Combined Science Trilogy

Our Curriculum Aims:

In Years 9,10 & 11 students study topics from the AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy course, syllabus code 8464, which is examined at the end
of Year 11.

AGSB Science Students will gain lifelong skills, including:

A strong science comprehension and confidence in a technological world, with an informed interest in scientific matters
An understanding of how scientific theories and methods have developed, and continue to develop, as a result of groups and individuals working together
An understanding that the study and practice of science are affected and limited by social, economic, technological, ethical and cultural factors
An awareness that the application of science in everyday life may be both helpful and harmful to the individual, the community and the environment and to make informed decisions on scientific issues as a consequence
Knowledge that science overcomes national boundaries and that the language of science, used correctly and thoroughly, is universal
An understanding of the usefulness (and limitations) of scientific method, and its application in other subjects and in everyday life
A concern for accuracy and precision
An understanding of the importance of safe practice and excellent scientific practical skills
Improved awareness of the importance of objectivity, integrity, enquiry, initiative and inventiveness
An interest in, and care for, the environment
An excellent foundation for advanced study in pure or applied science at A level and beyond, at AGSB or elsewhere, or in science-dependent vocational courses.

GCSE Course Followed: Combined Science Trilogy

Specification: AQA (Syllabus code 8464)

Why Choose GCSE

Students will continue to study Biology, Chemistry and Physics separately. They will be awarded two linked grades, e.g. 7-7, 7-8, 8-8 etc to reflect that their achievement is worth 2 full GCSEs. Students will study all 3 sciences in 10 periods per fortnight.

Which option to choose?

Students who are intending to study sciences at A level may prefer to choose the separate Science option as they will have studied more science and in greater depth. However, studying the Combined Science Trilogy does not prevent any student studying science at A level. The combined science syllabus covers exactly two thirds of the content of the separate science syllabus and is examined to exactly the same standard of difficulty. Studying Combined Science will benefit students who would like to study a broader range of subjects at GCSE and are unsure of their study choices post 16. The work required during A level studies, by year 12 students, to cover the content not studied by combined science students has not proven prohibitive in previous years.

Summary of Subject Content (All students cover all of this content)

All students will study:

Biology (AQA Exam board)

Cell Biology
Organisation
Infection and Response
Bioenergetics
Homeostasis and Response
Inheritance, Variation and Evolution
Ecology

Chemistry (AQA Exam board)

Atomic Structure and 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 (AQA Exam board)

Forces
Energy
Waves
Electricity
Magnetism and electromagnetism
Particle model of matter
Atomic structure

Students will be taught practical skills that may feature as questions on the final exam papers in each of the three sciences.

Key Stage Four Curriculum Overview

Year 9

	KEY CONTENT OF THE TOPIC			ASSESSMENT POINTS
	BIOLOGY	CHEMISTRY	PHYSICS	Throughout the GCSE course there will be a series of class based end of topic tests to assess pupil understanding and progress – roughly one test per subject per half term.
HT1	Photosynthesis and Respiration	Fundamentals Acids	KS3 Space Physics
HT2	GCSE Content Animal and Plant Cells Microscopy Eukaryotes and Prokaryotes Cell specialisation Cell differentiation	More Acids Develop formulae work	GCSE Content Heat transfer; conduction, convection and radiation. Density
HT3	Diffusion Osmosis Active Transport	GCSE Content Unit 1 GCSE Fundamentals	Circuit Electricity Series and parallel circuit
HT4	Principles of organisation	Periodic Table trends	Electrical energy and power
HT5	Plant tissues Plant Organ Systems	Periodic table Atmosphere	domestic electricity	Trial Exam – around May half term
HT6	Adaptation s Communities	Atmosphere	Electric fields and static electricity

Year 10

	KEY TOPIC OF THE TOPIC			ASSESSMENT POINTS
	BIOLOGY	CHEMISTRY	PHYSICS	Throughout the GCSE course there will be a series of class based end of topic tests to assess pupil understanding and progress – roughly one test per subject per half term.
HT1	Abiotic factors Biotic factors Levels of organisation Animal tissues, organs and organ systems	Ionic bonding Electrolysis Covalent Bonding	Energy Work done and energy transfer Forces and elasticity KE, PE and energy changes in a system
HT2	The heart and blood vessels Blood Coronary Heart disease Health issues Effect of lifestyle Cancer	Covalent Bonding Metals	Particle model of matter changes of state and particle model (kinematic model). Specific and latent heat. Energy changes in a system. Work, energy, power and efficiency National grid
HT3	Communicable diseases Viral diseases Bacterial diseases Fungal diseases Protist diseases Resistant bacteria Classification of living organisms How materials are cycled	Metals Energy Changes in Reactions Water Life Cycle Assessments	Forces and Motion forces and their interactions Forces and motion (graphs and equations of motion)	Year 10 Mock Exam in March / April prior to half term. One exam per science covering all GCSE content studied to date (i.e. year 9 excluding KS3 Space Physics and 10 content)
HT4	Culturing microorganisms Human defence systems Vaccination Antibiotics and painkillers Discovery and development of drugs	Energy Changes Y10 exam prep	momentum Factors affecting braking distance / road safety Pressure in gases
HT5	Bioenergetics Photosynthesis Rate of photosynthesis Uses of glucose Aerobic and anaerobic respiration Response to exercise Metabolism	Carbon Chemistry	Waves Wave types and properties Electromagnetic spectrum – properties, uses and hazards
HT6	Cell Division Nervous system Human endocrine system Control of blood glucose	Carbon Chemistry	Wave calculations

Year 11

	KEY CONTENT OF THE TOPIC			ASSESSMENT POINTS
	BIOLOGY	CHEMISTRY	PHYSICS
HT1	Hormones in Human reproduction Contraception Use of hormones to treat infertility Negative feedback	Chemical Calculations	Magnetism and electromagnetism	Throughout the GCSE course there will be a series of class based end of topic tests to assess pupil understanding and progress – roughly one test per subject per half term.
HT2	Sexual and asexual reproduction Meiosis DNA and the Genome Genetic inheritance Inherited disorders	Chemical calculations	Motors and generators	Year 11 Mock exam in last 2 weeks before Christmas. One exam per science covering all material from GCSE course to date (year 9, 10 and 11 content)
HT3	Sex determination Variation Evolution Selective breeding Genetic engineering	Chemical calculations Y11 mock	Atomic structure / nuclear physics Isotopes ad decay equations
HT4	Evidence for evolution Fossils Extinction Resistant bacteria Classification of living organisms How materials are cycled	Acids Rate of reaction Equilibrium Water Life Cycle Assessments	Half life Radioactive contamination
HT5	Biodiversity Waste management Land use Deforestation Global Warming Maintaining Biodiversity	Finish off Revision	Revision, exam technique and analysis of 12 key practicals
HT6	Revision and Exam technique practice			GCSE exams

Recommended Revision Guides for GCSE

Pupils have access to the online textbook through Kerboodle.

https://www.kerboodle.com/users/login

There are revision materials available in the students' shared area.

https://agsfb.sharepoint.com/sites/stuphysicsgcse

Revision guides are available from bookstores such as W.H.Smith and Waterstones. As long as it is AQA combined science GCSE specific and it is in a style that appeals to your son, then it will be suitable. Particularly recommended is the Oxford University Press Revise: AQA GCSE Combined science Revision and Practice

Support available for GCSE Students

Drop in sessions are available if students need to seek advice or support, supported by subject teachers and / or prefects each lunchtime in Pc4 Mr Reeder’s lab.

Students should ask their teachers about these sessions.