Aim

Approximately 50% of students will complete the separate GCSE’s in biology, chemistry and physics. If successful, each student will be awarded three separate GCSE’s, each with a separate grade for each science. One of these GCSEs will be taken at the end of Year 10, decided by year half and timetable constraints.

The GCSE science courses consist of two tiers of entry:

• Higher (Grades 9–4)
• Foundation (Grades 5–1)
• 9 is the highest grade available

The exam board is AQA, and the course covers a broader range of content in each separate science, than the combined science GCSE. The extra content means the exams are slightly longer, but provides a broader knowledge base for students wishing to extend their science studies up to A Level.

Assessment

There is no coursework aspect to the courses.

The assessment is six examinations; one subject (two exams) will be sat at the end of Year 10 and the other two subjects will be sat at the end of Year 11:

• Biology paper one: 50% (units 1–4)
• Biology paper two: 50% (units 5–7)
• Chemistry paper one: 50% (units 1–5)
• Chemistry paper two: 50% (units 6–10)
• Physics paper one: 50% (units 1–4)
• Physics paper two: 50% (units 5–8)