Is Combined science easier than Triple science?

[NotDonna]

Obviously there’s more content in triple science than combined as combined covers 2/3rds of the gcse content. What I’d like to understand is if that 2/3rds is easier than the remaining 1/3rd? They are GCSE level regardless so I’d have thought difficulty would be the same for both combined and triple. Is that correct?
Also, do grade boundaries differ significantly?

As far as I am aware the difficulty is the same, just additional topics are studied in the third part of each science.

Triple content IS more challenging. It's not just extra of the same level. There are some additional topics but also additional content across the course which extends the level of knowledge. I only recommend studying triple to more academic students who wish to pursue a science course in higher education. The combined course is a great choice for most students with plenty of challenge and the same skills.

Triple is useful because you can pick and mix tiers of entry for bio/ chem/ phys and, in special circumstances, drop a subject altogether.

Triple science is really just single sciences. You can choose to do "triple/single sciences at Foundation level so it is definitely not just for the more academic students, just for those who want to do more science.

Yes, this is what happened to my son. He was in top sets for physics and chemistry but bottom sets for biology.

They're all GCSE level so the content is broadly the same difficulty, there's just more of it in each of the three sciences for triple.
Combined + an option subject= 3 GCSE worth
Triple = 3 GCSE worth

Where I think triple becomes more difficult is that there isn't the safety net for students who have one science weaker than the others. In combined it's possible to be very good and chemistry and physics, slightly less good at biology and get an overall high grade. In triple there's nowhere to hide if your biology is much weaker than the other two. It's probably going to seem like triple is harder when there's more content and one of the areas with more content is your weakest science.

Like pp we've always recommended triple to academic students who are considering post-16 and degree level science courses.

Most schools provide the same amount of lessons to cover combined (2gcse) as triple (3 gcse) which makes it more challenging. The level should be the same if they’re both higher papers though

I would not say most schools do this. I know that some schools do but the threer different local schools that my children attended did not.

Thank you all! Yes, it’s the higher papers regardless of triple or combined. Combined definitely takes up less timetable at our school as it frees up a 3rd subject choice.

I did triple many moons ago and if I remember correctly sat the same paper as the higher double people and then had to do an additional exam paper on top. We only did it if you were top set science basically and had to study addition topics but we only had the same number of classes

If your child is interested in a particular branch of science (eg biology) for post 16 study then single sciences are a better option; unless your child is really strong on all sciences. Eg an 8 in Biology, 7 in Chem and 6 in Physics could end up 77 overall on double science

It's no longer like that. The number of exam papers is the same for Combined Science and for the 3 separate sciences (2 papers for each science subject).
The Combined science papers are 1 hour 10 mins each and the separate Sciences are 1 hour 45 mins because there are more questions on these papers.

@catndogslife oh really? I’ve just been faffing and the edexcel one is 2 papers per science for triple and the same paper 1 per (2hrs I thought) science for combined. So may be it depends on the board?

My daughter did double Science at GCSE level and then only two science A- levels plus Drama.

She later on finished in the top decile of her medical school so it didn't seem to do her any harm. Obviously that's studying for medicine rather than being a nuclear physicist or biologist, but the point is that it's not always necessary to do that much science at that stage, especially if they love another subject. She had many favourite subjects back at the age of 15 and wasn't keen on giving one of them up to do more science.

Ye. Combined is 2 GCSEs. Separate sciences obviously are 3.
You can still go on the science degrees with combined science though.

As someone who has taught at university in scientific and clinical subjects I would suggest thinking about what the next stage for your DC looks like. Academically grades are similar but there is additional content which can be difficult to make up at a later date. Not impossible. But difficult.

If that isn't an issue then go for the combined and free up the subject for them to do something that they are interested in.

Most schools provide the same amount of lessons to cover combined (2gcse) as triple (3 gcse) which makes it more challenging. The level should be the same if they’re both higher papers though

This isn't the case for ds who's in Y11 doing Triple Science. Triple Science is taken as one of their official options - so they definitely do get more hours of lessons than those doing Double award.

I know several people with DC in other schools doing Triple and it's the same for everyone I know.

Head of Science here. Triple is the same level content as combined. Some of the extra topics are hard some are easier. A triple student should get the same grade if they sat the combined paper for that science subject.

Schools offer it in different ways…

If it takes up an option, only pick it if they really enjoy and are interested in science. It narrows the curriculum, and is unnecessary for A levels, so you have to really want to do it.

If it’s taught in the same time as combined (usually 4-5 1hr lessons per week), it will probably only be offered to certain students. Do not take up the offer if they are generally anxious about exams and not intending to study science further. It’s stress for no reason.

And yes, the actual exam structure and paper lengths depends on the board.

@NotDonna You are describing the Edexcel iGCSE which is the international one. For the ordinary Edexcel GCSE it's 2 papers for each Science subject for both Triple and combined.

My DC school timetable the same amount of hours for triple and combined sciences. You don't get more hours of lessons. The results is also much better with the triple science class. It's like 80% level 7+ for triple vs 40% for level 7+ for combined.

I wouldn't assume that combined is the easier option. I heard in DC school it's filled with the disruptive students. They recommend all academic students to take the triple option.

@ReadyForPumpkins luckily they do get more hours as it’s classed as an option at her school. It’s impossible to compare grade outcomes though, that’s why I’m asking about the difficulty of the content and papers set etc. Different types of kids take triple than combined. The triple ones tend to be more academic and interested in science whereas the combined ones may only be taking science because it’s compulsory and have zero interest. Really hard to compare outcomes from what can potentially be two very disparate cohorts.

DS2 has chosen to do Combined Science as it gives him an extra option to fit other subjects in. But there are two levels - foundation and higher for Combined as well as Triple, so I imagine students with little interest etc are more likely to entering at foundation.