Specification at a glance

This qualification is linear. Linear means that students will sit all their exams at the end of the course.

Subject content

Biology

  • 1. Cell biology
  • 2. Organisation
  • 3. Infection and response
  • 4. Bioenergetics
  • 5. Homeostasis and response
  • 6. Inheritance, variation and evolution
  • 7. Ecology

Chemistry

  • 8. Atomic structure and the periodic table
  • 9. Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter
  • 10. Quantitative chemistry
  • 11. Chemical changes
  • 12. Energy changes
  • 13. The rate and extent of chemical change
  • 14. Organic chemistry
  • 15. Chemical analysis
  • 16. Chemistry of the atmosphere
  • 17. Using resources

Physics

  • 18. Energy
  • 19. Electricity
  • 20. Particle model of matter
  • 21. Atomic structure
  • 22. Forces
  • 23. Waves
  • 24. Magnetism and electromagnetism

Assessments

There are six papers: two biology, two chemistry and two physics. Each of the papers will assess knowledge and understanding from distinct topic areas.

Biology Paper 1

What's assessed

Biology topics 1–4: Cell Biology; Organisation; Infection and response; and Bioenergetics.

How it's assessed

  • Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 70 marks
  • 16.7% of GCSE

Questions

Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response.

Biology Paper 2

What's assessed

Biology topics 5–7: Homeostasis and response; Inheritance, variation and evolution; and Ecology.

How it's assessed

  • Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 70 marks
  • 16.7% of GCSE

Questions

Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response.

Chemistry Paper 1

What's assessed

Chemistry topics 8–12: Atomic structure and the periodic table; Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter; Quantitative chemistry; Chemical changes; and Energy changes.

How it's assessed

  • Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 70 marks
  • 16.7% of GCSE

Questions

Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response.

Chemistry Paper 2

What's assessed

Chemistry topics 13–17: The rate and extent of chemical change; Organic chemistry; Chemical analysis; Chemistry of the atmosphere; and Using resources.

How it's assessed

  • Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 70 marks
  • 16.7% of GCSE

Questions

Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response.

Physics Paper 1

What's assessed

Physics topics 18–21: Energy; Electricity; Particle model of matter; and Atomic structure.

How it's assessed

  • Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 70 marks
  • 16.7% of GCSE

Questions

Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response.

Physics Paper 2

What's assessed

Physics topics 22–24: Forces; Waves; and Magnetism and electromagnetism

How it's assessed

  • Written exam: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Foundation and Higher Tier
  • 70 marks
  • 16.7% of GCSE

Questions

Multiple choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response.