In the Sixth Form we offer a choice of
four Sciences courses:
- A Level Biology
- A Level Chemistry
- A Level Physics
- BTEC in Applied Science
All of the courses use practical work and theory to develop a
deeper understanding of the Science specialisms. Completing an A level in one
of the courses above aims to increase understanding of the world around us,
develops understanding in the role that Science plays in society, as well as
improving planning skills, conducting investigations, gathering information and
evaluating findings. Science courses enable students to develop confidence,
knowledge and skills, as well as finding appreciation in the value of
scientific contributions and achievements of people from different cultures.
Science A levels form an excellent platform for further education, whether your
student would like to continue their studies in Science or move into a
different field.
A little bit about each course:
A Level Biology:
The exam
board is AQA. This is a two year course
made up of eight units; four units in Year 12 and four units in Year 13.
3.1 Biological molecules (Y12)
3.2 Cells (Y12)
3.3 Organisms exchange substances with their
environment (Y12)
3.4 Genetic information, variation and relationships
between organisms (Y12)
3.5 Energy transfers in and between organisms (Y13)
3.6 Organisms respond to changes in their internal and
external environments (Y13)
3.7 Genetics, populations, evolution and ecosystems (Y13)
3.8 The control of gene expression (Y13)
There
is also a practical component to the course with the compulsory completion of
12 required practical activities, along with a whole range of other practical
activities to help students develop an understanding of scientific processes. These practical activities will not form part
of the overall A Level grade but the practical activities have to be passed. At least 15% of the overall assessment of
A-level Biology will assess knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to
this practical work.
All external exams are at
the Year 13 and comprise of the following:
|
Paper
1
|
+
|
Paper
2
|
+
|
Paper
3
|
|
What's assessed
• Any content
from topics 1– 4, including relevant
practical skills
|
What's assessed
• Any content
from topics 5 – 8, including relevant practical skills
|
What's assessed
• Any content
from topics 1– 8, including relevant practical skills
|
|
Assessed
• written
exam: 2 hours
• 91 marks
• 35% of
A-level
|
Assessed
• written
exam: 2 hours
• 91 marks
• 35% of
A-level
|
Assessed
• written
exam: 2 hours
• 78 marks
• 30% of
A-level
|
|
Questions
• 76 marks: a
mixture of short and long answer questions
• 15 marks:
extended response questions
|
Questions
• 76 marks: a
mixture of short and long answer questions
• 15 marks:
comprehension question
|
Questions
• 38 marks:
structured questions, including practical techniques
• 15 marks:
critical analysis of given experimental data
• 25 marks:
one essay from a choice of two titles
|
10%
of the overall assessment of A-level Biology will contain mathematical skills
equivalent to Level 2 or above.
External AS Biology exams are taken at the
end of Year 12. This allows a thorough
assessment of progress so far and means that if students do drop the subject at
the end of Year 12 they will have some points to go towards their UCAS points
total when applying for Higher Education courses.
Link
to A Level Biology Specification
A Level Chemistry
The exam board is AQA. This is a two year course made up of the
following units.
Year 123.1 Physical Chemistry 3.1.1 Atomic structure 3.1.2 Amount of substance 3.1.3 Bonding 3.1.4 Energetics 3.1.5 Kinetics 3.1.6 Chemical equilibria, Le Chatelier’s principle and Kc 3.1.7 Oxidation, reduction and redox equations 3.2 Inorganic Chemistry 3.2.1 Periodicity 3.2.2 Group 2, the alkaline earth metals 3.2.3 Group 7(17), the halogens 3.3 Organic Chemistry 3.3.1 Introduction to organic chemistry 3.3.2 Alkanes 3.3.3 Halogenoalkanes 3.3.4 Alkenes 3.3.5 Alcohols 3.3.6 Organic analysis | Year 133.1.8 Thermodynamics (Yr13) 3.1.9 Rate equations (Yr13)) 3.1.10 Equilibrium constant Kp for homogeneous systems (Yr13) 3.1.11 Electrode potentials and electrochemical cells (Yr13) 3.1.12 Acids and bases (Yr13) 3.2.4 Properties of Period 3 elements and their oxides (Yr13) 3.2.5 Transition metals (Yr13) 3.2.6 Reactions of ions in aqueous solution (Yr13) 3.3.7 Optical isomerism (Yr13) 3.3.8 Aldehydes and ketones (Yr13) 3.3.9 Carboxylic acids and derivatives (Yr13) 3.3.10 Aromatic chemistry (Yr13) 3.3.11 Amines (Yr13) 3.3.12 Polymers (Yr13) 3.3.13 Amino acids, proteins and DNA (Yr13) 3.3.14 Organic synthesis (Yr13) 3.3.15 Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (Yr13) 3.3.16 Chromatography (Yr13) |
There is also a practical component
to the course with the compulsory completion of 12 required practical
activities, along with a whole range of other practical activities to help
students develop an understanding of scientific processes. These practical activities will not form part
of the overall A Level grade but the practical activities have to be passed. At least 15% of the overall assessment of
A-level Chemistry will assess knowledge, skills and understanding in relation
to this practical work.
