AQA combined science trilogy and triple science- what on earth is the difference?

Calm down!! Honestly if your ds is working at equivalent level 6 in science he's probably better off doing combined

So A levels.

Normally, 6th forms would expect at least a B (new grade 6) for GCSE science exams to allow science A levels to be taken. Some higher performing schools would have required A grades (new grade 7). basically if you can't get 6s at GCSE you aren't likely to do well at all at A level. (For maths, the standard expectation is often an A/7).

If a pupil is keen on science and is thinking about perhaps doing it for A level, they should talk to the school about any implications of them only doing combined. But then, if they are keen and thinking of doing it for A level then they'd probably choose triple if offered anyway.

If they are very one sided, eg super at Physics and hopeless at Biology then generally that's tough as most school's timetables don't work to allow dropping of 1. (Dropping Chemistry would be a bad move as that's the middle subject that brings the others together). SEN aside, most kids aren't that one sided at GCSE level, if they are good at one they are pretty good at all of them.

The combined actually has 17 grades: 99, 98, 88....11

But if it has an impact on Alevels and how students are judged further down the line regard aptitude surely a general cut off is expected or are you saying some schools will let those on track for 4 s do separate whereas others will expect 8s/9s. Doesn't sound very scientific.

Of course it's not scientific! Getting 4s might be a great result for one kid, a disaster for another.

Likewise A levels - some schools will insist on 8s at GCSE to take A level in that subject, and anything less than an A at A level a disaster. An FE college on the other hand would be happy to give a lower grade kid a chance and be delighted if they got a D.

Because its good to have a broad education in science. Dd is doing combined science taught separately as physics chemistry and biology. She wants to do physics a level and the school have said that will be fine. She didn't want to do triple as she wanted an option free so that she could do Drama gcse.

10things,

When I was taking O-levels, it was common for many pupils to drop one, or even 2, sciences at 14, in order to only do 1 or 2 subjects for O-level.

I genuinely see it as an improvement that the vast majority of pupils now have broad-based science education to the age of 16, especially since much modern science is at the molecular biology / biochemistry / materials overlaps between the 'traditional' 3 sciences.

There isn't a cut off grade. Each separate GCSE goes from 9-1.

It is on my list of things I don't get about England , just like wash basins with a hot and cold tap, instead of a mixer tap.

20 years I have lived here, and these things still baffle me

He is unlikely to be held back at A level if he does Combined Science. I think there will be a lot of students in the same position.

Toomsnytealights, I find it confusing too.

One of my DC is good at chemistry and physics, but struggles with Biology

He may end up with double, instead if triple science, meaning he studies 2 subjects(physics, chem) in less depth because of not being good at a third (biology)

He wants to do physics,a-level, but could end up being held back by not being good at biology. How does that make sense?

Why not let kids choose individual sciences (like in most other countries!!!)

I would also say that the new curriulum is more challenging, and has more content, than the GCSEs last taken in summer 2017, so IME more schools are pushing more students into Combined Science, saying that with its new level of content it is a perfectly reasonable foundation for A-level, and students may do better covering 2./3 of the content really well rather than cramming an extra 1/3 into limited curriculum time (or cutting students doing triple Science down to only 8 GCSEs with only 1 option subjects once 2xEnglish, Maths, 3x Science and a language have been included)

GCSE options are not scientific. A school will generally advise a child in line with their ability & aspirations.

If a child is likely to get Grade 4 in science but is really good at essay based subjects then they may be steered away from taking triple science.

But if triple is an option block (eg. It has extra teaching time) why should a child who is expected to get 4’s not take separate sciences as long as it’s not sacrificing a subject they could do better in.

It's not scientific because curriculum design and setting are not sciences. They are pragmatic choices made by schools.

My son now goes to a 6th form college with high entry requirements. But they don't care if your 8 is in Physics or Combined Science.

It's not scientific, because it depends on the school and the child - and also what other options are available.

if separate sciences are in an option block, and the child would get a 3 or 4 in the other subjects in that option block, why shouldn't they do the science option in which they might get a 4 or 5? Yes, a 5 in that separate science may not mean they should go on to do A-level, but it is still preferable to a 3 in Art or a 4 in Music or drama, if those are the other options available?

I realise that - I was replying to the OP who didn’t seem to be understanding the concept.

Alexander, yes, but in most schools, for the vast majority of pupils, that option isn't available.

They will either allow pupils to take 3 separate sciences, or the 2-GCSE Combined Science. It is - IME - rare except for children with SEN for the 'old fashioned' approach of 'just 2 science subjects, with 1 completely dropped' to be available as a choice at all.

The required grades for double(trilogy) or triple will depend on the school!

One school might have triple as taking up an extra option block so not mind what grades kids get. Another might timetable triple in the same blocks as double with kids having to work really fast to keep up.

For a normal comp I'd suggest 6 or higher across all three, or 7 in two sciences if the third is only a 5, would be reasonable to do triple.

A grammar however would probably want 7s in all three to do triple.

But it's really up to the school to advise keeping in mind your child's post 16 ambitions. (If these include Physics A level btw I'd also suggest at least a 7 in maths.)

At my daughter’s school separate science is an option column. She had a choice between 3 separate sciences or drama.

Toomany,

The first numbered grade GCSEs in Science have not yet been sat. There cannot possibly be the degree of standardisation that you expect,. as nobody knows whether e.g. a current grade of '3 on internal exams' is likely to mean a 1 or a 7 in the real exams....