Combined Science (Double Award)
Science is a way of discovering what’s in the universe, how those things work today, how they worked in the past and how they are likely to work in the future.
Combined science is an alternative science examination pathway where students study all three sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) but end up with two GCSEs. The combined science specification covers approximately two thirds of the content covered by separate GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics. Each scientific discipline is still taught by a specialist teacher with the same contact time as those students studying separate sciences. This allows more time to cover less content which we believe will lead to better results for some students. Students are awarded two GCSE grades based on their overall performance across all three science subjects.
The combined science specification emphasises scientific knowledge, the application of science and the scientific process. Science is an enquiry-based discipline involving practical and investigational skills with an emphasis on hands-on experimental work. The combined science curriculum includes 21 required practicals across all three science disciplines that students must be able to describe and explain.
Topics Include:
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
- Energy
- Electricity
- Particle model of matter
- Atomic structure
- Forces
- Waves
- Magnetism and electromagnetism
Students at the Cedars are provided with opportunities to take part in a wide range of extra-curricular STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) activities, trips and events organised at school, in London and beyond.
The combined science GCSE specification is linked below. Completing combined science does not restrict students from pursuing A Level science qualifications. The science A-Levels are a popular choice among sixth form students. The AQA specifications for A-Level sciences are also linked below.
GCSE AQA Combined Science Specification
A Level AQA Biology Specification
A Level AQA Chemistry Specification
GCSE AQA A Level Physics Specification
Thomas Part
Head of Science
