Science
Separate Sciences
The final 25% of each of the GCSEs will be a 45 minute test on Unit 3.
You should have revision guides, but if not see Mr Law, they cost £3.00 each.
Since this is a new course actual past papers do not exist but your teacher should provide you with similar style questions from exams from other science exams.
Use expected knowledge booklets which tell you exactly what the exam board expect you to know.
Modular Additional Science
You have 50% of this GCSE to complete.
25% is in the Unit 2 Chemistry exam.
25% is in the Unit 2 Physics exam.
If you do not already have a revision guide for Additional Science you can buy one from Mr Humphreys.
Expected Knowledge books (available from your teacher) tell you exactly what the exam board expect you to know.
Since this is a new course actual past papers are very scarce. Your teacher will provide you with examples of questions from the old style of exam which are relevant to your topics.
You can also make use of the KS4 review software for Additional Science which is available on the schools network. You can also obtain a copy of this to use at home. Mr Humphreys will provide details of how to do this.
Applied Science
Most pupils will have sat the exam in January. The following information only applies if you have been entered to re-take the exam. Your science teacher will have told you this – ask them if you are unsure.
The exam is 1½ hours and is worth 35% of the GCSE.
You should have a revision guide but if you do not please see
Miss Brunyee.
Your teacher will provide you with booklets of past exam questions. You can also visit the AQA website and download past papers. See cashigh.com for the link to this.
Make use of the pink Expected Knowledge booklets which tell you exactly what the exam board expect you to know.
Top 10 Tips…
…for passing science exams.
- Read ALL of the question, including any background information at the start of the question (even if there is a lot of it!)
- If the question says “use the following words/information to answer the question”, make sure that you DO USE the information given, rather than inventing your own thing.
- Look at the number of marks given for each part of a question and write the same number of RELEVANT points in your answer.
- DO NOT rewrite the question in your answer, it uses up TIME, SPACE and gets you NO MARKS.
- When writing chemical symbols form the letter very carefully (even if it is not how you normally form that letter).
e.g. For calcium
ca is wrong
Ca is correct
Capital letter
- CALCULATIONS…
…always show working out
…always write down the UNITS of the answer
- QUESTION TYPES
a) Describe…
Write about what you would see, how you would do something, or what you expect to happen.
b) Explain…
Use SCIENCE WORDS to explain how or why something happens.
- GRAPHS
- Scales – label scales carefully using equal intervals between the numbers
eg. 0 10 20 30 40
0 2 4 6 8
Plotting points – plot points very carefully with a small cross
( x )
- Lines – DO NOT join the points up, draw a line of best fit.
This may be a straight line or a smooth curve.
e.g.
OR
- Use a pencil. If you make a mistake you can rub it out.
- You do not lose marks if spellings are wrong, BUT if the word is not recognisable NO marks will be awarded, THE EXAMINERS ARE NOT MIND READERS!
- Answer all questions. You definitely score ‘zero’ for a blank space. A careful guess MAY get some marks.
One bonus tip…
- Check your answers if you have time at the end of the exam. You may have misread a question the first time you answered it.
Applied Science GCSE
1) BUY A REVISION GUIDE. Aqa applied Science revision guides- These are £2.50 and are available from Miss Brunyee
2) PRACTICE PAST PAPERS. Go to the AQA website:
Here you can practice past GCSE exam papers. There are also mark schemes so that you can check your answers.
3) LOOK AT THE FREE REVISION GUIDE. Click on the link below:
This is a FREE revision guide and covers all the information you need to know for your unit 2 GCSE applied Science exam.
Modular Science GCSE and separate Science
1) BUY A REVISION GUIDE. Aqa Science A revision guides- These are £3.00 and are available from Mr Humphreys
2) PRACTICE PAST PAPERS. Go to the AQA website:
Here you can practice past GCSE exam papers. There are also mark schemes so that you can check your answers.
- BBC BITESIZE. Go to the link:
Use the website to read through the notes on the ‘REVISE’ section and then check your understanding using the ‘TEST’ section