Examining Body: OCR

Level:GCSE Core Science

 

As Science is a core subject it is taken by all students. In Year 10 all students follow the OCR Core Science course, which encourages students to appreciate the importance of science in everyday life. It also explores ‘how science works’ to show where scientific ideas come from and how they become accepted. Students will deal with issues involving science which they may meet in everyday life, for example: mobile phone safety, decisions about childhood vaccinations and sustainable use of resources.

In Year 11 students will follow one of several different courses. These are likely to include GCSE Additional Science and GCSE Applied Science. Additional Science explores scientific concepts in more depth. Applied Science is a more vocational, work-related science course.

 

 

GCSE Additional Science is appropriate for students who may wish to progress to A Levels in science subjects.

GCSE Applied Science is appropriate for students who wish to progress to more vocational, work-related courses when they leave school. Students who take this course may also be able to progress to A Level Applied Science.

 

 

The Year 10 Core Science course comprises nine modules: you and your genes, keeping healthy, life on earth, air quality, material choices, food matters, the earth in the universe, radiation and life and radioactive materials. There are also two coursework components.

The GCSE Additional Science course comprises nine modules that build on the Year 10 course: homeostasis, growth and development, brain and mind, chemical patterns, chemicals of the natural environment, chemical synthesis, explaining motion, electric circuits and the wave model of radiation. There is one large piece of coursework.

The GCSE Applied Science course comprises three longer modules: life care, agriculture and food and scientific detection. There is also a portfolio-based coursework task.

 

 

GCSE Core science: 66.6% of the marks come from a total of four written examinations and 33.3% of the marks are from coursework. The coursework consists of a case study and data analysis task.

GCSE Additional Science: 66.6% of the marks come from four written examinations and 33.3% of the marks are from coursework. The coursework is a scientific investigation.

GCSE Applied Science: 50% of the marks come from a total of three written examinations and 50% from coursework. The coursework is a work-related portfolio.

End of module tests are used regularly throughout the Year 10 and Year 11 courses to assess students’ performance and progress towards their target GCSE grades.