Year 10 Triple science unit one grades vs double award grades

[Ilikedampcake]

Hi, I’m probably really overthinking this, especially as they can be resat apparently. But does anyone know if you can compare the grades between the double award and the triple award?

My DD got 2 C’s and one B, which we are really pleased about as she had found the Triple science a bit of a struggle due to missing two weeks of school in November because of illness. In school tests she was getting D’ s / E’s, way below her predictions and we did at one point discuss moving her onto the double award just to take the pressure off.

One of her friends who is doing the double award has got an A*, A and a B, so now DD is really upset thinking she’s done badly and is very concerned as she was planning to take Biology as one of her A level subjects, although she’s not planning on doing a science based degree.

Is there that much difference in the two, could she now still move onto the double award? I know the triple is a lot harder, it seems mad that you can do so much better on an ‘easier’ course and get better results.

I will be making an appointment to see the science teacher as soon as possible but would appreciate some advice.

I am so confused.

Your dd can't take any modules or units on yr 10?

Do you mean mocks? Just seems odd you've posted today on GCSE results day.

If her school DID take GCSE a yr early I dont see any benefit to the school. A resit won't count for the school?

And her friend won't have 3 grades for double?
Just 2. Which makes me think these aren't proper grades ...just mocks.

HOD science btw.

Are you in Wales?

No definitely not mocks, we’re in Wales if that makes a difference? I’ve posted today because we got the results today. Albeit later than the other results, couldn’t collect until midday. She’s already got her English Lit GCSE.

They can be resat so not the end of the world either way, but my question was really about the difference in the two options of the subject.

Yes, Wales is completely different from England.

Double may be Core (mix of 3 sciences, 3 papers worth 1 GCSE) sat in Y10, but can be resat in Y11 alongside Additional (mix of 3 sciences, 3 papers worth 1 GCSE) sat in Y11.

Triple science is 3 separate GCSEs, and can be either:
1 of Chem, 1 of Physics, 1 of Biology usually all sat at end of y 11, 3 papers for each subject.
Or:
Rather like double, can be Core, sat in Y10 or Y11, Additional, sat in Y11 and Further Additional, sat in Y11 usually.

Above is how it used to be done in England before the reforms by AQA. It may be different in Wales with a different board.

Comparing the grades between Double and triple is tricky if you are looking at one subject only. Double will combine the 3 subjects and give an average. Triple may be individual subjects, so if strong at biology but weak at other 2, you could get a good grade in it and less good in other 2 with triple. In double, poorer physics and chemistry will drag average down.

TBH you need a Welsh science teacher to be sure you've got the correct facts. Maybe put Wales science in the thread title to attract an expert.

Hi Ellen thanks for your reply, I have no idea how the exam papers work, I’m slightly annoyed with the school as I don’t think the whole options are explained properly.
When my DD was put forward for the Triple she was thinking of doing something medical based as a job, so it made sense to go for this option. She’s now decided she wants to study Law but wants to do Biology at A level because she loves it too.

I’m just confused that someone studying the double award can get better results than someone studying the Triple award. At what point does it make a difference?

X post Ellen, thanks again for your reply.

Double is 2/3rds the work but worth 2/3rds the result of triple. It will be easier to get 2xA than 3xA if they are taught in the same number of lessons. Unless triple took up an option? Or your DDs friend may possibly be better at science than your DD?

Well I accept the possibility that she may be better at science than my DD, but if that’s the case why weren’t they given the option of studying Triple? And thanks for that little dig, like I said she struggled due to being off due to illness.
My DD’s other friends who are studying Triple and are extremely bright haven’t had the same amazing results either, so she’s blasted all of them out of water. It just seems unfair that’s all and we’re struggling to decide if we’ve made the correct decision with our options and wondering what to do best for year 11.

Wasn't meant as a dig.

I didn't see what @EllenJanesthickerknickers said as a dig, I think she is just genuinely trying to help you to understand.

I'm a science teacher working in an English school so don't know anything about the Welsh system, sorry, but from our perspective students studying double science would only get two GCSEs for science whilst those studying triple would get three. We often advise kids to take the double option over triple because the reduced work load means you're more likely to come out with two higher grades rather than three lower ones if you took triple (we don't have any extra teaching time allocated for triple award.)

