Awarding Body – AQA

Specification Code – 8461

Tiers – Foundation (awarding Grades 1 to 5) and Higher (awarding Grades 4 to 9)

The GCSE curriculum is based around seven topics:

• Cell Biology
• Organisation
• Infection and Response
• Bioenergetics
• Homeostasis and Response
• Inheritance, Variation and Evolution
• Ecology

Please ignore red text formatting when reading the subtopics below as part of the Biology curriculum

Subtopics marked with ^{green superscript numbers} show those for which there is a required practical activity as part of the curriculum

Cell Biology

• Cell Structure ^{1 2}
• Cell Division
• Transport in Cells ³

Organisation

• Principles of Organisation
• Animal Tissues, Organs and Organ Systems ^{4 5}
• Plant Tissues, Organs and Systems

Infection and Response

• Communicable Diseases
• Monoclonal Antibodies – Higher Tier only
• Plant Disease

Bioenergetics

• Photosynthesis ⁶
• Respiration

Homeostasis and Response

• Homeostasis
• The Human Nervous System ⁷
• Hormonal Co-Ordination in Humans
• Plant Hormones ⁸

Inheritance, Variation and Evolution

• Reproduction
• Variation and Evolution
• The Development of Understanding of Genetics and Evolution
• Classification of Living Organisms

Ecology

• Adaptations, Interdependence and Competition
• Organisation of an Ecosystem ^{9 10}
• Biodiversity and the Effect of Human Interaction on Ecosystems
• Trophic Levels in an Ecosystem
• Food Production

Assessment is through two written examinations:

• Paper One tests pupils on their knowledge of the Cell Biology, Organisation, Infection and Response and Bioenergetics topics
• Paper Two tests pupils on their knowledge of the Homeostasis and Response, Inheritance, Variation and Evolution and Ecology topics

Each paper lasts for 1h 45mins, and each paper is worth 50% of the overall grade awarded.

Awarding Body – AQA

Specification Code – 8462

Tiers – Foundation (awarding Grades 1 to 5) and Higher (awarding Grades 4 to 9)

The GCSE curriculum is based around ten topics:

• Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
• Bonding, Structure and the Properties of Matter
• Quantitative Chemistry
• Chemical Changes
• Energy Changes
• The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change
• Organic Chemistry
• Chemical Analysis
• Chemistry of the Atmosphere
• Using Resources

Please ignore red text formatting when reading the subtopics below as part of the Chemistry curriculum

Subtopics marked with ^{green superscript numbers} show those for which there is a required practical activity as part of the curriculum

Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table

• A Simple Model of the Atom, Symbols, Relative Atomic Mass, Electronic Charge and Isotopes
• The Periodic Table
• Properties of Transition Metals

Bonding, Structure and the Properties of Matter

• Chemical Bonds – ionic, covalent and metallic
• How Bonding and Structure are related to the Properties of Substances
• Structure and Bonding of Carbon
• Bulk and Surface Properties of Matter, including Nanoparticles

Quantitative Chemistry

• Chemical Measurements, Conservation of Mass and the Quantitative Interpretation of Chemical Equations
• Use of Amount of Substance in relation to Masses of Pure Substances
• Yield and Atom Economy of Chemical Reactions
• Using Concentrations of Solutions in mol/dm³ – Higher Tier only
• Use of Amount of Substance in relation to Volumes of Gases – Higher Tier only

Chemical Changes

• Reactivity of Metals
• Reactions of Acids ^{1 2}
• Electrolysis ³

Energy Changes

• Exothermic and Endothermic Reactions ⁴
• Chemical Cells and Fuel Cells

The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change

• Rate of Reaction ⁵
• Reversible Reactions and Dynamic Equilibrium

Organic Chemistry

• Carbon Compounds as Fuels and Feedstock
• Reactions of Alkenes and Alcohols
• Synthetic and Naturally Occurring Polymers

Chemical Analysis

• Purity, Formulations and Chromatography ⁶
• Identification of Common Gases
• Identification of Ions by Chemical and Spectroscopic Means ⁷

Chemistry of the Atmosphere

• The Composition and Evolution of the Earth’s Atmosphere
• Carbon Dioxide and Methane as Greenhouse Gases
• Common Atmospheric Pollutants and their Sources

Using Resources

• Using the Earth’s Resources and Obtaining Potable Water ⁸
• Life Cycle Assessment and Recycling
• Using Materials
• The Haber Process and the Use of NPK Fertilisers

Assessment is through two written examinations:

• Paper One tests pupils on their knowledge of the Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table, Bonding, Structure and the Properties of Matter, Quantitative Chemistry, Chemical Changes and Energy Changes topics
• Paper Two tests pupils on their knowledge of the The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change, Organic Chemistry, Chemical Analysis, Chemistry of the Atmosphere and Using Reources topics.
  Please note that questions in Paper Two may draw on fundamental concepts and principles relating to Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table, Bonding, Structure and the Properties of Matter and Quantitative Chemistry

Each paper lasts for 1h 45mins, and each paper is worth 50% of the overall grade awarded.

