Specification
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Specification
(PDF), Last Updated: 03 July 2007
Teaching from Autumn 2004, examination from 2004
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GCSE Science (Double Award) is worth two GCSE’s. Students are awarded two grades in the range of A*A*-GG.
The course is available at two tiers of entry: Foundation Tier and Higher Tier. Students entered for the Foundation Tier can achieve grades CC -GG. Students entered for the Higher Tier can achieve grades A*A*-DD. This two-tier structure allows students from a wide ability range to demonstrate achievement.
The subject content is divided into six modules. These are described in the table below:
| Module | Content |
|---|---|
| Living Organisms and the Processes of Life | the cell, nutrition, respiration, transport, excretion, sensitivity and response |
| Environment, Reproduction and Genetics | habitat study, food chains and webs, cycles, pollution, conservation, genetics, selection |
| Using Materials and Understanding Reactions | hazard symbols, man-made materials, composite materials, gases, solubility, kinetic theory, atomic structure, elements, compounds and mixtures, ionic bonding, covalent bonding, bonding in metals, bonding and structure, chemical nomenclature, rusting, redox, hard water, acids and bases, electrolysis |
| Patterns, Problems, Processes | energetics, reactivity series, reaction rates, periodic table, chemical calculations, physical properties of metals, chemical properties of metals, physical properties of metal compounds, chemical properties of metal compounds, uses of metals, gases, hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, sulphur, noble gases, chlorine, water, carbon dioxide, uses of non-metals, sources of organic chemistry, homologous series, alkanes, alkenes, ethanol, ethanoic acid, human influences on science, industrial processes, manufacture of iron, radioactivity |
| Forces and Energy | forms of energy, energy resources, work and power, conservation of energy, heat transfer, effects of a force, mass and weight, Hooke’s law, moments, centre of mass, pressure, displacement, Newton’s 2 nd law, momentum, circular motion |
| Light, Sound and Waves, Electricity and Magnetism, Earth in Space | waves, sound, light, the electro-magnetic spectrum, static charge, charge flow, electric circuits, Ohm’s law, using electricity, electromagnetic induction, generation and transmission of electricity, seasons, solar system, gravitation, galaxy universe, big bang, steady state, stars |
Students are assessed either through non-modular or modular assessment.
Students entered for non-modular assessment are eligible the award of GCSE Science: Double Award A. In this qualification, students gain 75 percent of their marks through final exams and 25 percent through ongoing internal assessment.
Students entered for modular assessment are eligible for the award of GCSE Science: Double Award B. In this qualification, students gain 50 percent of their marks through final exams, 25 percent through end-of-module tests and the remaining 25 percent is awarded for ongoing internal assessment.
For more information, see the full specification.