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KS4 Science

Edexcel Specification

The Edexcel GCSE in Combined Science consists of six externally examined papers - each 1 hour 10 minutes in length. These are available at foundation tier and higher tier.

All assessments must be taken in May/June in any single year.

The subject content of the individual papers are as follows-

Paper 1: Biology 1

Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology

Topic 2 – Cells and control

Topic 3 – Genetics

Topic 4 – Natural selection and genetic modification

Topic 5 – Health, disease and the development of medicines 

Paper 2: Biology 2

Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology

Topic 6 – Plant structures and their functions

Topic 7 – Animal coordination, control and homeostasis

Topic 8 – Exchange and transport in animals

Topic 9 – Ecosystems and material cycles  

Paper 3: Chemistry 1

Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry

Topic 2 – States of matter and mixtures

Topic 3 – Chemical changes

Topic 4 – Extracting metals and equilibria 

Paper 4: Chemistry 2

Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry

Topic 6 – Groups in the periodic table

Topic 7 – Rates of reaction and energy changes

Topic 8 – Fuels and Earth science 

Paper 5: Physics 1

Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics

Topic 2 – Motion and forces

Topic 3 – Conservation of energy

Topic 4 – Waves

Topic 5 – Light and the electromagnetic spectrum

Topic 6 – Radioactivity 

Paper 6: Physics 2

Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics

Topic 8 – Energy - Forces doing work

Topic 9 – Forces and their effects

Topic 10 – Electricity and circuits

Topic 12 – Magnetism and the motor effect

Topic 13 – Electromagnetic induction

Topic 14 – Particle model

Topic 15 – Forces and matter 

The Edexcel Separate Science courses are assessed in the same format but each exam paper is 1 hour 45 minutes long  and has additional content added.

Biology 1

Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology

Topic 2 – Cells and control

Topic 3 – Genetics

Topic 4 – Natural selection and genetic modification

Topic 5 – Health, disease and the development of medicines  

Biology 2

Topic 1 – Key concepts in biology

Topic 6 – Plant structures and their functions

Topic 7 – Animal coordination, control and homeostasis

Topic 8 – Exchange and transport in animals

Topic 9 – Ecosystems and material cycles 

 

Chemistry 1

Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry

Topic 2 – States of matter and mixtures

Topic 3 – Chemical changes

Topic 4 – Extracting metals and equilibria

Topic 5 – Separate chemistry 1 

Chemistry 2

Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry

Topic 6 – Groups in the periodic table

Topic 7 – Rates of reaction and energy changes

Topic 8 – Fuels and Earth science

Topic 9 – Separate chemistry 2 

 

Physics 1

Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics

Topic 2 – Motion and forces

Topic 3 – Conservation of energy

Topic 4 – Waves

Topic 5 – Light and the electromagnetic spectrum

Topic 6 – Radioactivity

Topic 7 – Astronomy 

Physics 2

Topic 1 – Key concepts of physics

Topic 8 – Energy - Forces doing work

Topic 9 – Forces and their effects

Topic 10 – Electricity and circuits

Topic 11 – Static electricity

Topic 12 – Magnetism and the motor effect

Topic 13 – Electromagnetic induction

Topic 14 – Particle model 

Topic 15 – Forces and matter 

The AQA course is assessed across four individual papers of 1 hour 45 minutes.

Paper 1:

Life and environmental sciences

Topics 4.1–4.4: 

Building blocks; 

Transport over larger distances; 

Interactions with the environment 

Explaining change.

Paper 2: 

Life and environmental sciences

Topics 4.1–4.4: 

Building blocks; 

Transport over larger distances; 

Interactions with the environment 

Explaining change.

Paper 3: 

Physical sciences

Topics 4.5–4.8: 

Building blocks for understanding;

Interactions over small and large distances; 

Movement and interactions 

Guiding Spaceship Earth towards a sustainable future.

Paper 4: 

Physical sciences

Topics 4.5–4.8: 

Building blocks for understanding;

Interactions over small and large distances; 

Movement and interactions 

Guiding Spaceship Earth towards a sustainable future.

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