Examining Board

AQA

Course Introduction

All Wymondham College students follow a common course throughout Year 9, allowing suitability for courses (Triple Science/Combined Science)to be refined at the end of the Year 9 and then again at the end of Year 10. Any student who would like to do Triple Science should be on target to cope with the demands of the course, as judged by performance in assessments and the views of his/her teacher.

Combined Science

Combined Science GCSE provides students with a broad and balanced understanding of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Throughout the course, students develop their scientific knowledge, practical skills and problem-solving abilities, while gaining an appreciation of how science influences everyday life and future technological developments.
Students are expected to work consistently and engage fully with lessons and independent study. The course requires the application of mathematical skills, the interpretation of data and the ability to explain scientific ideas clearly. A successful Combined Science student will be curious about the world around them, willing to think critically and committed to developing their understanding across all three scientific disciplines.
Combined Science is an excellent foundation for further study, including A Levels in the Siences, and helps students develop a range of transferable skills that are valued in both education and employment.

Triple Science

Triple Science GCSE provides students with the opportunity to study Biology, Chemistry and Physics in greater depth, leading to three separate GCSE qualifications. The course explores scientific concepts in more detail than Combined Science and encourages students to develop a deeper understanding of the principles that underpin the natural world.
Students should be prepared for a demanding course that requires commitment, resilience and consistent independent study. Triple Science places greater emphasis on mathematical problem-solving, practical application and the ability to analyse and evaluate scientific information in a range of contexts. A successful Triple Science student will be academically strong, intellectually curious and genuinely interested in scientific ideas, discoveries and their impact on society.
Triple Science provides an excellent foundation for A Level study in the sciences and is particularly well suited to students who are considering further study or careers in STEM-related fields.

Assessments

Students will carry out Required Practicals in each subject. At least 15% of the marks on the exam papers will be based on work done in these practicals.

Exam Content

Combined Science
2 Biology papers, 2 Chemistry papers and 2 Physics papers - 1 hour 15 minutes per paper. The total of all three papers is amalgamated to give two GCSE grades, from 9-9 to 1-1.
The course is worth two GCSE grades.

Triple Science
2 Biology papers, 2 Chemistry papers and 2 Physics papers - 1 hour 45 minutes per paper. Each paper is 50% of each final GCSE grade.
The course is worth three GCSE grades.

Progression

A solid understanding of the sciences and how we arrived at the knowledge we have now is essential to understanding the rapidly moving advancements of the modern world.

Science is not just about accumulation of knowledge, it is also about understanding the Scientific Method which allows us to make new discoveries about the world around us and beyond. Students who follow the Triple Science course will gain a deeper understanding of everything from what is inside an atom to the forces that shape the universe and everything in between. Triple Science students are encouraged to make links between the different sciences, rather than see them operating independently of each other. Whether it be a future in A-Level sciences, or just that you have an interest in how the world around you works, the Triple Award Science GCSE is an engaging and rewarding qualification.

Course Content

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
Quantitive chemistry
Chemical changes
Energy changes
The rate and extent of chemical change
Chemical analysis
Chemistry and the atmosphere
Using resources

Physics

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

Contact Name

Mr Ben Dewhurst – Head of Science

Contact Email

b.dewhurst@wymcol.org