Science

Assessment:

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 - Topic 1 – Key concepts in chemistry, Topic 2 – States of matter and mixtures, Topic 3 – Chemical changes, Topic 4 – Extracting metals and equilibria. Topic 6 – Groups in the periodic table, Topic 7 – Rates of reaction and energy changes, Topic 8 – Fuels and Earth science.

Physics - 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 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.

Core Practicals 1.6 Investigate biological specimens using microscopes, including magnification calculations and labelled scientific drawings from observations 1.10 Investigate the effect of pH on enzyme activity 1.16 Investigate osmosis in potatoes 6.5 Investigate the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis 8.11 Investigate the rate of respiration in living organisms 9.5 Investigate the relationship between organisms and their environment using field-work techniques, including quadrats and belt transects

Chemistry Core Practicals: 2.11 Investigate the composition of inks using simple distillation and paper chromatography 3.6 Investigate the change in pH on adding powdered calcium hydroxide/calcium oxide to a fixed volume of dilute hydrochloric acid 3.17 Investigate the preparation of pure, dry hydrated copper sulfate crystals starting from copper oxide including the use of a water bath 3.31 Investigate the electrolysis of copper sulfate solution with inert electrodes and copper electrodes 7.1 Investigate the effects of changing the conditions of a reaction on the rates of chemical reactions by: a measuring the production of a gas (in the reaction between hydrochloric acid and marble chips) b observing a colour change (in the reaction between sodium thiosulfate and hydrochloric acid)

Physics Core Practicals: 2.19 Investigate the relationship between force, mass and acceleration by varying the masses added to trolleys 4.17 Investigate the suitability of equipment to measure the speed, frequency and wavelength of a wave in a solid and a fluid 5.9 Investigate refraction in rectangular glass blocks in terms of the interaction of electromagnetic waves with matter Construct electrical circuits to: a investigate the relationship between potential difference, current and resistance for a resistor and a filament lamp b test series and parallel circuits using resistors and filament lamps 14.3 Investigate the densities of solid and liquids 14.11 Investigate the properties of water by determining the specific heat capacity of water and obtaining a temperature-time graph for melting ice 15.6 Investigate the extension and work done when applying forces to a spring