Curriculum Overview
Combined science helps learners to understand the biological and technological world in which they live, and take an informed interest in science and scientific developments
includes the basic principles and concepts that are fundamental to science, some current applications of biology, chemistry and physics, and an emphasis on practical skills.
About the Course
Topics Covered
Examples of topics in Biology include: Cells, Characteristics of living organisms, Enzymes, Dieases and immunity.
Examples of topics in Chemistry include: The Periodic table, Chemical energetics, Metals, Electrochemistry, and Organic chemistry.
Examples of topics in Physics include: Motion, Forces, Energy, Electricity and Space physics.
Assessment and examinations
All candidates will take three papers. The level of papers can either be the Core level and Extended level. The Paper 1 (core) and Paper 2 (extended) are both multiple choice style questions. It takes 45 minutes and accounts for 30% of the overall grade. Paper 3 (core) and Paper 4 (extended) are theory based papers and last for 1 hour and 15 minutes. It is worth 80 marks and accounts for 50% of the overall grade. These have short-answer questions and structured questions. The extended paper requires a broader knowledge of the curriculum and the ability to draw conclusions from across the three sciences. All candidates take Paper 6 at the same level. It is an alternative to practical paper and the questions are based on experimental skills. Students are presented with a hypothetical experiment and have to complete it. This paper is worth 40 marks and is with 20% of the overall grade. It lasts one hour.