Y10 and Y11 Parent Forum Science GCSE - AQA

Our current Y11 Students In Y10 most students will have completed their Core Science GCSE. Students in classes 11.1x and 11.1y will also have completed their Additional Science GCSE. This year the classes 11.1x and 11.1y will take their Further Additional Science GCSE in summer 2017. Classes 11.2x to 11.3y will take Additional Science in summer 2017. Students in 11.7 and 11.8 will take BTEC Applications of Science and take Core and Additional Science GCSEs.

Re-sits Students can opt to re-sit their Y10 GCSEs if would like to improve their grades. To take any A level Science (including Psychology) students need to achieve a minimum of 2B grades in any Science GCSE. These are not funded by the school. Students can either carry forward their ISA(coursework) mark and just retake their 3 examinations or redo their ISA and retake their 3 examinations. There are no other options.

Y11 Examination Dates Science A (Core) Examinations B1 (16th May), C1 (18th May), P1 (24th May) Each worth 25% - ISA worth 25% Additional Science Examinations B2 (9th June), C2 (14th June), P2 (16th June) Each worth 25% - ISA worth 25% - Physics Spring term. Further Additional Science Examinations B3 (9th June), C3 (14th June), P3 (16th June) Each worth 25% - ISA worth 25% - Biology Spring term. BTEC Science Examinations Applications of Science Unit 8 (3rd Nov, 3rd March, 19th May) Worth 25% - Coursework worth 75%.

Y11 Examination Dates Human Health and Physiology Exam 27th June 2017 2 hour paper – very demanding content. ISA coursework 25% It’s the last year of the course so Revision guides are out of print. Only used copies can be purchased from Amazon. Any issues contact Mr Smith.

Our current Year 10 Students In Year 9 students began preparing for their Science GCSE/s. This is a new GCSE course. They took an end of year test to determine year 10 settings. In Year 10 class 10T (Triple set) have started to study the material needed for the individual Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSEs. Classes 10.1x to 10.3x have continued to study the content for the Combined Science course, which is worth 2 GCSEs. The BTEC course is no longer continuing but we now have an Entry Level certificate, classes 10EL1 and 10EL2 have started the Entry Level Certificate/Combined Science course.

Current Year 10 Students Y10 students in classes 10T to 10.3x will have no examinations until the summer of Y11 (2018 provisional timetable available 28th February 2017). 10EL1 and 10EL2 will have externally set assignments which count towards their course during the next 2 academic years. Contact Miss Turner regarding EL.

Y10 New Course Structure Combined Science sets 10.1X to 10.3 2 x Biology Papers (1hr 15min each) 2 x Chemistry Papers (1hr 15mins each) 2 x Physics Papers (1hr 15mins each) Each worth 16.67% Individual (Triple) Sciences 10T only 2 papers (1hr 45mins each) for each subject Each worth 50% Entry Level Certificate Science (EL sets) 6 x External Set Assignments worth 57% in total(45 mins each) 6 x Teacher Devised Assignments worth 43% in total.

What can you do to help? All Y11 students have been given the opportunity to buy revision guides appropriate for their course in either Y9 or Y10. All Y10 students will be given the opportunity to buy a revision guide through the school. More information will be out shortly. Encourage Y11 students to any attend revision sessions. These will be starting in the Spring term. All students will be given access to Kerboodle, a on-line resource, for free. Here they can access a digital text book and complete many online and interactive resources including revision material and extension tasks. www.kerboodle.com

What can you do to help? Ensure all Y11 students prepare thoroughly for ISAs which are worth 25% for each GCSE. Make sure that students have an understanding of the command words for questions. A PowerPoint presentation to help will be placed on the school website. Encourage students to revise effectively using a variety of techniques e.g. mind mapping, flash cards, mnemonics or any other technique that involves active learning. Also encourage completion of past exam questions, available from the AQA web site or class teachers.

Mind Mapping Mind Mapping is a useful technique that helps you learn more effectively and improves the way that you record information. By using Mind Maps, you can quickly identify and understand the structure of a subject. It allows students to see the way that pieces of information fit together, as well as recording the raw facts contained in normal notes.

Mind Mapping Examples

Y10 and Y11 Parent Forum Science GCSE - AQA Any issues or queries please contact Dr Stec i.stec@walton.staffs.sch.uk