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: