AQA: GCSE Science Specification

There has been a revision of characteristics and subject content for Science GCSEs by QCA. The main points are as follows:

• Procedural content in the specification refers to attaching more importance and emphasis to the knowledge, skills and understanding of application of Science in real world and laboratory.
• The incorporation of this is carried out through knowledge and understanding of scientific facts, also termed as Substantive content.
• Procedural and Substantive content enjoy equal emphasis in the programme of study.
• New single award GCSE Science has been constituted which incorporates all of the content in the program of study.
• A new single award GCSE Additional Science has also been constituted, which together with GCSE Science permits transgression to post-16 Science courses.
• GCSE Science offers certain alternative routes as well, for progression to further study. Single award separate Sciences (GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics) along with an applied Science route can lead to a single award GCSE Additional Applied Science.

Key Features

GCSE specification identifies (varying from subject to subject) the key skills of

• Application of Number,
• Communication,
• Information and Communication Technology,
• Working with Others,
• Improving Own Learning and Performance, and
• Problem Solving.

Effective use and assessment of ICT is one of the areas of prime focus for subject content of all GCSEs. ICT has a crucial role to play in the world of Science and therefore, curriculum for GCSE Science is designed to reflect this.

GCSE Science specifications

 GCSE Science 'A' specification is a part of suite, which is composed of:

• GCSE Science A
• GCSE Science B
• GCSE Additional Science
• GCSE Additional Applied Science
• GCSE Biology
• GCSE Chemistry
• GCSE Physics &
• GCSE Applied Science (Double Award)

Science A

Science A is one of GCSE Science specifications offered by AQA. A single award GCSE Science A is awarded for this specification. The entire process of assessment spans seven units.

Assessment for the units for objective tests is carried across two tiers: Foundation tier (G-C) and Higher Tier (D-A*). There are no tiers for centre-assessed unit.

Paper-based and on-screen tests are available for the objective tests. On-screen tests were constituted in November, 2007 and students can take these tests by keying their responses through a computer.

The entire process of evaluation and assessment for GCSE Science 'A' specification can be summarized as:

 The examinations based on the above specification are available as follows:

Access Arrangements

Due attention is paid (by AQA) to the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in identifying various components of the specification. Special arrangements may be made for students with disabilities to access assessment. For instance, production of a Braille paper for a candidate with visual impairment is an access arrangement made available by AQA. There is room for special consideration for candidates whose activities have been affected due to illness or other unavoidable circumstances.

Criteria

This GCSE Science 'A' specification is in conformity with the following:

the Statutory Regulation of External Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland 2004, the common criteria for all other qualifications, the additional criteria for GCSE, the GCSE Criteria for Science, the GCSE, GCE, GNVQ and AEA Code of Practice.

Subject Content

'How Science works' is the underlying principle beneath the content designed by AQA.  'Procedural content' represents the processes of scientific activity. The 'substantive content' is composed of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or other Science content.

The Procedural Content of the subject can be summarized as:

• The thinking behind the doing
• Fundamental ideas
• Observation as a stimulus to investigation
• Designing an investigation
• Making measurements
• Presenting data
• Using data to draw conclusions
• Societal aspects of scientific evidence
• Limitations of scientific evidence

The Substantive Content comprises:

• Biology 1a Human Body
• Biology 1b Evolution and Environment
• Chemistry 1a Products from Rocks
• Chemistry 1b Oils, Earth and Atmosphere
• Physics 1a Energy and Electricity
• Physics 1b Radiation and the Universe

Biology 1a

• Response of human body to any changes inside them and in the environment
• Use of hormones to control fertility
• Neurons, receptors, synapses, effectors etc. in reflex actions
• Role of balanced diet and exercises to keep human body healthy
• Use and abuse of medical and recreational drugs
• Infections and immunity

Biology 1b

• Adaptations in plants and animals
• Competition for food, necessities, territory etc.
• Differences in plants and animals of the same species
• Genetic engineering and ethical issues
• Darwin's theory of natural selection
• Human impact on the environment

Chemistry 1a

• Role of rocks as building materials
• Social, economic and environmental concerns for exploitation of rocks as building material
• Ores, metals and the use of metals
• Crude oil and fuels

Chemistry 1b

• Fractional distillation of oil and its products
• Polymers and ethanol from crude oil
• Social, economic and environmental concerns surrounding use of crude oil as raw materials
• Plant oils
• Vegetable oils
• Continental drift and Earth
• Changes in the Earth and its atmosphere

Physics 1a

• Heat transfer
• Conduction, convection and radiation
• Effect of shape and dimension of a body on its rate of heat transfer
• Efficient use of energy
• Electrical devices
• Generation of electricity: Ways and issues

Physics 1b

• Electromagnetic waves and electromagnetic spectrum
• Radioactive emission
• Uses of radioactive emissions and possible dangers
• Origin of the Universe and process of change

For more details, refer to AQA official website .

We, at TransWebTutors.com, provide expert Help and Online Tutoring facility for GCSE Science curriculum. We will be extremely pleased to Help you with your GCSE Science preparation using our Online Tutoring facility. We have designed several Online Tutoring packages for GCSE Science.