All external exams are at the Year 13 and
comprise of the following:
|
Paper 1
|
+
|
Paper 2
|
+
|
Paper 3
|
|
What's assessed
•
Relevant Physical chemistry topics (sections
3.1.1 to 3.1.4, 3.1.6 to
3.1.8 and 3.1.10 to 3.1.12)
•
Inorganic chemistry
(Section 3.2)
•
Relevant practical skills
|
What's assessed
• Relevant
Physical chemistry topics (sections 3.1.2 to 3.1.6 and 3.1.9)
•
Organic chemistry
(Section 3.3)
•
Relevant practical skills
|
What's assessed
• Any content
•
Any practical skills
|
|
How it’s assessed
• written
exam: 2 hours
• 105 marks
•
35% of A-level
|
How it’s assessed
• written
exam: 2 hours
• 105 marks
•
35% of A-level
|
How it’s assessed
• written
exam: 2 hours
• 90 marks
•
30% of A-level
|
|
Questions
105 marks of
short and long
answer
questions
|
Questions
105 marks of
short and long
answer
questions
|
Questions
40 marks of questions on practical techniques and
data analysis.
20 marks of questions testing across the
specification
30 marks of
multiple choice questions
|
Overall,
at least 20% of the marks in assessments for chemistry will require the use of
mathematical skills. These skills will be applied in the context of chemistry
and will be at least the standard of higher tier GCSE Mathematics.
External
AS Chemistry exams are taken at the end of Year 12. This allows a thorough assessment of progress
so far and means that if students do drop the subject at the end of Year 12
they will have some points to go towards their UCAS points total when applying
for Higher Education courses.
Link
to A Level Chemistry specification
A Level Physics
The exam board is AQA. This is a two year course made up of nine
units; five units in Year 12 and four units in Year 13:
Year 12 | Year 13 |
1 Measurements and their errors 2 Particles and radiation 3 Waves 4 Mechanics and materials 5 Electricity | 6. Further mechanics and thermal physics 7. Fields and their consequences 8. Nuclear physics Plus one of these options: 9. Astrophysics 10. Medical physics
11. Engineering physics
12. Turning points in physics
13. Electronics |
There is also a practical component
to the course with the compulsory completion of 12 required practical
activities, along with a whole range of other practical activities to help
students develop an understanding of scientific processes. These practical activities will not form part
of the overall A Level grade but the practical activities have to be
passed. At least 15% of the overall
assessment of A-level Physics will assess knowledge, skills and understanding in
relation to this practical work.
All external exams are at the Year 13 and comprise of the following:Paper 1 | + | Paper 2 | + | Paper 3 |
What's assessed Sections 1 – 5 and 6.1 (Periodic motion) | What's assessed Sections 6.2 (Thermal Physics), 7 and 8 Assumed knowledge from sections 1 to 6.1 | What's assessed Section A: Compulsory section: Practical skills and data analysis Section B: Students enter for one of sections 9, 10, 11, 12 or 13 |
Assessed • written exam: 2 hours • 85 marks • 34% of A-level | Assessed • written exam: 2 hours • 85 marks • 34% of A-level | Assessed • written exam: 2 hours • 80 marks • 32% of A-level |
Questions 60 marks of short and long answer questions and 25 multiple choice questions on content. | Questions 60 marks of short and long answer questions and 25 multiple choice questions on content. | Questions 45 marks of short and long answer questions on practical experiments and data analysis. 35 marks of short and long answer questions on optional topic. |
Overall, 40% of the overall assessment of AS
Physics will contain mathematical skills equivalent to Level 2 or above.
External
AS Physics exams are taken at the end of Year 12. This allows a thorough assessment of progress
so far and means that if students do drop the subject at the end of Year 12
they will have some points to go towards their UCAS points total when applying
for Higher Education courses.
Link
to A Level Physics specification
BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Applied
Science
The exam board is Pearson.
This
is a two year course made up of four units of which 3 are mandatory (83% of the
course) and one is chosen from a list of options (17% of the course). The optional unit studied is Unit 8 –
Physiology of Human Body systems.
Unit
1 and 3 are externally assessed (58% of the course)
Units
2 and 8 are internally assessed.
The
course has 360 Guided learning hours over two years and is equivalent in size
to one
A
Level:
|
Year 12
|
Year 13
|
|
Unit 1 Principles and Applications of science (90 hours) –externally assessed in a written exam.
Unit 2 Practical Scientific Procedures and techniques. (90 hours) – Internally assessed.
|
Unit 3 Science investigation skills
(120 hours)– external assessment.
Science practical skills will be taught, then assessed as
follows:
Part A allows learners to complete the practical investigation
and obtain results required for Part B
Part B is a written task worth 60 marks taken in exam conditions
and using the data from Part A.
Unit 8 Physiology of Human body Systems
(60 hours) – internally assessed
|
The
grades awarded range from ‘Pass’, ‘Merit’, ‘Distinction’ to
‘Distinction*’. To be awarded the
minimum pass grade both the Unit 1 and Unit
3 external assessments have to be passed and all the ‘Pass’ sections of units 2
and 8 have to be successfully completed.
Link to BTECH Level 3 Extended
Studies in Applied Science