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There are a wide range of science subjects on offer to students in Years 9&10. Students are required to complete at least two Science units over the two years of 9&10.
Subject offered in both cycles
Biology (BIO)
Physics (PHYS)
Chemistry (CHEM)
Psychology (PSYCH)
General Science (GENSCI)
Environmental Science (ENVSCI)
Year 9&10 Science - Subject offerings for 2025
Biology (BIO)
Biology (BIO)
In Year 9/10 Biology, students learn how living things grow, survive, and change over time. They explore how plants and animals reproduce, how the body stays balanced using the nervous and endocrine systems, and how diseases spread and can be controlled. Students also study how traits are passed down through genetics and learn about evolution and how it explains the variety of life on Earth. Throughout the course, students take part in hands-on experiments, group activities, and research projects to build their science skills.
Areas of study
How do living things reproduce and survive?
How does the body stay in balance and respond to change?
What causes disease and how can we prevent it?
How are traits inherited from one generation to the next?
What evidence shows how life has changed over time?
Learning program & assessment:
Students will complete experiments and hands-on investigations
Students will explain their ideas using posters, videos, or digital presentations
Physics (PHYS)
Physics (PHYS)
In 9/10 Physics students develop knowledge and understanding of forces, motion, matter and energy. These concepts are illustrated practically in a laboratory setting and related to real-world phenomena. Students develop their scientific thinking and understanding of the scientific process by conducting practical investigations across a range of physical concepts. Assessment tasks include practical construction and testing tasks and experimental write-ups.
Areas of study
What are the different methods of heat and energy transfer?
How do the characteristics of waves predict the behaviour of light and sound?
How do the principles of speed, velocity, acceleration and Newton’s laws of motion apply to our lives?
Learning program & assessment:
Students will demonstrate their knowledge through practical laboratory investigations
Students will demonstrate their knowledge through practical construction and testing tasks
Students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge through theoretical assessment
Chemistry (CHEM)
Chemistry (CHEM)
In 9/10 chemistry students develop knowledge and understanding of chemical structures and reactions. These concepts are illustrated practically in a laboratory setting and related to real-world phenomena. Students develop their scientific thinking and understanding of the scientific process by conducting practical investigations across a range of chemical concepts. Assessment tasks include modelling tasks and experimental write-ups.
Areas of study
What is an atom and how does it relate to the periodic table?
How do atoms form bonds and how does this affect the properties of materials?
What are different types of chemical reactions and why are they important to the world?
Learning program & assessment:
Students will demonstrate their knowledge through practical laboratory investigations
Students will demonstrate their knowledge through practical construction and testing tasks
Students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge through theoretical assessment
Psychology (PSYCH)
Psychology (PSYCH)
This subject allows students to begin their understanding of the mind, human behaviour and psychology as a science. Students will investigate the impact of the world around us on our mental health, the brain and the functions of the various structures within it. They will explore how we develop our understanding of the people and the world around us through our experiences, interactions with the people we know, and our environment.
Areas of study
How does our environment and our experiences affect our mental health?
How can our memory and learning process be improved?
How does the brain allow the body to function and what effect does damage have?
Learning program & assessment:
Students will demonstrate their knowledge through undertaking laboratory reports.
Students will present their findings through undertaking theoretical and practical assessments.
Students will create a detailed investigation of a key psychological phenomena.
General Science (GENSCI)
General Science (GENSCI)
General Science is a subject that covers a wide range of scientific topics and skills. It helps students understand the basic principles of physics, chemistry, biology, and earth sciences. They learn to observe, collect data, analyse information, and make interpretations. Students explore different areas such as motion, energy, matter, chemical reactions, living organisms, ecosystems, and the Earth's structure. They conduct experiments, research, and discussions to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills. General Science provides a foundation for understanding the natural world and how scientific principles apply to various aspects of life.
Areas of study
Students will explore fundamental chemistry concepts
Students will discover foundational physics concepts
Students will apply core biological concepts
Learning program & assessment:
Students will demonstrate their knowledge through practical laboratory investigations
Students will demonstrate their knowledge through research and communication tasks
Students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge through theoretical assessment
Environmental Science (ENVSCI)
Environmental Science (ENVSCI)
In Year 9/10 Environmental Science students develop knowledge and understanding of Earth’s systems and processes; managing Earth’s resources; and the changing Earth. Students will study natural environmental change over a variety of time scales and how these systems respond to change and disruption. Students build their critical thinking skills through the investigation of case studies that examine how humans modify the environment and the consequences of these changes.
Areas of study
How do the Earth’s systems interact to support life on Earth?
How do processes on Earth influence the transfer of energy through oceans and air?
How can we manage the extraction, use and disposal of Earth’s resources?
How can humans ensure a sustainable existence on Earth?
Learning program & assessment:
Students will demonstrate their knowledge through practical laboratory investigations and fieldwork.
Students will demonstrate their knowledge through research and communication tasks.
Students will be able to demonstrate their knowledge through theoretical assessment.
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