Award: GCSE
Awarding Body: AQA
Specification Code: 8464
Specification Website: AQA Combined Science - Trilogy
Combined Science is a joint award that looks at all three science disciplines and is worth two GCSEs upon completion. The previously offered ‘Core and Additional Science’ options have now been replaced with the new ‘Combined Science’ which is a compulsory component of the curriculum. The GCSE course has already been started in Year 9.
This course covers the new Key Stage 4 Science Programme of Study, the content of which makes up part of the separate science awards. It has been developed so that students become more ‘scientifically literate', i.e. they are able to make reasoned judgements about scientific issues which may affect them in their everyday lives. It covers aspects of biology, chemistry and physics and includes a detailed look at investigative skills.
Cell biology,
Organisation,
infection and response,
Bioenergetics,
Homeostasis and response,
Inheritance,
Variation and evolution, and
Ecology.
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,
Using resources, and
Chemistry of the atmosphere.
Energy,
Electricity,
Particle model of matter and atomic structure,
Forces,
Waves,
Magnetism and
Electromagnetism.
End of topic tests
Year 10 and 11 Mocks
Assessment will be using the new 9-1 grading system, replacing the A*-G. The foundation tiers will cover grades 1–5 and the higher, grades 4-9.
There are no controlled assessments in the new science qualification and the final examinations will consist of 6 separate papers (two for each science), each 1 hour and 15 minutes long.
Mathematical skills will be assessed in all three sciences in different proportions. The biology exams will have 10% of the marks devoted to this, rising to 20% for chemistry and 30% for physics.
Practical skills will be assessed within the 6 papers the students will sit. The questions in these papers will based upon 21 required practicals set by the exam board. These will be done within the three-year programme of study.