AQA A-Level Environmental Science (7447)
AQA A-Level Environmental Science is a fascinating subject that blends biology, chemistry, geography, and social science into one. But with its wide scope, achieving an A* requires more than just remembering facts — it’s about mastering exam technique, applying knowledge, and showing a deep understanding of real-world environmental issues.
Here’s your step-by-step guide to reaching the top grade.
The practical requirements in AQA A-Level Environmental Science are a vital part of the course and help you develop the skills needed to collect, analyse, and evaluate environmental data. While the course is 100% exam-based, you must complete a series of required practical activities during your studies. These include fieldwork and laboratory investigations, such as measuring biodiversity with quadrats and transects, testing water quality, and analysing soil composition. These practicals not only prepare you for specific exam questions but also help you understand how environmental science is applied in real-world situations.
Completing the AQA Environmental Science required practicals gives you valuable experience in data handling, statistical analysis, and drawing conclusions. You’ll be expected to demonstrate these skills in your final exams, where questions may ask you to interpret unfamiliar data, evaluate experimental methods, or suggest improvements to fieldwork. Practical work also reinforces key specification topics, such as ecosystems, pollution, and resource management, making it easier to link theory with practice. This integrated approach is especially useful when tackling synoptic questions that require connections across the course.
To excel in the practical element of AQA A-Level Environmental Science, keep detailed notes of every investigation you carry out, including methods, results, and any limitations. Practise explaining your practical work in clear, concise scientific language, as this mirrors the style examiners are looking for. Using AQA past papers and predicted questions that focus on practical skills will help you feel confident in applying your fieldwork and lab experience to exam scenarios. By mastering the practical requirements, you’re not just meeting the course criteria — you’re building the analytical skills that can help you achieve an A*.
Case studies are essential for achieving top marks in AQA A-Level Environmental Science. They provide the real-world examples that examiners look for, proving that you can apply theory to practical situations. A strong environmental science case study should include specific details — such as location, scale, methods used, challenges faced, and measurable outcomes. Whether it’s renewable energy projects like the London Array offshore wind farm, conservation successes like the giant panda recovery programme, or pollution control in the River Thames, case studies add credibility and depth to your answers.
To succeed in your exam, you should select and learn case studies strategically. Aim to have at least one detailed example for every major topic in the specification — including renewable energy, biodiversity conservation, pollution management, sustainable agriculture, and climate change mitigation. Choose examples that include data, statistics, and clear results so you can confidently integrate them into both short-answer questions and the 25-mark synoptic essay. This will help you move your answers into the top band and secure an A or A*.
When writing about case studies in your exam, make sure you integrate them naturally into your argument. Instead of adding them as an afterthought, weave them into your explanation so they directly support your points. Always link back to the question to show their relevance. Practising this skill with our examiner-written examples, past papers and predicted questions will make you confident in recalling and applying the right case study at the right time, boosting your exam performance.
The 25-mark synoptic essay is one of the most important parts of your AQA A-Level Environmental Science exams because it carries a high proportion of marks and tests your ability to think across the entire course. Unlike shorter questions that focus on a single topic, this essay requires you to take a holistic approach — linking ideas from both Paper 1 and Paper 2. The examiners want to see that you understand not just isolated facts, but the bigger picture of how environmental systems and human activities interact.
To score highly, you need to get the AO balance right. The marks are split between:
AO1 (Knowledge and understanding) – clear, accurate explanations of relevant concepts.
AO2 (Application) – applying your knowledge to real-world contexts and examples.
AO3 (Analysis and evaluation) – weighing up evidence, considering strengths and weaknesses, and drawing justified conclusions. An A* answer blends these seamlessly. A good way to prepare is to create essay plans that incorporate examples from multiple topics, ensuring each paragraph develops the argument rather than simply listing facts.
Practising past and predicted essay questions is essential. Start by planning your answer in bullet points, thinking about how to structure your introduction, the logical flow of your points, and your conclusion. Make sure every paragraph is relevant to the question and ends with a link back to the main argument. Using case studies, data, and examples from across the specification will show the examiner that you can think broadly and critically. Over time, you’ll build the confidence to approach any essay question and structure it in a way that matches exactly what the examiners are looking for.
A* students don’t just know the content — they know how to present it.
Answer the command word in the question (e.g., describe, explain, evaluate).
Always refer back to the question in your conclusion.
Manage time: don’t spend too long on short-answer questions.
💡 Extra help: Our predicted papers and video walkthroughs, written by an experienced teacher and examiner, show you exactly how to interpret questions and lay out your answers the way examiners are looking for.
The best way to revise for AQA A-Level Environmental Science is to combine content mastery, exam practice, and active recall techniques. Start by breaking down the AQA specification into manageable sections and create a revision timetable that covers all topics from both Paper 1 and Paper 2. Use mind maps, flashcards, and summary notes to reinforce key definitions, processes, and case studies. This subject is highly synoptic, so aim to make connections between different topics — for example, linking biodiversity conservation to sustainable agriculture and climate change.
For AQA A-Level Environmental Science, there are two exam papers — both sat at the end of Year 13.
Paper 1: covers topics like the physical environment, energy resources, pollution, and research methods.
Paper 2: covers topics like the living environment, biological resources, sustainability, and research methods.
Both are 3 hours long and worth 50% of the A-level each.
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