Awarding Body – AQA

Specification Code – 8463

Tiers – Foundation (awarding Grades 1 to 5) and Higher (awarding Grades 4 to 9)

The GCSE curriculum is based around eight topics:

• Energy
• Electricity
• Particle Model of Matter
• Atomic Structure
• Forces
• Waves
• Magnetism and Electromagnetism
• Space Physics

Please ignore red text formatting when reading the subtopics below as part of the Physics curriculum

Subtopics marked with ^{green superscript numbers} show those for which there is a required practical activity as part of the curriculum

Energy

• Energy Changes in a System, and the Ways Energy is Stored Before and After Such Changes ¹
• Conservation and Dissipation of Energy ²
• National and Global Energy Resources

Electricity

• Current, Potential Difference and Resistance ^{3 4}
• Series and Parallel Circuits
• Domestic Uses and Safety
• Energy Transfers
• Static Electricity

Particle Model of Matter

• Changes of State and the Particle Model ⁵
• Internal Energy and Energy Transfers
• Particle Model and Pressure

Atomic Structure

• Atoms and Isotopes
• Atoms and Nuclear Radiation
• Hazards and Uses of Radioactive Emissions and of Background Radiation
• Nuclear Fission and Fusion

Forces

• Forces and their Interactions
• Work Done and Energy Transfer
• Forces and Elasticity ⁶
• Moments, Levers and Gears
• Pressure and Pressure Differences in Fluids
• Forces and Motion ⁷
• Momentum

Waves

• Waves in Air, Fluids and Solids ^{8 9}
• Electromagnetic Waves ¹⁰
• Black Body Radiation

Magnetism and Electromagnetism

• Permanent and Induced Magnetism, Magnetic Forces and Fields
• The Motor Effect
• Induced Potential, Transformers and the National Grid – Higher Tier only

Space Physics

• Solar System, Stability of Orbital Motions and Satellites
• Red-Shift

Assessment is through two written examinations:

• Paper One tests pupils on their knowledge of the Energy, Electricity, Particle Model of Matter and Atomic Structure topics
• Paper Two tests pupils on their knowledge of the Forces, Waves, Magnetism and Electromagnetism and Space Physics topics
  Please note that questions in Paper Two may draw on an understanding of energy changes and transfers due to heating, mechanical and electrical work and the concept of energy conservation from the Energy and Electricity topics.

Each paper lasts for 1h 45mins, and each paper is worth 50% of the overall grade awarded.

Awarding Body – AQA

Specification Code – 8464

Tiers –
Foundation (awarding Grades 1-1 to 5-5) and Higher (awarding Grades 4-4 to 9-9)

The GCSE curriculum is based around the curricula for GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics, with the exception of the subtopics listed in red in the individual subject information boxes above.

Assessment is through six written examinations:

• Biology Paper One tests pupils on their knowledge of the Cell Biology, Organisation, Infection and Response and Bioenergetics topics
• Biology Paper Two tests pupils on their knowledge of the Homeostasis and Response, Inheritance, Variation and Evolution and Ecology topics
• Chemistry Paper One tests pupils on their knowledge of the Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table, Bonding, Structure and the Properties of Matter, Quantitative Chemistry, Chemical Changes and Energy Changes topics
• Chemistry Paper Two tests pupils on their knowledge of the The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change, Organic Chemistry, Chemical Analysis, Chemistry of the Atmosphere and Using Reources topics.
  Please note that questions in Chemistry Paper Two may draw on fundamental concepts and principles relating to Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table, Bonding, Structure and the Properties of Matter and Quantitative Chemistry
• Physics Paper One tests pupils on their knowledge of the Energy, Electricity, Particle Model of Matter and Atomic Structure topics
• Physics Paper Two tests pupils on their knowledge of the Forces, Waves and Magnetism and Electromagnetism topics
  Please note that questions in Physics Paper Two may draw on an understanding of energy changes and transfers due to heating, mechanical and electrical work and the concept of energy conservation from the Energy and Electricity topics.

Each paper lasts for 1h 15mins, and each paper is worth 16.7% of the overall grade awarded.