Year 9 Choices
Science - Triple Award
Triple Science – GCSE Separate Sciences (GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry, GCSE Physics)
The Triple Science option a demanding course which leads to the award of 3 GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics; this is intended for students who plan to study one or more Science A-levels at college. Acceptance onto this course is based on performance in the recent Science assessment.
How will the course be taught?
- 7 or 8 Science lessons per week
- Topics covering Biology, Chemistry and Physics including compulsory practical work
- Students are already following the GCSE programme of study – the work covered now in Year 9 will be assessed in the GCSE exams
What exams are there?
- Terminal, all taken at the end of Year 11 (May-June 2020)
- 6 exams: 2 Biology, 2 Chemistry, 2 Physics; each exam will assess different topics
- Each exam is 1 hour 45 minutes long and contains 100 marks
- Each paper is worth 50% of the subject
- Exams include multiple choice, structured, closed, short answer and open response questions
- Two tiers of entry: Higher: grades 4-9 Foundation: grades 1-5
- There are a minimum of 30% common marks between Foundation and Higher tiers.
What grades can be achieved?
- Each subject is a separate GCSE so grades are awarded for each one separately
- Each subject can be awarded a grade from 9 (highest) to 1 (lowest)
- Teaching staff will guide students into an appropriate tier of entry, based on ability, prior attainment, literacy and numeracy skills. It is assumed that all students taking this option will be entered for higher tier exams
How is Practical work assessed?
- No coursework or controlled assessment
- 8 required practicals per GCSE
- Students will carry out an experiment which may involve some aspects of the following:
a) Planning, b) Making measurements and observations, c) Interpreting and analysing data, d) Drawing conclusion, e) Evaluating procedures
- These practicals will be assessed within the exams at the end of the course
- Students who are absent will be given opportunity to redo the practicals, however, good attendance is essential for success
- These practicals will be assessed within the exams at the end of the course
- Students who are absent will be given opportunity to redo the practicals, however, good attendance is essential for success
- Numeracy, equations and formulae
- Mathematical skills will be tested at least to the standard of Key Stage 3 Maths in Foundation Tier papers and Foundation Tier GCSE Maths in Higher Tier papers
- A minimum of 10% of marks will test mathematical skills in Biology; 20% in Chemistry; and 30% in Physics.
- Students are expected to apply two lists of Physics equations to exam questions covering Physics: one is learned by students and the second is provided as an insert in the question paper
- All content is assessed by terminal examinations.
- Regular and on-going learning and revision is required to ensure that students make at least good progress throughout the GCSE course and leave with excellent GCSE results.
How we will assess progress?
- In lesson assessment including questioning, mini tests, written work
- Regular end of topic tests
- Required practical work
- Mock exams
What homework can be expected?
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Homework set for Science may consist of:
- Revision activities
- Exam style questions
- Century Tech
- Research tasks
