Exam Board: Edexcel
Course Names: GCSE (9-1) Biology (1BIO); GCSE (9-1) Chemistry (1CHO); GCSE (9-1) Physics (1PHO);
Students are taught all of the content covered in the Combined Science specification, plus additional content as detailed below:
Biology: The topics taught in GCSE Biology are the same as in the biology element of Combined Science, but many of the topics have additional lessons that extend student knowledge and understanding. For example, there is a significantly greater level of detail in the teaching of the Genetics module in Separate Biology.
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; 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: The topics taught in GCSE Chemistry are the same as in the chemistry element of Combined Science, with the addition of two extra topics, referred to as “Separate Chemistry 1” and “Separate Chemistry 2”.
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; 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: The topics taught in GCSE Physics are the same as in the physics element of Combined Science, with the addition of two extra topics, covering Astronomy and Static Electricity. Some topics are also covered to a greater level of detail. For example, Separate Science students will cover extra material in the Radioactivity topic.
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; 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.