Science

Science

Students have already started studying for their GCSE science qualifications from the beginning of year 9. Each science subject is assessed separately, giving students the opportunity to achieve 3 GCSE grades in biology, chemistry and physics. These qualifications are assessed by terminal exams in the summer of year 11. Practical work will be carried out as part of normal teaching and is assessed by questions within the written exams. Mathematical skills also represent a significant element of the exams, and students will be expected to apply skills used in GCSE mathematics.

There are 2 exams for each of the sciences resulting in a total of six papers, all of which are 105 minutes long. Students can be entered for the higher tier (grades 9-4) and/or foundation tier (grades 5-1) for each of the science subjects. This means there is the option for them to do a combination of tiers. For example, they could do the higher tier for two of the sciences and the foundation tier for the third. Final tiers will be confirmed after the practice exams in year 11.

The general themes studied in GCSE science are as follows:

Biology

• Human body systems

• Biological processes

• Genetics and evolution

• Diseases

• Plants

• Ecology

Chemistry

• Atoms

• Periodic table

• Reactions

• Organic chemistry

• The atmosphere

• Resources

Physics

• Energy

• Electricity

• Particles

• Radioactivity

• Forces

• Waves

• Magnetism

• Space

Who to contact for further information

Mrs Golding, Faculty Leader of Science