Science Trilogy (GCSE

WHY SHOULD I OPT FOR SCIENCE:TRILOGY?

This is a compulsory GCSE.

BRIEF OVERVIEW:

All students who undertake Combined Science: Trilogy study all three Science disciplines at GCSE level – Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Science is a set of ideas about the material world. Included in the course are all the parts of what good Science is at GCSE level: whether it be investigating, observing, experimenting or testing out ideas and thinking about them. The way scientific ideas flow through the specification supports you in building a deep understanding of Science. We know this will involve talking about, reading and writing about Science plus the actual doing, as well as representing science in its many forms both mathematically and visually through models.

GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy) is a double GCSE taken by the majority of students. It builds on the Key Stage 3 Curriculum and covers the National Curriculum Programme of Study for Science at Key Stage 4. It encourages students to explore, explain, theorise and model in Science and develops a critical approach to scientific evidence.

GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy) is taught as 3 subjects:

BIOLOGY: 1) Cell Biology 2) Organisation 3) Infection and Response 4) Bioenergetics 5) Homeostasis and Response 6) Inheritance, Variation and Evolution 7) Ecology

CHEMISTRY:

1) Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table 2) Bonding, Structure, and the Properties of Matter 3) Quantitative Chemistry 4) Chemical Changes 5) Energy Changes 6) The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change 7) Organic Chemistry 8) Chemical Analysis 9) Chemistry of The Atmosphere 10) Using Resources

PHYSICS:

1) Energy 2) Electricity 3) Particle Model of Matter 4) Atomic Structure 5) Forces 6) Waves 7) Magnetism and Electromagnetism

ASSESSMENT:

The Combined Science GCSE is examined by six 1 hour 15 min written exams, each of which is worth 16.7%. There are two exams on each subject Biology, Chemistry and Physics. The students will either sit the Higher Tier examination (graded from 9-4), or the Foundation Tier examination (graded from 5-1). This decision will be based on their ability to access the higher problem solving, maths skills and scientific language needed for the examinations. There are 21 required practicals that are delivered throughout the course. There will be questions relating to these practicals on the written exam papers.

HOW WILL THIS GCSE HELP ME IN THE FUTURE:

GCSE Combined Science gives you a good grounding in Science. Success in Combined Science can provide access to A Level Science courses, including Applied Science and Psychology. In the long term, if you decide to pursue your scientific studies, it can lead to an almost limitless number of job opportunities. Highly qualified scientists are very much in demand and their skills are required in many jobs.

Skills acquired: understanding of the effects of Science on society; knowledge of the material, physical and living worlds; how to use hypothesis and evidence to understand Science; observational, enquiry and problem-solving skills; skills in Communication, Mathematics and Technology.