GCSE Combined Science

Exam Board: AQA

The AQA Combined Science GCSE course allows students to experience a wide breadth of biology, chemistry and physics and explore practical science in a working scientifically context. Students will learn how to analyse and interpret data and form reasoned judgements using the scientific information presented to them.  

This is a combined course. Students will be taught the three science disciplines as three separate subjects, however, all points gained in the final examinations are added together to produce two GCSE grades in Science as a combined award. 

In Biology, students will develop a deep understanding of the vital processes within the human body and other organisms and the interactions between living things and their environment. They will learn about the fundamental processes of life on our planet.  


Topic areas include: cell biology, organisation, infection and response, bioenergetics, homeostasis and response, inheritance, variation and evolution, and ecology  

 

In Chemistry, students learn about the composition, behaviour and properties of matter, the importance of the periodic table in understanding different elements and about the earth and its atmosphere. 


Topic areas include: 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, chemistry of the atmosphere, and using resources. 

 

In Physics, students examine basic concepts such as energy and force, vital to understanding the world around us. Students will learn about mass, charge, matter and its motion with an aim to explain how things work. 


Topic areas include: forces, energy, waves, electricity, magnetism and electromagnetism, particle model of matter, and atomic structure 

 

 

Assessment

The course is 100% examination. There are six examination papers in total; two for each of the science disciplines, each lasting 1 hour 15 minutes. Papers may include multiple choice, long and short answer questions, open response, graphical skills and data analysis. 

Where can it lead?

Possible career paths include: Healthcare and nursing, engineering, astronomer, pilot, electrician, physicist, astronaut, environment and conservation, engineer, technician, analyst, telecommunications, forensic science, firefighter, nuclear physics, teaching, veterinarian and botanist.  

Students will develop a range of transferable skills including communication, time management, numeracy, analysis, data investigation, problem solving, independence, critical thinking, organisation, research, initiative and teamwork. 

Find out where studies in Science can take you on Unifrog:

Physics Subject Profile.

Chemistry Subject Profile.

Biology and Biological Sciences Subject Profile.