KS4 Science Informa/on
This PowerPoint can be downloaded from
www.science‐spark.co.uk/teachers
What qualifica/ons will my child get at
the end of year 11?
• Either AQA Science GCSEs
• Edexcel Level 2 BTEC in Applied Science
• OR
• A combina/on of both
What qualifica/ons will my child get at
the end of year 11? • All students will receive at least 2 science qualifica/ons
• Depending on their route; 1 of the following:
• Triple Science (about 60 students)
(1 GCSE in Biology, 1 GCSE in Chemistry and 1
GCSE in Physics)
• Double Science (about 130 students)
2 Science GCSEs (Core and Addi/onal)
• Applied Science BTEC AND a Science GCSE (about 40
students)
• 2 BTEC Level 2 qualifica/ons (about 20 students)
Why is it so complicated? • Good ques/on…
• We will try to make sure that your child achieves the equivalent of 2 Science GCSEs at least. (At the best grade possible)
• Most students will just take 2 GCSEs!
• Some have already chosen to take 3 because they know they really like science and they think they want to follow a career where they think that 3 Science GCSEs may give them some advantage and so do triple
• Some students are be`er at coursework and so will do be`er in BTEC.
What course is my child doing?
When will students be assessed?
What topics are covered in BTEC?
Principles of Applied Science
Applica1on of Science
Unit 1: Principles of Science * Unit 5: Applica/on of Chemical Substances
Unit 2: Chemistry and our Earth Unit 6: Applica/on of Physical Science
Unit 3: Energy and our Universe Unit 7: Health Applica/ons of Life Science
Unit 4: Biology and our Environment Unit 8: Scien/fic Skills *
* Unit is externally assessed * Unit is externally assessed
More details can be found from: h`p://www.edexcel.com/quals/firsts2012/applied‐science/
How is BTEC assessed?
• BTEC in Y10
• 10 Assignments covering all the core Science topics (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) AND an exam on this science worth 25%
• What support do students get in lessons?
• Exemplar assignments
• Basic wri/ng frames for a pass
• Catch up club Tuesday Evening 3‐4pm
• What can I do to help?
• Assignments completed in class
• From Easter students will need to revise for exam
What topics are covered in the Core GCSE?
Biology
• B1.1 Keeping healthy
• B1.2 Nerves and hormones
• B1.3 The use and abuse of
drugs
• B1.4 Interdependence and
adapta/on
• B1.5 Energy and biomass
in food chains
• B1.6 Waste materials from
plants and animals
• B1.7 Gene/c varia/on and
its control
• B1.8 Evolu/on
Chemistry
• C1.1 The fundamental
ideas in chemistry
• C1.2 Limestone and
building materials
• C1.3 Metals and their uses
• C1.4 Crude oil and fuels
• C1.5 Other useful
substances from crude oil
• C1.6 Plant oils and their
uses
• C1.7 Changes in the Earth
and its atmosphere
Physics
• P1.1 The transfer of
energy by hea/ng
processes and the factors
that affect the rate at
which that energy is
transferred
• P1.2 Energy and efficiency
• P1.3 The usefulness of
electrical appliances
• P1.4 Methods we use to
generate electricity
• P1.5 The use of waves for
communica/on and to
provide evidence that the
universe is expanding
More details can be found on: h`p://www.sciencelab.org.uk/
What topics are covered in the Addi/onal GCSE?
Biology
• B2.1 Cells and simple cell
transport
• B2.2 Tissues, organs and
organ systems
• B2.3 Photosynthesis
• B2.4 Organisms and their
environment
• B2.5 Proteins – their
func/ons and uses
• B2.6 Aerobic and
anaerobic respira/on
• B2.7 Cell division and
inheritance
• B2.8 Specia/on
Chemistry
• C2.1 Structure and
bonding
• C2.2 How structure
influences the proper/es
and uses of substances
• C2.3 Atomic structure,
analysis and quan/ta/ve
chemistry
• C2.4 Rates of reac/on
• C2.5 Exothermic and
endothermic reac/ons
• C2.6 Acids, bases and salts
• C2.7 Electrolysis
Physics
• P2.1 Forces and their
effects
• P2.2 The kine/c energy of
objects speeding up or
slowing down
• P2.3 Currents in electrical
circuits
• P2.4 Using mains
electricity safely and the
power of electrical
appliances
• P2.5 What happens when
radioac/ve substances
decay, and the uses and
dangers of their emissions
• P2.6 Nuclear fission and
nuclear fusion
What topics are covered in the Further GCSE?
