1. KS4 Science Information
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2. What qualifications will my child get at the end of year 11?
Either AQA Science GCSEs
Edexcel Level 2 BTEC in Applied Science OR
A combination of both

3. What qualifications will my child get at the end of year 11?
All students will receive at least 2 science qualifications
Depending on their route; 1 of the following:
Triple Science (about 60 students)
(1 GCSE in Biology, 1 GCSE in Chemistry and 1 GCSE in Physics)
Double Science (about 130 students)
2 Science GCSEs (Core and Additional)
Applied Science BTEC AND a Science GCSE (about 40 students)
2 BTEC Level 2 qualifications (about 20 students)

4. Why is it so complicated?
Good question… 
We will try to make sure that your child achieves the equivalent of 2 Science GCSEs at least. (At the best grade possible)
Most students will just take 2 GCSEs!
Some have already chosen to take 3 because they know they really like science and they think they want to follow a career where they think that 3 Science GCSEs may give them some advantage and so do triple
Some students are better at coursework and so will do better in BTEC.

5. What course is my child doing?

6. When will students be assessed?
Triple Science GCSE:
9 exams (all the core, additional and further content) in Y11 plus 3 practical exams
Double Science GCSE:
Additional: 3 exams in Y11 plus 1 practical exam (taken at end of year 10)
Core: 3 exams in y10 plus 1 practical exam (students have already done this but will redo in March)
Science GCSE:
3 exams in Y11 plus 1 practical exam (taken at end of year 10)
Applied BTEC L2:
exam worth 25% at end of y11
assignments of the year
CORE BTEC L2:
exam worth 25% at end of y10
10 assignments over the course
CORE BTEC L2:
exam worth 25% at end of y10
10 assignments over the course

7. What topics are covered in BTEC?
Principles of Applied Science
Application of Science 
 Unit 1: Principles of Science *
Unit 5: Application of Chemical Substances 
 Unit 2: Chemistry and our Earth
Unit 6: Application of Physical Science 
 Unit 3: Energy and our Universe
Unit 7: Health Applications of Life Science 
 Unit 4: Biology and our Environment
Unit 8: Scientific Skills *
 * Unit is externally assessed
* Unit is externally assessed 
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8. How is BTEC assessed? BTEC in Y10
10 Assignments covering all the core Science topics (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) AND an exam on this science worth 25%
What support do students get in lessons?
Exemplar assignments
Basic writing frames for a pass
Catch up club Tuesday Evening 3-4pm
What can I do to help?
Assignments completed in class
From Easter students will need to revise for exam

9. What topics are covered in the Core GCSE?
Biology
B1.1 Keeping healthy
B1.2 Nerves and hormones
B1.3 The use and abuse of drugs
B1.4 Interdependence and adaptation
B1.5 Energy and biomass in food chains
B1.6 Waste materials from plants and animals
B1.7 Genetic variation and its control
B1.8 Evolution
Chemistry
C1.1 The fundamental ideas in chemistry
C1.2 Limestone and building materials
C1.3 Metals and their uses
C1.4 Crude oil and fuels
C1.5 Other useful substances from crude oil
C1.6 Plant oils and their uses
C1.7 Changes in the Earth and its atmosphere
Physics
P1.1 The transfer of energy by heating processes and the factors that affect the rate at which that energy is transferred
P1.2 Energy and efficiency
P1.3 The usefulness of electrical appliances
P1.4 Methods we use to generate electricity
P1.5 The use of waves for communication and to provide evidence that the universe is expanding
More details can be found on:

10. What topics are covered in the Additional GCSE?
Biology
B2.1 Cells and simple cell transport
B2.2 Tissues, organs and organ systems
B2.3 Photosynthesis
B2.4 Organisms and their environment
B2.5 Proteins – their functions and uses
B2.6 Aerobic and anaerobic respiration
B2.7 Cell division and inheritance
B2.8 Speciation
Chemistry
C2.1 Structure and bonding
C2.2 How structure influences the properties and uses of substances
C2.3 Atomic structure, analysis and quantitative chemistry
C2.4 Rates of reaction
C2.5 Exothermic and endothermic reactions
C2.6 Acids, bases and salts
C2.7 Electrolysis
Physics
P2.1 Forces and their effects
P2.2 The kinetic energy of objects speeding up or slowing down
P2.3 Currents in electrical circuits
P2.4 Using mains electricity safely and the power of electrical appliances
P2.5 What happens when radioactive substances decay, and the uses and dangers of their emissions
P2.6 Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion

11. What topics are covered in the Further GCSE?
Biology
B3.1 Movement of molecules in and out of cells
B3.2 Transport systems in plants and animals
B3.3 Homeostasis
B3.4 Humans and their environment
Chemistry
C3.1 The periodic table
C3.2 Water
C3.3 Calculating and explaining energy changes
C3.4 Further analysis and quantitative chemistry
C3.5 The production of ammonia
C3.6 Alcohols, carboxylic acids and esters
Physics
P3.1 Medical applications of physics
P3.2 Using physics to make things work
P3.3 Keeping things moving

12. How are GCSE students assessed?
The exams are split into 3 different types of questions based around the Biology, Chemistry and Physics that they learn and students can expect about 30-40% of each type:
AO1; Recalling the science:
e.g. Labelling diagrams, testing definitions etc. The easiest thing to test.
What support do students get in lessons? Quizzes in lessons. Using glossaries to find meanings.
How can I help? Keyword quizzes, from revision guide notes, testing using flash cards.
AO2; Applying skills, applying knowledge and applying understanding:
e.g. Summarising information from articles. Using calculations. Interpreting graphs.
What support do students get in lessons? Controlled assessments focus on these skills
How can I help? Read science articles online or in a magazine, looking at tables and graphs and ask – what have you found out? Check calculations (using mark scheme in revision guide) Use
AO3; Analysing and evaluating evidence:
e.g. balanced argument and “because” statement. Or “My opinion is …. Because …..”
What support do students get in lessons? Practise exam questions. Back up conclusions with evidence and then making judgements about validity of evidence.
How can I help? Read science articles online or in a magazine about new technology or innovations and ask – what do you think about that? Why? Are the writers biased?

13. Plan of Core and Additional Science GCSE exams
Yr 9 & 10 Core GCSE B1
Exam taken end of year 10
25% C1 P1
2 practical ISA exams taken within 10
B1, C1, P1 plus an ISA = Core Science GCSE
Y11 Additional Science B2
Exam taken end of year 11 C2 P2
practical ISA exam taken early on in year 11
B2, C2, P2 plus ISA = Additional Science GCSE

14. Plan of triple science GCSE exams
Yr 9 Core Award
(Science A)
Biology 1 Exam 25%
Chemistry 1
Exam 25%
Physics 1
Practical Exam 25%
B1, C1, P1 plus Practical = Core Science GCSE
Yr10 Additional Award
Biology 2
Chemistry 2
Physics 2
Practical Exam 25%
B2, C2, P2 plus Practical = Additional Science GCSE
Y11 Triple Award (Further)
Biology 3
Chemistry 3
Physics 3
B3, C3, P3 plus Practical = Further Science GCSE
B1, B2, B3
+ practical =
Biology GCSE
C1, C2, C3 + practical = Chemistry GCSE
P1, P2, P3 + practical = Physics GCSE

15. KS4 Science Information
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