Triple Science and Double Science

I think it depends what sort of career he may be interested in. He may not have any thoughts but if he is likely to want a scientific career then triple science may be a better option.

Shanghai - the same exams can be cashed in as B1, B2 and B3 = Biology GCSE etc etc, but state schools have to offer all three subjects, so either do as tween said, core, additional and further, or offer three separate sciences. private schools may allow students to drop one of the sciences entirely though.

shanghai
Up thread, TeenandTween has explained how the UK system works
Core = P1, C1, B1
Additional = P1, P2, C1, C2, B1, B2
Triple = P1, P2, P3, C1, C2, C3, B1, B2, B3
It means that all students get a grounding in all three sciences which is a good thing

Am confused - do schools not offer separate sciences? We are overseas and ds is in year 11 taking three sciences separately with Cambridge igcse. Others in his class are taking two and some one.

On that Kings data,
3 classes did triple : probably two classes accelerated and one not
the rest of the kids did core and additional except for the very bottom 14 pupils (10 boys and 4 girls) who just took core

Clavinovq - it is difficult to compare the additional and triple results as generally the triple class are more able to begin with (for example my current school has top 55-60 kids doing triple and the rest of the year group does double. So you can't compare, but there are a number of borderline kids who don't make it into triple and it may be that not being in the accelerated class has benefited them. I know students who have been dropped down from triple to double who end up with A/A* and others who stay up in triple and end up with d's. It's difficult to predict. However, I do know from experience that doing triple doesn't give you an enormous advantage at A level and by the end of the a level you would never know who did triple and who did double.

Clarinova That's interesting (especially as the school is localish to me)

However I think whilst looking at the data you also need to know

• how the school decides who gets to do triple v double
• whether triple is accelerated or not

A higher % may get A*/A for physics than Additional science (if I've read the large table correctly), but triple is only done by the brightest where as Additional is done by almost everyone. So the question is whether a particular child is likely to get higher grades just doing double compared with triple.

It seems to be a myth that a high percentage of pupils are achieving As and A*s in double science;

docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UhHfxt1X_vaofP7NfOWctnlTuXpD_dBlWwfoDH4VQ-k/edit?pli=1#gid=0

I would want to see some evidence from the school that pupils are in fact achieving high results for double science compared to the triple science candidates. I've linked to the GCSE results for this random, 'outstanding' senior school for example which separates results for boys and girls.

www.kings-winchester.hants.sch.uk/school-information/gcse-results/

Also, check whether the same teachers teach both groups - do the specialist or more experienced science teachers only teach triple science? How many boys taking double science then progressed to A level science in your school?

Double science was always all 3 sciences in all the schools I know. Triple science was 3 sciences but in more depth. So nothing has changed except the syllabus. Doing one GCSE early is never a good idea unless the child gets an A*/A. If they get a low grade - what then?

I wouldn't worry as you don't need to have done triple science to go onto A levels. In fact, where lots of schools cram triple science into normal 'double science' time they can end up lacking the depth and understanding, so it may even be beneficial. I would agree with others that 2 high grades (A/A*) is better than 3 average grades (B;s or C's).

It is also worth noting that some schools start doing triple science in yr 9. In our school only children in sets 1 & 2 do this.

Doing double science or additional shouldn't prevent children from choosing science a levels. We arrived at current school when ds was starting yr 10 and despite being top set in previous school was put in additional science and ended up with AAB and has just started all three sciences at a level.

Early days but seems to be flourishing.

gold and another

It is not just AQA, it is standard. If you do double science you do P1, B1, C1 and then P2, B2, C2. If you do triple you do those above plus also P3, B3, C3

This way you get basic knowledge in all 3 sciences even if you do double, rather than knowing a lot about only 2 sciences. I think is a better system really and sets up 'non science' people with a better education for life (as opposed to thinking 'just' about grades).

If you do Double you end up with Core Science and Additional Science GCSEs.

If you do triple most schools enter as Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
Some schools enter as Core, Additional and Further, which is what gold 's school appears to do. Doing it the latter way means they can get one GCSE out of the way early as these days you have to take the papers for a GCSE all in one sitting.

My DD did double last year and there was a lot of content in it.

At my sons's school there are various pathways for science, the most common I think is double science, it is also possible to do triple science, or for the least scientifically able a single combined science GCSE or all three single sciences for the most scientifically able.

BUT they don't offer a single science GCSE (or two single sciences). I would have thought that if you are not great at science it might be better to do the science you are best at rather than having to study all three? For example, if you are rubbish at physics, you'd be better doing biology and/or chemistry than the combined award because the rubbish physics is going to drag down the overall mark? Whereas if you could do biology on its own you might do ok.

Hi OP

My son's school scared the life out of me last term regarding science teaching for GCSE.

During the options process, the children were given opportunity to request double or triple. Students would only be allowed to take the triple if they hit level 6a or above in their Y9 exams...so far, so good. We were expecting three individual science GCSE exams (Biology, Physics and Chemistry) at the end of Y11.

Then the school got to see the GCSE syllabus (AQA exam board) for double and triple science and decided to completely change their approach.

Double Science is now called 'Additional Science' and contains elements of all three sciences but it counts for two GCSE's. Triple Science is called 'Further Additional Science' and again, contains elements of all three sciences but counts for three GCSE's.

My son's school is getting all Y10's to sit 'Science A' (the GCSE science foundation paper) at the end of Y10, then depending on how they do*, they will either complete 'Additional' or 'Further' in Y11.

Many parents thought that 'double science' meant their child would get Biology+Chemistry or Chemistry+Physics etc without the 'third' science at all; that isn't how it works. Children taking 'Additional Science' (the double) will still study Biology, Chemistry and Physics in separate lessons.

The children taking 'Further Additional Science' (the triple) will have more to learn in less time. *We've been told this paper is extremely challenging and will only be open to the students who get an A in the 'Science A' GCSE and who also excel in their Maths end of year exams.

It might be worth finding out if your son's school is using AQA as their exam board and if they have a similar approach?

Good luck

I think you can only insist you want him to do triple science, if they'd originally confirmed he had a space. If they've changed their minds, then I think you're at least entitled to an explanation of why this change has taken place.

If he's only just heard whether he is doing double or triple science, and you were expecting him to be capable of triple, then again I'm sure you and he would like to know why he didn't get a place. When deciding whether they can do triple science in my DD's school, only the top 25% can do triple science. They consider whether they always been in the top set or towards the top of set two, their general attitude and their end of year result.

Hope you manage to sort it out for him.

.Agree that it does seem strange that this has happened without explanation. Is it possible that perhaps they have made a mistake with the timetable and he has been put on the Double Science list instead of the Triple?
Having said that it is still perfectly possible to take Science A levels with Double Science GCSE. In fact sixth forms may prefer AA at Double Science to BBB for Triple.

Not so bad to do only double science, and you can do science A levels with it, but it will be more work so triple better. But better to get BB for double than CCC for triple.

I don't you should go and 'insist' or be 'furious' yet.

You do need to ask why they have made the change.

Is he on a 3 yr GCSE, or is this the start of the course?

What level was he on end y9?

Is triple 'accelerated' ie in the same time as double? Any chance he hasn't been keeping up with the pace, or they have reason to be concerned with this?

Is he struggling in another core area such as English or Maths?

When you have heard their reasoning, then you will have the info to decide whether to push for him to continue with triple, or not.