Biology
• B3.1 Movement of
molecules in and out of
cells
• B3.2 Transport systems in
plants and animals
• B3.3 Homeostasis
• B3.4 Humans and their
environment
Chemistry
• C3.1 The periodic table
• C3.2 Water
• C3.3 Calcula/ng and
explaining energy changes
• C3.4 Further analysis and
quan/ta/ve chemistry
• C3.5 The produc/on of
ammonia
• C3.6 Alcohols, carboxylic
acids and esters
Physics
• P3.1 Medical applica/ons
of physics
• P3.2 Using physics to make
things work
• P3.3 Keeping things
moving
How are GCSE students assessed? The exams are split into 3 different types of ques1ons based around the Biology, Chemistry and Physics that they
learn and students can expect about 30‐40% of each type:
• AO1; Recalling the science:
e.g. Labelling diagrams, tes/ng defini/ons etc. The easiest thing to test.
What support do students get in lessons? Quizzes in lessons. Using glossaries to find meanings.
How can I help? Keyword quizzes, from revision guide notes, tes/ng using flash cards.
• AO2; Applying skills, applying knowledge and applying understanding:
e.g. Summarising informa/on from ar/cles. Using calcula/ons. Interpre/ng graphs.
What support do students get in lessons? Controlled assessments focus on these skills
How can I help? Read science ar/cles online or in a magazine, looking at tables and graphs and
ask – what have you found out? Check calcula/ons (using mark scheme in revision guide) Use
www.science‐spark.co.uk
• AO3; Analysing and evalua@ng evidence:
e.g. balanced argument and “because” statement. Or “My opinion is …. Because …..”
What support do students get in lessons? Prac;se exam ques;ons. Back up conclusions with evidence
and then making judgements about validity of evidence.
How can I help? Read science ar/cles online or in a magazine about new technology or innova/ons and
ask – what do you think about that? Why? Are the writers biased?
Revision
• We will put revision classes on aner school
from Easter
• We will also run a revision school in the
summer half term holiday just before the
exams
Plan of Core and Addi1onal Science GCSE
exams
Yr 9 & 10
Core GCSE
B1
Exam
taken
end of year 10
25%
C1
Exam
taken end
of year 10
25%
P1
Exam
taken
end of year 10
25%
2 practical ISA exams
taken within 10
25%
B1, C1, P1 plus an ISA
= Core Science
GCSE
Y11
Additional
Science
B2
Exam
taken
end of year 11
25%
C2
Exam
taken end
of year 11
25%
P2
Exam
taken
end of year 11
25%
practical
ISA exam
taken early on in year 11
25%
B2, C2, P2 plus ISA =
Additional Science
GCSE
Plan of triple science GCSE exams
Yr 9 Core
Award
(Science A)
Biology 1
Exam 25%
Chemistry 1
Exam 25%
Physics 1
Exam 25%
Practical
Exam 25%
B1, C1, P1
plus Practical
= Core
Science
GCSE
Yr10
Additional
Award
Biology 2
Exam 25%
Chemistry 2
Exam 25%
Physics 2
Exam 25%
Practical
Exam 25%
B2, C2, P2
plus Practical
= Additional
Science
GCSE
Y11 Triple
Award
(Further)
Biology 3
Exam 25%
Chemistry 3
Exam 25%
Physics 3
Exam 25%
Practical
Exam 25%
B3, C3, P3
plus Practical
= Further
Science
GCSE
B1, B2, B3
+ practical =
Biology
GCSE
C1, C2, C3 +
practical =
Chemistry
GCSE
P1, P2, P3
+ practical
= Physics
GCSE
KS4 Science Informa/on
This PowerPoint can be downloaded from
www.science‐spark.co.uk/teachers