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The Wavell School

Year 10 Science


GCSE Combined Science

SUMMARY OF SUBJECT CONTENT:

Combined Science students will study for 6 exams: two each for Biology, Chemistry and Physics. They will be awarded 2 Combined Science GCSEs.

Biology will cover Cell biology, Organisation, Infection and response, Bioenergetics, Homeostasis and response, Inheritance, Variation & Evolution, and Ecology.

Chemistry 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

Physics Forces, Energy, Waves, Electricity, Magnetism and electromagnetism, Particle model of matter, Atomic structure

Specification at a glance

Exam Board: AQA

Combined Science: Trilogy Specification Code:8464

Examinations

Weighting

Time

When

Notes

External Examination -

6 Written Papers

16.7% each paper 6 X 1 hour 15 minutes Summer of Year 11

6 Structured Papers – two each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics

 

Questions can be multiple choice, structured, closed, short answer and open response. Students are awarded a double grade, reflecting 2 GCSEs, from the range 99,98,88,87 etc to 11

What will my child study during Year 10?

The Sciences are topic-based course, the topics that will be covered during Year 10 are:

Key Ideas Covered

Next to each section you will find the relevant book reference.

1st Term

2nd Term

3rd Term

Bonding, Structure and the properties of matter

  • States of matter
  • Atoms into ions
  • Ionic bonding
  • Covalent bonding
  • Metallic bonding
  • Giant ionic structures
  • Simple molecules
  • Giant Covalent structures
  • Fullerenes and graphene
  • Giant metallic structures

AQA CHEMISTRY

Chapter C3 PAGES 36-55

Organisation

  • Tissues and organs
  • Organ systems
  • Digestive system
  • The chemistry of food
  • Catalysts and enzymes
  • Factors affecting enzyme action
  • The blood
  • Blood vessels
  • The heart
  • Helping the heart
  • Heart disease
  • Breathing and gas exchange
  • Tissues and organs in plants
  • Transport systems in plants
  • Evaporation and transpiration
  • Factors affecting transpiration
  • Non-communicable disease
  • Cancer
  • Smoking and the risk of disease
  • Diet, exercise and disease
  • Alcohol and other carcinogens

AQA BIOLOGY PAGES  Chapters B3, B4, B7 pages 36-71 and 112 - 123

 

 

Bioenergetics

  • Photosynthesis
  • Leaf adaptations
  • The rate pf photosynthesis
  • How plants use glucose
  • Making the most of photosynthesis
  • Respiration
  • Aerobic respiration
  • Response to exercise
  • Anaerobic respiration
  • Metabolism and the liver

 

AQA BIOLOGY Chapter B8 and B9 pages 124-143

Infection and Response

  • Health and disease
  • Communicable disease
  • Pathogens and disease
  • Preventing infections
  • Viral disease
  • Bacterial disease
  • Fungal disease
  • Protist disease
  • Human defence responses
  • Vaccination
  • Antibiotics and painkillers
  • Discovering drugs
  • Developing drugs
  • Antibiotics and treating disease
  • Drug trials
  • Plant disease

AQA BIOLOGY Chapters  B5 and B6 pages 74-105

Chemical changes

  • The reactivity Series and reactivity of metals.
  • Displacement reactions
  • Extraction of metals and reduction.
  • Oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons.
  • Salts from metals
  • Salts from insoluble bases
  • Reaction of acids and neutralisation.
  • Neutralisation and the pH scale
  • Strong and weak acids
  • Electrolysis
  • The extraction of Aluminium
  • Electrolysis of aqueous solutions

AQA Chemistry Chapter C5 and C6 pages 84-111

Energy changes

  • Exothermic and Endothermic reactions
  • Using energy transfers from reactions
  • Reaction profiles
  • Bond energy calculations

AQA CHEMISTRY Chapter C7 pages 112-119

Quantitative Chemistry

  • Calculating formula mass
  • Moles from masses
  • Reacting mass calculations
  • Concept of the Mole
  • Using moles to balance equations
  • Limiting reactants
  • Concentration

Aqa Chemistry books Chapter C4 pages 62-73

Atomic Structure (Physics aspects)

  • Structure of an atom.
  • Development of the atom.
  • Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation
  • Alpha, Beta and Gamma
  • Activity and half life
  • Nuclear equations

AQA PHYSICS Chapter P7 pages 92-101

 

Particle model of matter (Physics aspects)

  • States of matter
  • Changes of state and Particle Model
  • Density
  • Internal energy
  • Specific latent heat
  • Gas pressure and temperature

AQA Physics book

Chapter P6 Pages 76-87

 

 

How will my child be assessed and how will I know how well they are doing in Science in Year 10?

At the end of each topic students will complete an in-class test of 30 minutes, which is worth 30 marks and is made up of previous GCSE questions. Students will be notified of any upcoming tests via satchel.

Throughout the Year teachers will continually assess learning through in-class work and homework. Students will then be given feedback to help them improve.

Students will sit formal exams in the sports hall at the end of the year. The exams will cover all aspects of the work taught and will include topics from Chemistry, Physics and Biology. Exams will be marked to exam board standards and a grade awarded. The work produced throughout the year will be used to generate the predicted grade.

What homework will my child be expected to do in Year 10 in Science?

Students will be set weekly homework that they will be expected to spend around 1 hour completing. The homeworks will be a variety of tasks that will primarily be:

  • Completion of classwork with further research and note-making
  • Completion of past GCSE questions
  • Revision for tests
  • Online revision/quizzes using sites such as SAMLearning & Seneca Learning

Students will be expected to regularly access the online textbook via Kerboodle (www.kerboodle.com). Their username and password is the same as their username in school and the institution code is SL4.

How can I support my child to do well in Science during Year 10?

  • Ensure they complete their homework properly
  • Support them by ensuring they have somewhere suitable to work, away from distractions but with online access to the textbook etc.
  • Buy a revision guide (order forms available to download via this website)
  • Support them to revise and prepare properly for each test

My child is struggling during the course, what additional help is available to help them keep up?

  • Students can access the digital textbooks to help with revision.
  • After school revision sessions will be available.
  • Revision books can be purchased to assist with understanding.
  • Students should be encouraged to seek assistance from their teacher when they are struggling with any concept.
  • Students have access to Sam Learning and the Kerboodle learning platform which has a range of resources to help boost understanding

 Updated September 2023