Combined Science - KS4

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Studying Combined Science at SJB inspires curiosity and sparks discovery. Through exploring big ideas, practical investigation, and developing problem-solving skills, students grow into confident scientific thinkers ready to question, evaluate, and contribute to an ever-changing world.

Exam board: Pearson Edexcel

Qualification: Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9–1) Combined Science (1SC0)

Edexcel Combined Science Specification

Science Curriculum Map

Science Catholic Social Teaching PrinciplesScience is a core subject and all students study it through to GCSE either by following the combined Science pathway or the Separate Science pathway. Below you can find out more information about the Combined Science route that most of our students follow.

  • Six exams: Two each for Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

  • Each exam is 1 hour 10 minutes and worth 16.67% of the final grade.

  • All exams are taken in the same exam series (May/June) and at the same tier:

    • Foundation Tier: Grades 1-1  –  5-5

    • Higher Tier: Grades 3-4  –  9-9

  • Calculators may be used in all science examinations

What Skills are assessed?

  • Knowledge and understanding of science (40%)

  • Application of scientific ideas and methods (40%)

  • Analysis and evaluation of data and experiments (20%)

Grades

  • Students receive two GCSE grades for Combined Science (e.g. 6–6, 5–4, 4–3).

  • These grades reflect performance across all six science exams (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics).

  • The grades range from 9–9 (highest) to 4–3 (lowest) in the higher tier and 5-5 (highest) to 1-1 (lowest) in the foundation tier

Paper Subject Topics
1 Biology 1 Key concepts in biology, cells and control, genetics, natural selection and genetic modification, health, disease and the development of medicines
2 Biology 2 Key concepts in biology, plant structures and their functions, animal coordination, control and homeostasis, exchange and transport in animals, ecosystems and material cycles
3 Chemistry 1 Key concepts in chemistry, states of matter and mixtures, chemical changes, extracting metals and equilibria
4 Chemistry 2 Key concepts in chemistry, groups in the periodic table, rates of reaction and energy changes, fuels and Earth science
5 Physics 1 Key concepts of physics, motion and forces, conservation of energy, waves, light and the electromagnetic spectrum, radioactivity
6 Physics 2 Key concepts of physics, energy – forces doing work, forces and their effects, electricity and circuits, magnetism and the motor effect, electromagnetic induction, particle model, forces and matter

 

Students complete 18 core practicals across Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

Please see below some examples of the core practicals students complete as part of the GCSE Combined Science course.

These hands-on investigations help students develop essential scientific skills and deepen their understanding of key concepts in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. All practicals are assessed through the final exams.

Biology: Investigating Osmosis

Students explore how water moves in and out of cells by placing potato slices in different concentrations of sucrose solution. They measure the change in mass to calculate percentage gain or loss, helping them understand osmosis and the importance of controlling variables in experiments.

Chemistry: Making Copper Sulfate Crystals

In this practical, students react copper oxide with warm sulfuric acid to produce copper sulfate. They filter the solution and evaporate it to form pure, dry crystals. This helps students understand salt formation, separation techniques, and safe handling of chemicals.

Physics: Investigating Force, Mass and Acceleration

Using trolleys and varying masses, students measure how changing the force or mass affects acceleration. This practical reinforces Newton’s Second Law and gives students experience in collecting and analysing motion data.

Students will use maths skills such as:

  • Calculations and graphs

  • Interpreting data

  • Using equations and units

  1. Science teachers use formative assessment in every lesson to check understanding and guide learning. They are confident, adaptive practitioners who respond to the needs of all learners, ensuring that every student is supported and challenged appropriately.
  2. At the end of each topic, students complete a short online assessment to check their understanding of key knowledge and skills. These tests focus on the core scientific concepts from that unit, helping students demonstrate their understanding and application. The results allow teachers to quickly identify and address any gaps, ensuring that future learning builds on secure and confident foundations.
  3. Three times a year, students sit a written cumulative assessment in each of their Biology, Chemistry and Physics lessons. These assessments feature GCSE-style questions, tailored to the appropriate level, and cover multiple topics studied up to that point. This regular revisiting of content helps students strengthen their understanding, apply knowledge in exam-style conditions, and build confidence over time.
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