Frequently Asked Questions

How is GCSE Science (Double Award Non-Modular) assessed?

Students must complete three exams and an internal assessment. Each component is worth 25%.

At Foundation Tier, the exams last for 1 hour 30 minutes and consist of 12 – 15 short answer questions and 3 structured questions.

At Higher Tier, the exams last for 1 hour 45 minutes and consist of 8 short answer questions and 4 structured questions.

In the internal assessment component students are assessed on three skill areas:

  • Planning experimental procedure;
  • Obtaining evidence; and
  • Interpreting and evaluating.

How is GCSE Science (Double Award Modular) assessed?

Students must complete three exams, three end-of-module tests, and an internal assessment exercise.

Exams
At Foundation Tier the papers last for 1 hour and consist of four structured questions.

At Higher Tier the papers last for 1 hour 30 minutes and consist of five or six structured questions.

End-of-module tests
The module tests are worth 25% of the final award (8.33% per module). At both Foundation and Higher Tier the end-of-module tests last for 45 minutes each and are comprised of 12 – 15 short answer questions.

Students must also conduct an internal assessment exercise. They will be assessed on three skill areas:

  • Planning experimental procedure;
  • Obtaining evidence; and
  • Interpreting and evaluating.

Are there different tiers of assessment for GCSE Science (Double Award)?

Yes, there are two tiers of entry. Students of the Higher Tier can achieve grades A*A*-DD(EE). Students of the Foundation Tier can achieve grades CC-GG.

What happens if a student doesn't get the marks they need for an award in a particular tier of entry?

In the Foundation Tier, if a student achieves less than the minimum marks required for a Grade G, we will record them as unclassified and they will not receive a certificate.

In the Higher Tier, students just failing to achieve a Grade D will be awarded a Grade E. Students who score less than the minimum mark required for a Grade E will be recorded as unclassified and will not receive a certificate.

What is the difference in the Higher Tier and Foundation Tier exam papers?

In the Foundation Tier, approximately 45 percent of the marks are targeted at grades C-D and the remainder are targeted at grades E-G.

In the Higher Tier, approximately 45 percent of the marks are targeted at grades C-D and the remainder are targeted at A*-B.

Can students sit exams at different tiers?

Students entered for Science: Double Award A (non-modular) must sit exams at one tier only.

Students entered for Science: Double Award B (modular) may sit end-of-module exams at different tiers, but they must enter all final exams at either Foundation Tier or Higher Tier.

How many modules are there for GCSE Science (Double Award)?

There are six modules for GCSE Double Award Science:

  • Living Organisms and the Processes of Life;
  • Environment, Reproduction and Genetics;
  • Using Materials and Understanding Reactions;
  • Patterns, Problems, Processes;
  • Forces and Energy; and
  • Light, Sound and Waves, Electricity and Magnetism, Earth in Space.

Are there any prohibited combinations with GCSE Science (Double Award)?

Yes, in any one series of examinations students may not take examinations on this specification together with GCSE examinations in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Science: Single Award.

What mathematical skills are required by students of GCSE Science (Double Award)?

The units, conventions, nomenclature, symbols and notation used in the examination papers will be in accord with those given in Signs, Symbols and Systematics , pages 16-19 published by the Association for Science Education (2000).

Students taking GCSE Science (Double Award) exams will be expected to be familiar with the units and mathematical requirements appropriate to their selected tier of entry.

Other units in common use may be included in the examination papers but students will not be required to convert between such units to SI units. You can get more information in Section 5 of the specification.

Will students need to learn any formulae for GCSE Science (Double Award) exams?

Yes, these are listed in Section 6 of the specification.

What support materials are available for teachers and students?

A wide range of support materials are available for teachers and students of GCSE Science Double Award including: