Year 11 GCSE Science pathways

Guidance for students and parentsPosted by Ms R Patel

We currently offer 2 GCSE Science pathways…1. Double Award GCSE Science Pathway followed by

students in sets 11xy4, 11xy5, 11xy6, 11xy72. Triple Award GCSE Science Pathway followed by

students in sets 11xy1, 11xy2, 11xy3

Key differences between the 2 pathwaysDOUBLE AWARD

● �Students sit 2 examination papers in the summer of Year 10 for the Core Science qualification● Students sit 2 examination papers in the summer of Year 11 for the Additional Science qualification● Students achieve 2 Science GCSEs

TRIPLE AWARD● �At S. Peter’s we teach it in the same curriculum time as Double Award so the pace is challenging● �There are no resit opportunities● �All 18 units are assessed via 6 examination papers in the summer of Year 11 ● Students achieve 3 Science GCSEs

Double Award Science - delivery and assessmentQualification: Core Science (1 Science GCSE) Additional Science (1 Science GCSE)

When the content is delivered at S. Peter’s:

Years 9 and 10 Year 10 end of Term 3 and Year 11

Grades accessible: E to A* (Higher Tier)G to C (Foundation Tier)

E to A* (Higher Tier)G to C (Foundation Tier)

Curriculum time per week: 3 x 50 minute lessons in Year 96 x 50 minute lessons in Year 10

6 x 50 minute lessons in Year 106 x 50 minute lessons in Year 11

Assessment components: Core Controlled assessment 25%Paper 1 (units B1 + C1 + P1) 35%Paper 2 (units B2 + C2 + P2) 40%

Additional Controlled assessment 25%Paper 3 (units B3 + C3 + P3) 35%Paper 4 (units B4 + C4 + P4) 40%

When the controlled assessment is completed:

Term 3 of Year 10 Term 1 of Year 11

Specification for Double Award Science Additional Science: B3C3P3 and B4C4P4

Core Science (resits): B1C1P1 and B2C2P2

To access the specification, please click on the links above and then select ‘Key documents’ followed by ‘Specification’

Past papers for Double Award Science Additional Science: B3C3P3 and B4C4P4

Core Science (resits): B1C1P1 and B2C2P2

To access past papers, please click on the links above and then select:

● assessment materials

● past papers

● mark schemes

Examination Dates for Double Award Science 20/05/15 B1C1P1 (Core resit) 35% of final Core grade

05/06/15 B2C2P2 (Core resit) 40% of final Core grade *

09/06/15 B3C3P3 35% of final Additional grade

12/06/15 B4C4P4 40% of final Additional grade *

*25% of each GCSE is awarded for a Controlled Assessment Task

Triple Award Science - delivery and assessmentQualification: Per subject (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)

When the content is delivered at S. Peter’s:

Years 9, 10 and 11

Grades accessible: E to A* (Higher Tier)G to C (Foundation Tier)

Curriculum time per week: 3 x 50 minute lessons in Year 96 x 50 minute lessons in Year 106 x 50 minute lessons in Year 11

Assessment components (per Science subject):

Controlled assessment 25%Paper 1 (units 1,2,3 eg for Biology B1B2B3 ) 35%Paper 2 (units 4,5,6 eg for Biology B4B5B6 ) 40%

When the controlled assessments are completed (one for each Science subject):

Term 1 of Year 11

Specification for Triple Award Science Biology: B1B2B3 and B4B5B6

Chemistry: C1C2C3 and C4C5C6

Physics: P1P2P3 and P4P5P6

● To access the specification, please click on the links above and

then select ‘Key documents’ followed by ‘Specification’

Past papers for Triple Award Science Biology: B1B2B3 and B4B5B6

Chemistry: C1C2C3 and C4C5C6

Physics: P1P2P3 and P4P5P6

To access past papers, please click on the links above and then select:

● assessment materials

● past papers

● mark schemes

Examination Dates for Triple Award Science 20/05/15 Biology Paper 1 B1B2B3 35% of final grade

05/06/15 Chemistry Paper 1 C1C2C3 35% of final grade

09/06/15 Physics Paper 1 P1P2P3 35% of final grade

12/06/15 Biology Paper 2 B4B5B6 40% of final grade*

15/06/15 Chemistry Paper 2 C4C5C6 40% of final grade*

17/06/15 Physics Paper 1 P4P5P6 40% of final grade*

*25% of each GCSE is awarded for a Controlled Assessment Task

Some examples of ‘Active Revision’ strategies1. Do a past paper (a) without notes , (b) with a revision guide in a different colour, (c) correct your

answers using the mark scheme and a third colour2. Traffic light the sub topics. Use mock papers and class notes to decide whether you are red, amber

or green. Revise the red topics first. Work through the relevant revision work book questions for the red topics. Move onto amber topics only when all of the red become amber.

3. Keywords and definitions - make a list of keywords on paper or flash cards, Write definitions on the reverse. Test yourself or ask someone else to test you ticking off correct ones as you progress.

4. Mind map linking the key ideas in a unit. Make use of colour, keywords and phrases and images. Try to reproduce it from memory.

5. Make revision cards of key ideas that you keep forgetting. Test yourself on these regularly.6. Take breaks every 30-40 minutes. This is because your brain will remember what is done at the start

and end of a revision session best.