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Original poster

Science GCSEs

43 replies

Jux · 10/09/2012 22:57

DD has just started year 9. She is in the top set for science. They have been told that there are 3 exams for each branch of science, so 9 science exams for GCSE. To take the pressure off, the school is proposing that they take 3 this year, 3 next year and then 3 in their actual GCSE year.

I think I can see the logic of this, but this is year 9! DD is 13! How can year 9 children do a GCSE - even a bit of it - two years early, when they have barely started the syllabus?

How do science GCSEs work?

OP posts:
wordfactory · 11/09/2012 08:46

I have two year niners at different schools and they have both been told the scinece GCSE is now linear and they will sit the final exams in Summer 2015.

They've been told it will be harder to achieve high grades and so will need to work harder, but that it holds more water for sixth form and university applications.

glaurung · 11/09/2012 08:42

hellsbells that may well be true for some boards if you want to do the equivalent of triple, or if the further additional science gcse concept doesn't get accredited (last I heard it was almost there).

glaurung · 11/09/2012 08:40

9 exams which can be combined in different ways for differently titled GCSEs.

Biology 1,2 + 3 = biology gcse
chemistry1,2 + 3 = chemistry gcse
physics 1,2 + 3 = physics gcse

OR:
biology 1, chemistry 1 + physics 1 = core science gcse
b2, c2 + p2 = additional science gcse
b3, c3 + p3 = further additional science gcse

Each individual gcse is linear and the three exams must be taken at one sitting, but you don't have to take all 9 exams at the end of year 11.

hellsbells99 · 11/09/2012 08:39

My DD2 has just gone into yr10 and is doing triple science. We are told she has to sit all 9 papers at the end of year 11 (as no more modular exams, all linear). As opposed to Dd1 who is in yr11 and has sat 3 papers (1 for each science) in June, with 3 in Jan and 3 next June.

Original poster
Jux · 11/09/2012 08:28

So there is core science, additional science and further additional science?

I have no idea what any of those terms mean. (Missed the Options evening last year.)

OP posts:
ocuspocus · 11/09/2012 07:40

My DS has just gone into year 10 and sat his first science exam on his 14th birthday in year nine (four exams in total, biology, physics, chemistry and a controlled assessment. He was one mark off a B grade (core science). Next year he will sit additional science.

bruffin · 11/09/2012 06:55

Op is talking about doing 9 exams, 3 for each branch if science.

glaurung · 11/09/2012 00:49

science is different though, because if you do triple you can do one complete GCSE each year )or one at the end of year 10, one in Jan year 11 and on in June yr 11) with each one being linear rather than modular.

It doesn't even have to be Biology and then Chemistry and then Physics, as the exam boards are bringing out a new further additional science gcse, which means core science + additional science + further additional science = physics + chem + bio.

BackforGood · 11/09/2012 00:19

I have to admit Bruffin, that's what I thought too, that people wouldn't be able to do it that way anymore as it's hardly a fair comparison with people who do all final exams.

Startailoforangeandgold · 11/09/2012 00:19

I just have to convince DDs teacher to let her do triple science Angry

bruffin · 11/09/2012 00:11

Dd had just gone into yr 10 and I didn't think there would be any modular exams any more.

BackforGood · 11/09/2012 00:05

DS has just finished Yr11 and he did it this way. MAkes life a lot easier in a way, as they study one part of the course, take and exam in it, and bobs your uncle, that bit's done, then they study the next bit. I would have LOVED it when I was at school but am old enough to have done O-levels where ALL you results were down to the exams at the end of 5th year.
Like all these things, different people work in different ways. It's not quite the same as taking a whole GCSE early, as you are only being tested on the one bit.

LadySybildeChocolate · 10/09/2012 23:39

Ah, thank you. Smile

brass · 10/09/2012 23:37

If they get the maths out of the way I think they pick up another gcse, he is doing latin as an extra curricular subject so I think he could take this.

We don't have any more info on year 9 and I'm just waiting for the options evening but that won't be until nearer end of this term.

LadySybildeChocolate · 10/09/2012 23:21

What would your DS study in year 11 if he's already done the GCSE for this though, brass?? Confused

brass · 10/09/2012 23:19

Not sure of actual breakdown of exams though! DS is expected to take/choose 3 sciences and sit Maths early.

brass · 10/09/2012 23:18

Some schools will have covered part/all of the syllabus with the top set children.

LadySybildeChocolate · 10/09/2012 23:10

I've no idea but ds (year 9) has come home with a biology and chemistry GCSE text book. Confused