Triple science. Can anyone explain GCSE grade please

[pinkmagic1]

My son has had his GCSE results today and has a result of 43 in triple science. There is also another box labelled pt. Which states a grade of 3.5. Can anyone explain what this is the equivalent of and which grade do I count. The school is closed now so can't check.

That doesn't sound like a triple science grade at all. If they do triple science they should get three grades.

This is double science and it means that he got a 4 and 3 (or effectively a 3.5) for his average of his double GCSE.

You count both, on his certificates it will say 43.

His grade is for combined science. If it was triple it would state the separate sciences i.e. biology, chemistry, physics and he would be given a grade for each. Combined science is worth 2 GCSEs, therefore he has one grade 3 and one grade 4.

Ah, that explains it. It does state science trilogy though which confused me. So that means he has effectively been given 2 GCSE's. One at a grade 4 and one at a grade 3?

4,3 will be a double science (combined science) grade which means a 4 and a 3.

Trilogy is the new name — it used to be dual award, but then some people thought they only took two science subjects.

Thanks, that explains it.

Your post is helpful because I didn't understand either

@pinkmagic1

Ah, that explains it. It does state science trilogy though which confused me. So that means he has effectively been given 2 GCSE's. One at a grade 4 and one at a grade 3?

Spot on!

I do wish they'd leave a space though as does look odd!

I agree it is so confusing. They sit individual paper 1s for all three sciences, then individual paper 2s again for all three sciences. Then they get a "combined" science grade.

On Ds1's timetable for last year it said "Combined Science Trilogy: Chemistry Paper 1 Higher"

If they sit the triple they sit those two sets of papers (6 in total) and then they sit individual paper 3s for each science. They are then awarded individual grades for biology, chemistry and physics.

@BluePaintSample

This isn’t true for AQA individual sciences:

If they sit the triple they sit those two sets of papers (6 in total) and then they sit individual paper 3s for each science

For AQA GCSE Biology/Chrmistry/Physics students sit two papers for each subject which are 30 minutes longer than the papers for Trilogy combined science. It used to be three papers per subject under the A* - G system but not since 9-1 came in.

@CarrieBlue, you are completely correct. That will teach me to multitask.

Trilogy is Combined science where the individual components of physics, chemistry & biology are separately taught.

Synergy is combined Science designed to be taught by two teachers, not 3 so some topics combine the components.

The 4 3 are the two separate grades awarded. The 3.5 is the points score I think it might be used to calculate progress 8.