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Original poster

Possible impact (or damage?) of only doing Combined Science

58 replies

Kutik73 · 21/06/2018 10:35

I hope someone can help me understand the system in science study in this country...

DS is about to start his Year 7 at a school where they offer no Triple Science for GSCE/no Physics for A levels. They say;

'Chemistry, Biology and Physics topics are covered at KS3. At KS 4 all pupils study Combined Science resulting in one IGSCE, or Co-ordinated Science which results in two IGCSEs. Both courses are run by the Cambridge board and include units of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. There are three Science exams that need to be completed after the two years of IGCSE. At KS5 Biology and Chemistry A level course are offered. We follow the OCR Biology specification and the Edexcel Chemistry specification.'

I was told that allowing DS to study only Combined Science means throwing away his science option for A level. This may not be a problem if your strength lies in other subjects but DS is bright and very much a Maths/Science child and a Triple Science material. As DS loves the school and wants to go there so much he says he doesn't mind about it. But obviously he is still too young to know if it's a right path for him. He may find Physics fascinating...

DS has an option to leave the school after GCSE but having done only Combined Science, how hard it will be for him to consider Physics for A Level? Or, even before then, how hard for him to get a place at a decent sixth form college to study Physics?

Another question is, is it possible for him to prepare for Triple Science outside of school, such as using online resources or private tuition?

Any advice, experience, knowledge would be greatly appreciated.

OP posts:
Original poster
Kutik73 · 21/06/2018 11:02

Oh, that's great. DS will be a weekly boarder. I was thinking if I should pack text books when he sets off this September. He can use them during allocated private study time. But it seems we can leave it for now and let him concentrate on the subjects offered at the school for the best possible results. This means he doesn't need to do extra work until he is sure it is important for him, so that's great.

OP posts:
TheThirdOfHerName · 21/06/2018 10:54

Yes, as GummiberryJuice says, he would need to do the 2-GCSE science course, not the 1-GCSE one (which I'm surprised schools are still allowed to offer).

TheThirdOfHerName · 21/06/2018 10:51

During KS4 he should focus on the combined science topics so he can get the highest grades possible in those exams, then in the summer holidays after the GCSE exams (these are 10-11 weeks long) he can read up on the topics that are only in the triple science course.

GummiberryJuice · 21/06/2018 10:50

From what I read in your post it is similar to our system here, only we call it single award (study 3 sciences, 1 GCSE), double award(3 sciences, 2 GCSE made from 2 best results) and triple (3 sciences, 3 GCSEs)

ONLY Double award & triple give you enough grounding to study Pure sciences at A level

TheThirdOfHerName · 21/06/2018 10:49

I've looked up the entry requirements for Physics A-level at the sixth form where DS2 is hoping to go in September. It's a selective, over-subscribed sixth form, and so other sixth forms may have lower grade requirements.

"Either Grade 7 in Physics or grades 7,7 in Combined Science plus a minimum of grade 6 in each of Mathematics and English Language."

TheThirdOfHerName · 21/06/2018 10:46

If he is at a school doing combined science, he will not be able to sit the triple science GCSE exams independently, as they are scheduled at the same time as the combined science ones. So he would be doing the learning (possibly in the summer holidays after Y11) just for the benefit of preparing himself for the A-level course.

If he wants to do Physics A-level, it's also important that he has a good grade at Maths GCSE, as some sixth forms will ask for this.

Original poster
Kutik73 · 21/06/2018 10:45

Thank you, TheThirdOfHerName. When should he start using the text books? Suppose it's when KS3 is finished and KS4 is starting as that's when studying Combined/Triple Science starts?

OP posts:
TheThirdOfHerName · 21/06/2018 10:41

He can still do science A-levels.

Sixth forms can't discriminate against pupils coming from schools where only combined science was offered.

However, when he starts the science A-level course, he might find that most students in the class did triple science, and have covered more topics.

If he wants to do science A-levels, I would suggest buying or borrowing the textbook(s) for the GCSE triple science subject(s) so he can read up on the rest of the topics that weren't covered in his course.