GCSE (9-1) Sciences Ponteland High School

Which courses are offered? Combined Science (2 GCSEs – 11 lessons per fortnight) Biology, Chemistry & Physics (3 GCSEs – 11 lessons per fortnight)

What’s the difference? Separate Science is aimed for high ability students who have a keen interest in science (Level 7 at KS3 by Easter). Separate Science students work at a much faster rate, are expected to understand new topics quickly and be good at Maths. In Separate Sciences you take a total of 6 exams, 2 for each subject; in Combined Science you take 4. All exams are equally weighted. All courses are assessed through examination with no coursework component.

How are the courses assessed? Combined Science Papers 1 – 3 (95 marks – 1hr 45mins) Assesses all content in the Biology, Chemistry and Physics chapters. Structured questions including extended response Paper 4 (75 marks – 1hr 45mins) Assesses all content in the Biology, Chemistry and Physics chapters concerned with ideas about science and data analysis. Structured questions including extended response

How are the courses assessed? Separate Sciences Biology, Chemistry & Physics Breath Paper (90 marks – 1hr 45mins) Assesses content across all 7 chapters. Questions include short answer styles (calculations, multiple choice, one word) Depth Paper (90 marks – 1hr 45mins) Assesses content across all 7 chapters. Questions include short answer and extended response, including at least two 6 markers.

What will my final result look like?

What will I be learning? B1 You and your genes B2 Keeping healthy C1 Air and water C2 Chemical Patterns P1 Radiation & Waves P2 Sustainable Energy B3 Living together – food and ecosystems C3 Chemicals of the natural environments P3 Electric Circuits B4 Using food and controlling growth B5 The human body – staying alive C4 Material Choices P4 Explaining motion P5 Radioactive materials B6 Live on Earth – past, present and future C6 Making useful chemicals P6 Matter – models & explanations C5 Chemicals analysis Combined Science C7 Ideas about science P7 Ideas about science B7 Ideas about science Chemistry Physics Biology All students are taught the same chapters. Separate science students go into more depth. Both courses have foundation (L1-5) & higher tier (L4-9) versions.

What about Post-16? All Post-16 courses available in September 2018 (Applied Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics) will be open to students who have studied either Separate Sciences or Combined Science as long as they meet the entry requirements.

What extra resources do I need for GCSE Science? Calculator (ideally scientific). Ensure you always have a pen, ruler and a sharp pencil. Bring your exercise book to every lesson. Consider purchasing the new textbooks from OUP when published. Purchase a revision guide from school. Ensure you can access Kerboodle

Try to attend all lessons and catch up on any work that you miss. Ensure all pieces of work set in lesson are completed. Never miss any home- learning tasks, making sure they are submitted on time. Watch science programmes on television. Look out for science-related items in the news and in newspapers or magazines. Ask and answer as many questions as possible during the lesson. Tips for success… Remember the work you do in Yr9 will be tested in a real GCSE exam in the future.

P1 Radiation & Waves C2 Chemical Patterns P2 Sustainable Energy C3 Chemicals of the natural environments P3 Electric Circuits C4 Material Choices P4 Explaining motion P5 Radioactive materials C6 Making useful chemicals P6 Matter – models & explanations C5 Chemicals analysis C7 Ideas about science P7 Ideas about science B1 You and your genes B3 Living together – food and ecosystems B4 Using food and controlling growth B5 The human body – staying alive B6 Live on Earth – past, present and future B7 Ideas about science GCSE Science begins here next week….. Chemistry Physics Biology C1 Air and water Combined Science B2 Keeping healthy

GCSE (9-1) Sciences Ponteland High School