Subject Overview

Studying the separate sciences means students will cover more content than GCSE Combined Science. All the GCSE Separate Sciences will provide great preparation for A-level science study, without overlapping content. Each separate science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) will provide a single GCSE qualification.    

Course Information

The three sciences are taught separately as Biology, Physics and Chemistry and cover these topics.  

Biology: Cell biology, organisation, infection and response, bioenergetics, homeostasis and response, inheritance, variation and evolution, ecology. 

Chemistry: Atomic structure and the periodic table, bonding, structure and the properties of matter, quantitative chemistry, chemical changes, energy changes, the rate and extent of chemical change, organic chemistry, chemical analysis, chemistry of the atmosphere, using resources  

Physics: Forces, energy, waves, electricity, magnetism and electromagnetism, particle model of matter, atomic structure and radiation, space.  

Assessment

Assessment is linear, so there are examinations in the summer of year 11 for each separate science. There are 2 papers for each subject (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), each accounting for 50% of the single science GCSE award. There are 8-10 required practical’s per separate science, assessed through the exam papers. Exams are available for each subject in both foundation and higher tier papers. 

Progression

GCSE separate sciences prepares students for a range of post-16 routes and courses such as A-level Biology, Chemistry and Physics. These subjects also provide access to a range of careers such as medicine, veterinary medicine, law, engineering, architecture, chemical and biomedical engineering.