AQA Combined Science: Trilogy

The course includes a number of practicals which are specified by the DfE and we do others as appropriate.
Students are placed in sets using data received from high schools. These sets are amended during the two years depending on achievements at Beauchamp.

Exam Board
AQA

Lessons per week
5 x 50 minutes

What is my final qualification?
Two grades at GCSE.
These two grades may be different.
For all exams, there are two tiers of entry, Foundation and Higher.

 

What does the course contain?

Biology
Cell biology, Organisation, Infection and response, Bioenergetics, Homeostasis and response, Inheritance, variation and evolution, 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.

Physics
Forces; Energy, Waves, Electricity, Magnetism, Particle model of matter, Atomic structure.

 

How is the course arranged?

Groups are taught a unit at a time. One of your teachers will be assigned the role of your science tutor and will have an overview of your work. They will keep a check on your coursework and write your reports.

 

Do we all do the same work?
You will be put into groups based on your performance at High School. These groups are not fixed and we move students between groups if we think it is appropriate. Several of the groups in each population have students with the same range of abilities. Usually, for example, sets 2 – 4 are of very similar ability and most of these students do the higher tier papers.

Students will be taught the content of the higher specification until we are certain that a student cannot cope with this higher level work. This decision is taken for individual students rather than for whole sets.

 

What skills do we learn?
You will be given the opportunity to solve problems in a scientific way. You will work with ideas about science in familiar and unfamiliar contexts. You will analyse data and will carry out a case study of a topical scientific issue. You will carry out practical investigations and explain your results.

 

How is my work assessed?
Six exams (no coursework and no controlled assessment):
Biology x2
Chemistry x2
Physics x2

Each exam is 1 hr 15 mins (70 marks)

 

How do I know what progress I am making?
Teachers will regularly share with you the data we collect in our database. This will help you to judge how well you are doing. It will also help you and teachers to set targets and to monitor your progress towards meeting them.

 

How do I get the most out of the course?
Keep your notes up to date and well organised to make learning easier. Complete homework on time to get practice at doing questions. Learn thoroughly for tests to make sure you understand the work as you go along. Read articles and watch TV to broaden your knowledge of up to date applications of science.

 

What about Science A levels?
This course covers all the work necessary for any of the Science A levels. To be accepted onto a science course you need to achieve at least a grade 6-6 in Science. In addition to this you also need to achieve a grade 5 or above in English and Mathematics.

 

Other Information
Students have five 50 minute science lessons each week. All our science teachers are science graduates.
We run a variety of trips and other extracurricular opportunities for students (often within a STEM context).