Senior Science

Course Overview: In this full-year course, students learn about the microorganisms that they interact with on a daily basis. We explore chemical reactions and where we see these in our everyday lives. Genetics and the study of inheritance and variation teach students about the power of DNA. Properties of materials allow students to think about why we use particular materials for a specific purpose.

Equipment/Stationery: See stationery list.

Recommended Prior Learning: Year 10 Science.

Assessment Information:

• Endorsement available: Yes

• Internal credits: 11

• External credits: 9

• Total credits: 20

Next Steps: This course is good preparation for those students wishing to take Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics at Level 2 and beyond.

Course Overview: This full-year course provides a foundation for those interested in learning more about the behaviour of cars and rockets, as well as everyday phenomena such as energy transfer in relation to exploring the universe. The Planet Earth and Beyond strand explores the dynamic relationships that exist within the taiao (the Earth system) and the interconnections between Earth’s subsystems of the geosphere (land), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air), and biosphere (life). Also covered are the cyclical interactions between the Earth, the Sun and the Moon.

Equipment/Stationery: See stationery list.

Recommended Prior Learning: Year 10 Science.

Assessment Information:

• Endorsement available: Yes

• Internal credits: 10

• External credits: 10

• Total credits: 20

Next Steps: This course is good preparation for those students wishing to take Science, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics at Level 2 and beyond.

Course Overview: In this full-year course, students make discoveries in areas of biology ranging from the macro to the microscopic. They will plan and carry out an individual investigation into an aspect of biology, explore differences in human gas exchange and circulation, and go on a field trip to explore community patterns in Takahē distribution and learn about genetic variation and change.

Equipment/Stationery: See stationery list.

Recommended Prior Learning: 14 Credits in a Level 1 Science course or with HOF approval.

Assessment Information:

• Endorsement available: Yes

• Internal credits: 11

• External credits: 4

• Total credits: 15

• UE Reading credits: 0

• UE Writing credits: 4

• Numeracy credits: 0

• Assessment includes an individual practical field or lab investigation.

Next Steps: Students can progress to Biology 300 or Environment & Life Science 300.

Course Overview: This full-year course lets students explore chemical processes and gain an understanding of chemical concepts and major patterns of chemical behaviour. Topics covered include atomic structure, inorganic chemistry, quantitative chemistry, thermochemical and equilibrium principles as well as oxidation and reduction.

Equipment/Stationery: See stationery list.

Recommended Prior Learning: 14 Credits in a Level 1 Science course or with HOF approval.

Assessment Information:

• Endorsement available: Yes

• Internal credits: 10

• External credits: 9

• Total credits: 19

• UE Reading credits: 0

• UE Writing credits: 0

Next Steps: Students can progress to Chemistry 300, a full-year problem-solving curriculum requiring deep practical laboratory applications.

Course Overview: In this full-year course, students develop their understanding of the physical world by conducting research and practical investigations into different aspects of physics. Topics include mechanics, atomic and nuclear physics, light and waves.

Equipment/Stationery: See stationery list.

Recommended Prior Learning: 14 Credits in a Level 1 Science course or with HOF approval.

Assessment Information:

• Endorsement available: Yes

• Internal credits: 10

• External credits: 16

• Total credits: 26

• UE Reading credits: 0

• UE Writing credits: 0

Next Steps: Students can progress to Physics 300, a full-year path focused on mechanics, wave configurations, and electromagnetism.

Course Overview: This full-year course is perfect if you enjoy Science but don’t want to commit to one particular domain. This course offers four internally assessed achievement standards from the Level 2 Earth and Space Science and Chemistry domains. Although no assessments are technically from the Biology domain, Biological concepts will be covered in ESS 2.1 and ESS 2.4 teaching. This subject is designed for students who require some background in science for future careers. There is the possibility of completing an extra internal. Note: It cannot be taken with any other Level 2 Science except with HOD approval.

Equipment/Stationery: See stationery list.

Recommended Prior Learning: Science Level 1.

Assessment Information: 

• Endorsement available: No

• Internal credits: 14

• External credits: 0

• Total credits: 14

• UE Reading credits: 0

• UE Writing credits: 0

Next Steps: Students can progress to Environmental and Life Science 300.

Course Overview: Explore the intricate world of biology through hands-on investigations and in-depth studies. In this full-year course, students will: conduct a valid practical investigation to examine the impact of an abiotic factor on a chosen organism (experimenting with slaters and their responses); gain a deep understanding of how animals and plants adapt to their external environments (covering relationships, orientation, and timing); investigate and discuss physiological processes that maintain a stable human internal environment (water/glucose regulation, body temperature, blood pressure); compare living and extinct hominins (analysing skull/skeleton changes for bipedalism, tool/fire use, and human dispersal); and research and report on a chosen contentious biological issue.

Equipment/Stationery: See stationery list.

Recommended Prior Learning: 14 Credits in BIO200 or with HOF approval.

Assessment Information:

• Endorsement available: Yes

• UE Approved: Yes

• Internal credits: 10

• External credits: 9

• Total credits: 19

• UE Reading credits: 15

• UE Writing credits: 9.

Next Steps: Students can progress to Tertiary study, preparing them for higher degrees or medical careers in the biological sciences.

Course Overview: This full-year course aims to develop the ability to problem-solve and apply key practical skills to new situations. Topics covered are oxidation-reduction reactions and electrochemical cells, thermochemistry, structure and bonding and energy, spectroscopy, organic chemistry and writing a chemistry report. Students who require all three external standards must prepare aqueous chemistry in their own time.

Equipment/Stationery: See stationery list.

Recommended Prior Learning: 14 Credits in CHE200 or with HOF approval.

Assessment Information:

• Endorsement available: Yes

• UE Approved: Yes

• Internal credits: 9

• External credits: 10

• Total credits: 19

• UE Reading credits: 3

• UE Writing credits: 3

Next Steps: Students can progress to Tertiary study, transitioning capability into medicine, biochemistry, or chemical engineering pathways

Course Overview: In this full-year course, students continue to develop practical skills and to understand the physical world around them. Areas of study include mechanics, waves, electricity and electromagnetism, and atoms, photons, and nuclei.

Equipment/Stationery: See stationery list.

Recommended Prior Learning: 14 Credits in PHY200 or with HOF approval.

Assessment Information:

• Endorsement available: Yes

• UE Approved: Yes

• Internal credits: 13

• External credits: 16

• Total credits: 29

• UE Reading credits: 3

• UE Writing credits: 0

Next Steps: Students can progress to Tertiary study, giving direct entry into  physics, or engineering and design disciplines.

Course Overview: The theme is environmental science and takes a thematic approach to ensure deeper learning. The course is a science domain for university entrance and includes standards that provide literacy (reading and writing). The course will have standards from the domains of Chemistry and Earth and Space Science. It will have 2 Chemistry Standards and 3 Earth and Space Science standards. Endorsement is possible by arrangement: independent study for an external standard would be required.

Equipment/Stationery: See stationery list.

Recommended Prior Learning: Open entry

Assessment Information:

• Endorsement available: Possible by arrangement

• UE Approved: Yes

• Internal credits: 18

• External credits: 0

• Total credits: 18

• UE Reading credits: 10

• UE Writing credits: 3

Next Steps: Students can progress to Tertiary study, preparing them for resource management, environmental geology, or ecology domains.