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Original poster

Combined Science OCR 21st Century - really need more practiced questions

42 replies

scifibi · 27/05/2019 14:41

DD is sitting the GCSE Combined science paper after half term but she is really struggling - I think it's the more applied side of things? - there are very few past papers for her to work on, I've suggested she tries the same paper in other boards - that's if they do a combined paper?! - any other resources she could tap into would be very helpful - she really needs the practice on this paper.

OP posts:
Original poster
scifibi · 27/05/2019 14:54

For clarification she is doing double science.

OP posts:
user1471525753 · 27/05/2019 15:05

Look on the Edexcel and AQA websites for past papers, they both do combined science. You can download them for free.

Original poster
scifibi · 27/05/2019 15:37

Thanks user she is looking at those but the content varies - which is throwing her a little - so few resources for this new style paper, it’s quite frustrating - she did well on the individual papers in the mocks but the combined paper really dragged her grades down

OP posts:
clary · 27/05/2019 16:46

You can buy them from Amazon, DS2 got a load through school, what board is she doing?

clary · 27/05/2019 16:47

my understanding btw is that even if you are doing double science, you still sit exams in the different sciences?

Original poster
scifibi · 27/05/2019 16:50

They do 3 individual papers for each science and then a forth paper which combines all sciences and focuses more on applying your knowledge - which is a whole new skill brought in for the new GCSEs and she struggles with it .

OP posts:
clary · 27/05/2019 16:56

Ah ok, different from what they do at my kids' school I think. Anyway Anmazon can help:

www.amazon.co.uk/Grade-Combined-Science-Practice-Papers/dp/1782948295/ref=sr_1_2?s=gateway&keywords=gcse+combined+science+past+papers&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1558972538&sr=8-2-spell

Does that mean that she only has four science exams btw? Result!

Original poster
scifibi · 27/05/2019 19:56

Unfortunately the link you gave us was for triple and a different board so no use.
Yes she only has 4 exams but only gets 2 GSCEs...and the tricky 4th paper that no one has enough sample papers to get their head around remains to be a challenge...and the school have just ignored it. Hmm

OP posts:
clary · 27/05/2019 20:32

ok what board?

Kids at my DCs school doing double do sux exams and still only get two GCSEs.

clary · 27/05/2019 20:33

haha SIX exams, tho I am sure it sux!

clary · 27/05/2019 20:34

I linked to foundation trilogy which I believe is double by the way, trilogy refers to three sciences. But if it's the wrong board then clearly nbg.

Original poster
scifibi · 27/05/2019 20:41

Foundation is lower levels 1-5 grade. Higher is 4-9 grades.
Double gives you 2 GCSEs Triple 3 GCSEs.
You can do higher or foundation in triple or foundation. I need practice questions for higher double - at present there are only 3 official papers..I think I might be asking the impossible.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 27/05/2019 20:46

Ds’s school does OCR Gateway so we are no help

The only thing I can suggest is using the single science past papers, but just ignoring the topics that are not covered in Combined.

Ds seems to be given lots of OCR end of topic tests in the form of exam papers. I think only teachers can get hold of those. have you asked the teachers if they have any more resources?

Comefromaway · 27/05/2019 20:47

21st C is very different in format. To be honest I’m glad ds isn’t doing that one.

clary · 27/05/2019 20:54

ok op what board? I have linked to AQA double foundation, not triple, these papers are also available as higher. If you need a different board I will have a look. I do understand that double is two GCSEs and triple is three!

clary · 27/05/2019 20:57

ah stupid me I see in the title you said OCR! Sorry! All I can find is the practice workbook, I assume you have that?

woodlands01 · 27/05/2019 20:57

What board? I am confused about the 4 papers. Combined science is 6 papers, 2 on biology, physics and chemistry. There are only one set of past papers as the spec was new last year. If you are aqa then the past papers and a set of specimen papers are available one the aqa website (probably similar for edexcel) but they have probably been done before at school. CGP have exam practice workbooks and a 10 min test book that are all good. Revision guides and revision cards are what have worked for us but seems you need something different.

Original poster
scifibi · 27/05/2019 20:58

@clary title says it all! - Combined Science OCR 21st Century. I don;t need help finding past papers - I need help finding more questions because there are only 3 past papers and this is a new style of questioning that my dd can't get her head around so we need more examples.

OP posts:
Original poster
scifibi · 27/05/2019 21:01

@woodlands01 we are ocr 21 century combined science, 4 papers. one for each science and then a combined applied paper - the combined applied paper is a new thing and it's what dd finds hard, i need more examples.

OP posts:
woodlands01 · 27/05/2019 21:02

Sorry just seen ocr too! Last years past papers on website and google practice papers too, there seems to be a st but as I said probably be done at school as so few resources. Seems to be CGP exam practice book but not the 10 min tests.

clary · 27/05/2019 21:03

yes sorry I said in my last post that I only just realised you had said in the title!

Do you have the workbook? I have found them useful for other subjects. When you say three past papers, do you mean the past papers from last year? There should be specimen papers as well on the website .

Original poster
scifibi · 27/05/2019 21:06

we have the cgp books but they do not contain enough of the paper 4 type questions.

OP posts:
woodlands01 · 27/05/2019 21:06

I know how frustrating it is with the new specs and lack of resources. I a Maths teacher and new spec is now 2 years old rather than the 1 year for science. Only now are we finding access to enough past/practice papers and that is with November results which science don't have.

woodlands01 · 27/05/2019 21:08

Resits not results - sorry on phone with predictive text

Pumpkintopf · 27/05/2019 21:09

Op would something like this help at all?

m.youtube.com/watch?v=5iqE4sbdjh0

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