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Secondary education

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Original poster

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

117 replies

Toomanytealights · 05/02/2018 17:01

Rapidly starting to think parents with kids taking options this year could do with a night class in the subject.Confused

What do you get at the end of both?What is the difference? How well regarded is the lesser option? We've had very little info from school.

OP posts:
Original poster
Toomanytealights · 05/02/2018 20:15

It's life but it doesn't make it good. Finding out more as you get zilch info from school so we can decide what to do.

OP posts:
Scabbersley · 05/02/2018 20:16

It doesn't matter which he does, honestly.

TheFallenMadonna · 05/02/2018 20:16

Do you have a choice?

AlexanderHamilton · 05/02/2018 20:16

Neither course is more or less challenging than the other, there is just extra content.

Original poster
Toomanytealights · 05/02/2018 20:17

Hates languages.

Only thing is for what he wants to do an A at Alevel in physics is necessary. Extra physics at GCSE to facilitate that would be preferable.

OP posts:
cantkeepawayforever · 05/02/2018 20:19

Honestly, it doesn't matter. He can read up the extra topics if he needs to. Unless the school for some reason ONLY allows those who have done separate sciences to do A-level physics he will be fine - just get him to absolutely nail his GCSE Maths.

Scabbersley · 05/02/2018 20:19

Listen, he can still get an A in physics a level with combined science!! He might have to do some extra work over the summer, get a tutor if he needs an A.

88 is going to look better than 775!

Scabbersley · 05/02/2018 20:20

Yes and he will need a high predicted grade in maths to be in with a chance of an a

crunchtime · 05/02/2018 20:23

my son hates science basically. He looked at the timetable and realised that triple science meant something like 16 hours of science a week[or was it a fortnight?]
Despite being on track for 8s he has taken double science and that has freed up an option slot which has allowed him to take a subject that he LOVEs and is also predicted a 7/8 in.
The science teacher pointed out that you have got to really enjoy science if you're doing triple!

Hellothereitsme · 05/02/2018 20:28

My son is studying combined science AQA. He is expected to get 8/9s so 2 GCSEs at grade 8/9. He is intending to study physics A level. His tutor has advised that he will need to do extra work over the summer to catch up with the triple science students.

However at the end of year 9 I think he would have dropped chemistry and or biology. Now by being forced to study all three via the combined he has kept his options open and realises that he is actually very good at all of the sciences.

AlexanderHamilton · 05/02/2018 20:29

My son loves drama. He wants to study it in 6th form/college/uni

His school doesn’t offer gcse drama. That’s ok though as you don’t need gcse drama to take it at A level or btec as long as you have good grades in other subjects. He can do it outside school.

Same difference.

Original poster
Toomanytealights · 05/02/2018 20:51

Thanks for all the info and reassurance,feeling a lot more informed.

OP posts:
franzen · 05/02/2018 22:21

Our oversubscribed and well thought of school only offers Combined. Sometimes I find that annoying and disappointing. But, as it removes the decision it also removes all the stress, angst and hand-ringing!

Rosieposy4 · 06/02/2018 18:00

I would happily only teach combined, plenty of stretch in there for the more able and 9 9 definitely better in my book than even 8 8 8.
The undone content should be less of a issue in the jump to A level under the new spec, and if we only taught trilogy ( agree that it was silly naming by AQA) then you know at which point to start A level.
It has been compulsory in the country for a very long time now for state schools to make all students ( bar SEN) study all three sciences to GCSE level, tbh I find that pretty hard to disagree with as a policy.

clary · 06/02/2018 23:31

As so often, I agree with teentimestwo. I did o levels (old) and ran out of option spaces so dropped physics. That means I know nearly no physics, actually a handicap in general life.

I was never going to do science A levels so covering some of all three while getting two O levels would have been great - general knowledge but still lettin me focus on my beloved languages.

As others say OP, the cut off for triple depends on the school. DS2's school says two top sets do it; some schools take an option block with it; some do it as a twilight. it varies. Ds2 does one lesson fewer each week of English or maths (two week timetable) to give them an extra science lesson, and they go faster.

ChocolateWombat · 07/02/2018 09:22

I agree with previous poster, that if a school only offers dual award combined science, then the A level students are not disadvantaged in the sense that they will all be taught from their starting point of having covered less content at GCSE. It is often made clear on UCAS too that the school only offers dual award, so there is no sense that the child was doing it as less able.
Where there is a choice, it is a bit more complicated. If you choose dual award, or are put into it, whilst others in your school do 3 Sep sciences, all of those students can send up in the same A level groups - but they begin from different points - some have covered more at GCSE (triple) than others (dual award). The school should know this and plug the gaps. I would ask the school exactly how they do this, as this is a key question. If going to a college, I would also ask about how they manage with kids almost certainly then coming with both dual and separate science GCSEs.
When it comes to UCAS, unis may wonder why someone wanting to do a science degree chose not to take triple science if it was available, or why they weren't put I for triple science by the school if it was offered to the brighter students. That's said, top grades at GCSE dual award will speak for themselves - by this I mean 8 and 9. 7s in dual award perhaps don't indicate a top notch scientist for something like medicine.
Interestingly, the Grammars and indie schools usually put the vast majority in for 3 Sep sciences.
Most schools don't have the timetabling flexibility to offer just 1 or 2 Sep sciences. So it's the dual award or 3 Sep sciences. Most cannot offer more flexibility than this and some will only offer dual award.

Ferbtones · 07/02/2018 12:57

Just had my sons parents evening last night to discuss his option choices. He goes to a grammar school. The set up is they must do maths, English lit, English lang, and at least one science. Modern language also advisable.
Son is achieving very well in all his subjects across the board, apart from art, and possibly music, as his brain doesn't really work that way.
They are allowed to do 9 GCSEs at his school, and my son had narrowed it to 10:
Maths, 2 English, geography, Latin, DT, physics, chemistry, biology and French.
He wants to study physics/astrophysics at degree level.
All three science teachers agreed he could do the combined trilogy GCSEs to free him up to keep all his subjects. And that it would not hinder him from doing physics a level.
Even with that being said, my son is still favouring the three separate science options and dropping French.
His French teacher is upset as he is very good at it, but his head of year said it is his choice, he cannot let himself be persuaded by teachers. It has to feel right for him.
I think he will end up dropping French and maybe picking it up as a gcse or night course further down the line.
Poor kid has agonised over it.
Just love that his school is supporting him whichever way he goes.

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