GCSE Combined Science Paper

Seems an unusual thing for a school to offer pupils taking three sciences the choice to do the combined papers for mock.

I could maybe see a school using combined papers for all pupils to make the exams fit better in a mock timetable (though I would argue against it as a science teacher, as it won't give as accurate a picture of what they need to work on for the real thing).

Taking combined won't affect his education going forward unless his A level choices are affected (I know if some placed where they take on pupils for Biology A level with a 7 for combined but a 6 for the stand alone GCSE, or if he's likely do do particularly better in one science over another, as combine would get him a middle grade).

I'd be trying to extract a bit more information from him - or possibly his science teacher.

Is he supposedly doing the trilogy (3 GCSEs, 3 separate grades) or the dual award (a double GCSE with a combined grade eg 6-5)?

Is there any chance you have confused with whether he has elected to do Higher tier papers or Foundation tier? Foundation tier papers are capped at a grade 5, but have a bit less content and more straightforward questions.

Eh? I'm not sure I'm following.

Was you da allowed to pick which paper to take as a mock? Surely that would be an indicator as to which course he will be entered for? Or are you saying, the school have said take combined as a mock and we will still enter you for triple? I can kind of see some logic as it is v similar (especially paper 1) but the exam is shorter so easier to fit into the mock timetable. I personally don't do that though. I like to add all the papers up at the end of the second lot of mocks to give them a true grade.

I do agree that taking combined isn't an issue for later study though. He'd be much better off securing higher grades and may be easier with less content on the combined. But I don't think that's what you are asking?