GCSE in Combined Science: Trilogy
What is science at GCSE?
Science at GCSE level aims to develop pupils’ knowledge and understanding of scientific theories, but also their ability to apply, analyse and evaluate that knowledge in practical, everyday situations. It provides good life skills, regardless of the career path they take. Science has something to offer every pupil from trainee chef to nuclear physicist, an electrician’s apprentice to a cancer researcher.
Which Syllabus?
AQA Combined Science ;Trilogy (8464) . This is a two-GCSE sized (double award) qualification covering the three science disciplines of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Pupils are awarded a grade based on their overall performance across these three disciplines.
GCSE Science Course.
The GCSE specification is taught from year 9.
The qualifications are completely linear. This means that all examinations are taken in the same exam series at the very end of the course of study (end of Y11).
Changes to the grading scale The old A*– G scale has been replaced with a 9–1 scale, with 9 being the highest grade awarded and 1 being the lowest grade awarded Note: 4 and 5 are equivalent to the old C grade. (5 being better) 6 a B grade and 7,8 and 9 being grade A.
Removal of coursework There will no longer be a coursework unit in the GCSE Science
Practical work is still a very important part of the science GCSEs, not only to consolidate learning, but also to develop skills in planning, analysing and evaluating. There will now be required practicals. These practical skills will be assessed as part of the written examinations at the end of the course.
There are 21 required practicals 7 Biology, 6 Chemistry and 8 Physics.
These practicals can take place at any time of the year as part of the learning experience for particular topics – there is no requirement for a school to reschedule missed practicals. It is therefore important that holidays are not taken in term time to avoid missing these practicals
What will be studied?
Biology
- Cell biology
- Organisation
- Infection and response
- Bioenergetics
- Homeostasis and response
- Inheritance, variation and evolution
- Ecology
Chemistry
- Atomic structure and the periodic table
- Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter
- Quantitative chemistry
- Chemical changes
- Energy changes
- The rate and extent of chemical change
- Organic chemistry
- Chemical analysis
- Chemistry of the atmosphere
- Using resources
Physics
- Energy
- Electricity
- Particle model of matter
- Atomic structure
- Forces
- Waves
- Magnetism and electromagnetism
Levels explained.
Students are able to take either the foundation or higher papers depending on their ability and choice. The teaching staff make appropriate recommendations at the right time, challenging and guiding the pupils to aim as high as they can. Higher papers enable the highest grades to be achieved, with foundation papers, grade 5 is the highest.
How will it be assessed?
There are six written exams.
Two Biology, two Chemistry and two Physics.
All exams are 1 hour 15 minutes, and each exam will cover half of the content for that discipline. Each exam is worth 70 marks and 16.7% of GCSE.
The questions are multiple choice, structured, closed, short and open response.