Assuming this qualification is the same/similar as the old Core Science GCSE in England, then the first exam isn't any harder for Double and Triple they are the same exams- it's just that the Triple Scientist take an extra unit that the others don't. But you need to check with the school as not 100% sure how the Welsh system differs.
However if she wants to take A level they usually ask for a higher grade for Double award scientists wanting to take A level Science typically an A/A* than those taking the Triple award where they accept Bs to allow for the "harder/extra" content of Triple.
But the only "harder" part of the Triple Science is the extra module they take in Y11 - the other modules have exactly the same content.

Well I accept the possibility that she may be better at science than my DD, but if that’s the case why weren’t they given the option of studying Triple?

Many bright children take Double science instead of Triple science.

It's an option and some children, while good at science, choose other subjects instead. Maybe they prefer languages, humanities, the arts. You don't have to take triple science if you are good at science.

I would imagine your DD'S friend was given the option if triple science, but chose another subject instead.

Or sometimes a child seems to settle into GCSES much better than they were in KS3. So their ability and grades increase at a faster rate when they 'knuckle down' in years 10 and 11. Your DD'S friend might have knuckled down, revised hard and generally increased the effort she gives.

In short, it's entirely possible and reasonable for pupil A to get 3Cs in Triple Award and pupil B to get 2As in Double Award. That does not mean pupil A would have got better grades at Double Award.

Triple science is better preparation for A-level sciences.

Hi thanks for all the replies, they’ve given me a lot to think about.
I’d like to start with an apology to Ellen, no excuse, I was rude and I appreciated your response.

We’ve all calmed down anyway and at the moment we’re ok with the results, but I will be booking an appt with the science teacher as soon as school is open. I’m possibly going to be one of ‘those ‘ parents next year.

Just want to point I out took double award because if I took triple I couldn’t have taken music as an option. Nothing to do with ‘who’s the brightest’, and I scored higher than half the triple option group. So don’t let your daughter or yourself have that misconception.

I know someone who got full marks in physics and further maths a level and is currently doing a PhD in something related to chemistry at oxford..she took double science. In my experience, double science was slightly easier overall. People tended to get a grade higher overall than if they’d taken triple. I have no idea why some schools are so keen on triple. The workload for y11 was more manageable and there was more time for the odd resit of a y10 module and really, it makes no difference between double award/triple award in the long run. I do medicine and some people on my course have double award so it doesn’t hold you back.

She’s done brilliantly regardless though- it’s just useful to know you have options

Ds was top of his science group in Year 9, he chose to do Double because he didn’t enjoy science as much as his other subjects and he didn’t want to take on the extra load for little benefit. The school despite being very keen on him taking Triple also reassured him that they started A level teaching assuming the double not the triple had been covered.

DC's school (comp) only do double, and get fantastic results at A-level Sciences, easily up there with other comparable schools that offer triple.

What it does give them is 5 genuine option blocks - so both my DCs have got 2 languages and either 2 humanities / 1 creative subject (DS) or 1 humanity / 1 creative / 1 DT subject (DD).

As a scientist, this did originally make me grind my teeth, but seeing the A-level comparisons and the much broader curriculum offer it enables (I hear of schools cutting, or organising option blocks to dissuade academic pupils from taking, Drama, Music, DT Food, DT Textiles, GCSE PE etc, all of which thrive), as well as the much greater content for 'new double' vs 'old double', I'm almost a convert....

they should still offer single science imo, two long years twice a week for some who don't stand a bloody chance.
it's not even like you need it to progress to A level or college like Maths and English.

I agree Romany, i did do all three sciences but I had plenty of friends who only did one (generally biology). both my kids are really squeamish and already hate the prospect whilst still in primary school of having to do biology yet they love all other science.

My sons school is allowing him to do just that IfIOnly. I know it’s very very unusual but he will be taking single science Chemistry & Physics. They do have to do at least 2 sciences though so that wouldn’t help Romany’s dd.