305105164
- Cass-Dudley, V. et al. (2016) Laboratory and Field Investigations in Marine Life, 11th Edition. ISBN: 978-1284090543
Useful websites for AS and A Level Marine Science
Using an endorsed textbook alongside the syllabus or specification is always my first strategy in teaching or tutoring AS and A Levels. Then I look through the online resources to supplement and complement what is being learnt, and I am constantly researching new resources.
Here are a few resources you might find useful:
Here are a few resources you might find useful:
http://www.course-notes.org/Biology/Outlines
A US-based site, this is a useful reference tool for various topics relating to Marine Science.
http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/virtualmuseum/climatechange1/10_1.shtml
I found this helpful for information on global ocean circulation. It also covers climate change and the outlook for the future.
http://oceansjsu.com/105d/exped_ecosystems/1.html
Several sections are helpful here on the marine ecosystem, including the carbon cycle, limiting nutrients, food webs and the coral ecosystems. There are links to NPR broadcasts too.
http://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/oceanography/
NASA has published information on the ocean and earth systems. There is plenty of information here, so it is worth looking through. Teachers can use it to supplement lesson plans.
http://marinebio.org/oceans/
Full of information, photos, graphs, and more. Their mission statement includes providing an introductory education in marine life science, as well as information on marine conservation. Well worth a visit for teachers and students.
http://www.indiana.edu/~geol105/1425chap4.htm
About the hydrologic cycle, this site touches on marine science as well as geography. Good background information.
http://ocean.stanford.edu/bomc/lnotes.html
This site helped me when researching aspects of marine chemistry. It is a useful teacher site, but will need to be carefully structured for the student as this site is geared to university students, not A Level students. Still worthwhile, especially as the lecture readings come from Stanford University.
http://www.usgs.gov/
US Geological Survey website, providing research and information on many aspects related to marine science and geography.
http://www.reef.org/
Ocean Conservation organisation, especially interested in lionfish invasions.
http://web.vims.edu/bridge/?svr=www
Bridge Ocean Education Teacher Resource website, with many lesson plans and resources. Geared towards American high schoolers who are studying marine science, but still a useful site for international students.
http://www.reefbase.org/main.aspx
ReefBase is a website containing global information on coral reefs.
http://www.noaa.gov/
A comprehensive website for marine science and geography. There are numerous links that give information and research on a wide range of topics. Information-dense site, so take your time here!
http://www.enn.com/
A website dedicated to giving updated information on environmental issues. You need to look for specific topics on Marine Biology, so be focused before you look or you might spend too much time here.
https://www.sciencenews.org/
Another news site with plenty of material related to marine science.
https://www.coastsandreefs.net/bio/coasts.php
A website all about coasts and reefs.
https://coral.org
This NGO website gives information on coral reefs and what can be done to safeguard them.
https://ocean.si.edu
From the Smithsonian Institute, this website is full of information, links and more. Well worth a look.
Websites need to be checked often to make sure they are still relevant and the links are still active. All websites were checked and updated: April, 2021.
A US-based site, this is a useful reference tool for various topics relating to Marine Science.
http://earthguide.ucsd.edu/virtualmuseum/climatechange1/10_1.shtml
I found this helpful for information on global ocean circulation. It also covers climate change and the outlook for the future.
http://oceansjsu.com/105d/exped_ecosystems/1.html
Several sections are helpful here on the marine ecosystem, including the carbon cycle, limiting nutrients, food webs and the coral ecosystems. There are links to NPR broadcasts too.
http://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/oceanography/
NASA has published information on the ocean and earth systems. There is plenty of information here, so it is worth looking through. Teachers can use it to supplement lesson plans.
http://marinebio.org/oceans/
Full of information, photos, graphs, and more. Their mission statement includes providing an introductory education in marine life science, as well as information on marine conservation. Well worth a visit for teachers and students.
http://www.indiana.edu/~geol105/1425chap4.htm
About the hydrologic cycle, this site touches on marine science as well as geography. Good background information.
http://ocean.stanford.edu/bomc/lnotes.html
This site helped me when researching aspects of marine chemistry. It is a useful teacher site, but will need to be carefully structured for the student as this site is geared to university students, not A Level students. Still worthwhile, especially as the lecture readings come from Stanford University.
http://www.usgs.gov/
US Geological Survey website, providing research and information on many aspects related to marine science and geography.
http://www.reef.org/
Ocean Conservation organisation, especially interested in lionfish invasions.
http://web.vims.edu/bridge/?svr=www
Bridge Ocean Education Teacher Resource website, with many lesson plans and resources. Geared towards American high schoolers who are studying marine science, but still a useful site for international students.
http://www.reefbase.org/main.aspx
ReefBase is a website containing global information on coral reefs.
http://www.noaa.gov/
A comprehensive website for marine science and geography. There are numerous links that give information and research on a wide range of topics. Information-dense site, so take your time here!
http://www.enn.com/
A website dedicated to giving updated information on environmental issues. You need to look for specific topics on Marine Biology, so be focused before you look or you might spend too much time here.
https://www.sciencenews.org/
Another news site with plenty of material related to marine science.
https://www.coastsandreefs.net/bio/coasts.php
A website all about coasts and reefs.
https://coral.org
This NGO website gives information on coral reefs and what can be done to safeguard them.
https://ocean.si.edu
From the Smithsonian Institute, this website is full of information, links and more. Well worth a look.
Websites need to be checked often to make sure they are still relevant and the links are still active. All websites were checked and updated: April, 2021.