Course Overview: Separate Science

Science at GCSE level aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of scientific theories, but also their ability to apply that knowledge, analyse and evaluate information, in practical and everyday scenarios. It gives students good life skills, regardless of the path they follow.

Practical work is still a very important part of the science GCSEs. Students will complete a series of Core Practicals not only to consolidate learning, but also to develop skills in planning, analysing and evaluating. These practical skills will be assessed as part of the written examinations at the end of the course.

This option involves studying the three separate sciences in greater depth and breadth, and results in three GCSE qualifications: GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics.

Students are awarded individual grades for each discipline. Separate science students study all of the content from Biology, Chemistry and Physics disciplines of Combined Science, but with added extra material in each discipline. Separate science students sit six exams at the end of the course. These six exams, at 1hr 45 minutes, are slightly longer than the Combined Science exams. Each exam will cover half of the content for that discipline. There will be Foundation tier and Higher tier papers. Foundation tier is for students who are aiming for grades 1–5, and Higher tier is for students who are aiming for grades 4–9.

In the separate science pathway, students can choose different tiers for different disciplines. Therefore, for example, a student may choose to sit Physics and Chemistry at Higher tier and Biology at Foundation tier. Students will receive a grade between 1 and 9 for each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSEs.

Course Components

In the separate Science course, students study three separate sciences, which gives three GCSEs: GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics. Students are awarded individual grades for each discipline. Separate science students study all of the content from Biology, Chemistry and Physics disciplines of Combined Science, but with added extra material in each discipline. Students also sit six exams at the end of the course. These six exams, at 1hr 45 minutes, are slightly longer than the Combined Science exams. There will be Foundation tier and Higher tier papers. Foundation tier is for students who are aiming for grades 1–5, and Higher tier is for students who are aiming for grades 4–9. In the separate science pathway, students can choose different tiers for different disciplines. Students will receive a grade between 1 and 9 for each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSEs.

Course Information

Course Name: Chemistry
Qualification Type: GCSE
Awarding Body: Edexcel
Specification code: 1CH0

Course Name: Biology
Qualification Type: GSCE
Awarding Body: Edexcel
Specification code: 1BI0

Course Name: Physics
Qualification Type: GCSE
Awarding Body: Edexcel
Specification code: 1PH0

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Download Biology specification

Download Chemistry specification

Download Physics specification