‘Let your Light Shine’ Triple Award Science St Robert of Newminster

The Purpose of This Evening Your son/daughter will need to decide on their GCSE Science option Two choices available:  Combined Science (leading to two GCSEs)  Triple Science (leading to three GCSEs)

What Is The Difference? AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy 4 hours of Science per week 6 exams in May/June exams per subject Each paper lasts 1 hour 15 minutes and accounts for 16.7% of GCSE Students will gain two GCSEs at the end of the course AQA GCSE Biology/Chemistry/Physics 6 hours of Science per week 6 exams in May/June exams per subject Each paper lasts 1 hour 45 minutes and accounts for 50% of each GCSE subject Students will gain three GCSEs at the end of the course

Selection Process Aimed at students who have a passion for Science and enjoy exploring the subject outside of school Offered to students who have shown they respond well to a challenge, are willing to work independently outside of the classroom and are prepared to put the extra work needed to complete an extra GCSE.

Specialist teachers that show enthusiasm towards teaching and have a detailed knowledge and understanding of their specialist subject Support and guidance throughout the course to help develop their scientific understanding and inspire them to further their interest in Science beyond their studies Hands-on learning - students are now required to complete ten practical activities per subject over the two year course What you can expect?

Attitude: Triple Award Science is an accelerated course so it is more demanding than Combined Science. It is important students have the correct attitude towards their studies. Effort: homework tasks are an essential element of learning and must be completed to the best of each student’s ability Hard work: preparation for assessments is very important. Students should treat internal assessments like real exams and prepare thoroughly. This enables their teachers to accurately determine areas of misunderstanding and give useful advice and support Resources: revision guides are very useful in supporting each student’s learning and will be available to purchase, at reduced cost, from the department What We Expect

Structure Changes Triple Award unit is no longer separate Extra content is integrated into Combined Science schemes This content is aimed at deepening student’s understanding and helps bridge the gap between GCSE and A level

Additional Content - Biology Culturing Microorganisms Plant Disease The Brain The Eye Plant Hormones DNA Structure Cloning The Theory of Evolution

Additional Content - Chemistry Properties of Transition Metals Properties of Matter and Nanotechnology Titrations Chemical Cells & Fuel Cells Synthetic Polymers Using Materials The Haber Process

Additional Content - Physics Static Electricity Hazards of Radioactivity Nuclear Fission & Fusion Moments, Leavers & Gears Pressure in Gasses and Hydraulic Systems Lenses Space Physics

Structure Change Investigative Skills Assessments (ISAs) have gone Instead students will complete a series of practical activities to develop their scientific thinking skills Triple Award students carry out two more practical activities per subject than Combined Science students (a total of thirty)

Life Beyond GCSE A Level Sciences - you do not need to do Separate Science at GCSEs to pursue a career in Science It is entirely possible for a student to move on to great success at A level and University after studying Combined Science provided they obtain B/B grades or above

Other Things To Consider Does your son/daughter intend to study Biology, Chemistry or Physics at University? Are they prepared for the extra workload of triple science? Do they want to lose a subject option by choosing Triple Award Science?

Any Questions?