KS4 Science Curriculum
What is KS4 science?
In Science, pupils will take Edexel Combined Science (2 GCSEs) or Edexel Separate Sciences: Biology, Chemistry and Physics (1 GCSE each).
Scientific understanding is changing our lives and is vital to the world’s future prosperity. GCSE study in science provides the foundations for understanding the material world and so all pupils should be taught essential aspects of the knowledge, methods, processes and uses of science. They should be helped to appreciate how the complex and diverse phenomenal world can be described in terms of a small number of key ideas relating to the sciences which are both inter-linked and are of universal application.
Specification
At Fisher More the science GCSE (9-1) follows the Edexcel specification. In Year 10 pupils will learn all the content for the first
paper of all three sciences, followed by the second paper taught and learnt in Year 11. These GCSE subject content criteria set out the assessment objectives, knowledge, understanding and skills, for GCSE specifications in 
Combined and Triple Science, to ensure progression from Key Stage 3 national curriculum requirements and the possibility of development into A level.
GCSE (9-1) Combined Science
Click the image to be redirected to GSCE (9-1) Combined Science course. This is double science for pupils who take Combined Science and counts as two GCSEs.
GCSE (9-1) Triple Science ​​​​​
Click the images to be redirected to 
relevant GSCE (9-1) course. This is Triple Science for pupils who take separate GCSEs in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
Qualifications at a Glance
GCSE (9-1) Combined Science
All examinations will take place at the end of Year 11. The charts below show the year pupils will be taught the content.
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Paper 1 - Biology 1 |
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Written examination: 1 hour and 10 minutes 16.67% of the qualification 60 marks |
Content overview Topic 1 - Key concepts in biology Topic 2 - Cells and control Topic 3 - Genetics Topic 4 - Natural selection and genetic modification Topic 5 - Health, disease and the development of medicines |
Year 10 |
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Paper 2 - Biology 2 |
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Written examination: 1 hour and 10 minutes 16.67% of the qualification 60 marks |
Content overview Topic 1 - Key concepts in biology Topic 6 - Plant structures and their functions Topic 7 - Animal coordination, control and homeostasis Topic 8 - Exchange and transport in animals Topic 9 - Ecosystems and material cycles |
Year 11 |
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Paper 3 - Chemistry 1 |
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Written examination: 1 hour and 10 minutes 16.67% of the qualification 60 marks |
Content overview Topic 1 - Key concepts in Chemistry Topic 2 - States of matter and mixtures Topic 3 - Chemical changes Topic 4 - Extracting metals and equilibria |
Year 10 |
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Paper 4 - Chemistry 2 |
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Written examination: 1 hour and 10 minutes 16.67% of the qualification 60 marks |
Content overview Topic 1 - Key concepts in chemistry Topic 6 - Groups in the periodic table Topic 7 - Rates of reaction and energy changes Topic 8 - Fuels and Earth science |
Year 11 |
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Paper 5 - Physics 1 |
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Written examination: 1 hour and 10 minutes 16.67% of the qualification 60 marks |
Content overview Topic 1 - Key concepts in Physics Topic 2 - Motion and forces Topic 3 - Conservation of energy Topic 4 - Waves Topic 5 - Light and the electromagnetic spectrum Topic 6 - Radioactivity |
Year 10 |
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Paper 6 - Physics 2 |
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Written examination: 1 hour and 10 minutes 16.67% of the qualification 60 marks |
Content overview Topic 1 - Key concepts in Physics Topic 8 - Energy Topic 9 - Forces and their effects Topic 10 - Electricity and circuits Topic 12 - Magnetism and the motor effect Topic 13 - Electromagnetic induction Topic 14 - Particle model Topic 15 - Forces and matter |
Year 11 |
GCSE (9-1) Triple Science
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Paper 1 - Biology 1 |
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Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes 50% of the qualification 100 marks |
Content overview Topic 1 - Key concepts in biology Topic 2 - Cells and control Topic 3 - Genetics Topic 4 - Natural selection and genetic modification Topic 5 - Health, disease and the development of medicines |
Year 10 |
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Paper 2 - Biology 2 |
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Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes 50% of the qualification 100 marks |
Content Overview Topic 1 - Key concepts in biology Topic 6 - Plant structures and their functions Topic 7 - Animal coordination, control and homeostasis Topic 8 - Exchange and transport in animals Topic 9 - Ecosystems and material cycles |
Year 11 |
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Paper 1 - Chemistry 1 |
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Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes 50% of the qualification 100 marks |
Content overview Topic 1 - Key concepts in Chemistry Topic 2 - States of matter and mixtures Topic 3 - Chemical changes Topic 4 - Extracting metals and equilibria Topic 5 - Separate chemistry 1 |
Year 10 |
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Paper 2 - Chemistry 2 |
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Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes 50% of the qualification 100 marks |
Content overview Topic 1 - Key concepts in chemistry Topic 6 - Groups in the periodic table Topic 7 - Rates of reaction and energy changes Topic 8 - Fuels and Earth science Topic 9 - Separate chemistry 2 |
Year 11 |
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Paper 1 - Physics 1 |
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Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes 50% of the qualification 100 marks |
Content overview Topic 1 - Key concepts in Physics Topic 2 - Motion and forces Topic 3 - Conservation of energy Topic 4 - Waves Topic 5 - Light and the electromagnetic spectrum Topic 6 - Radioactivity Topic 7 - Astronomy |
Year 10 |
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Paper 2 - Physics 2 |
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Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes 50% of the qualification 100 marks |
Content overview Topic 1 - Key concepts in Physics Topic 8 - Energy Topic 9 - Forces and their effects Topic 10 - Electricity and circuits Topic 11 - Particle model Topic 12 - Magnetism and the motor effect Topic 13 - Electromagnetic induction Topic 14 - Particle model Topic 15 - Forces and matter |
Year 11 |
Assessment
End of Unit tests - these are used to measure and support ongoing pupils’ progress against targets, as well as highlighting gaps in the pupils’ knowledge to allow further progression in their learning journey.
End of Year 11 examinations - these are used to measure pupil progress at the end of the academic year and will be the final grade awarded for GCSE sciences.
Revision
The science department at Fisher More, are working tirelessly to prepare all our pupils for success in their science GCSE exams at the end of year 11.
In addition to this teaching, support and help provided in science lessons, we know that the amount of regular and quality revision that pupils engage in between now and their exams will significantly improve their science grades.
Revision Guides
The use of revision guides as a source of correct and complete information about the course is incredibly useful to start revision and we recommend that every pupil has one.
This year we have arranged that CGP Combined Science revision guides can be ordered through school at a price of £5.60, CGP Biology, Chemistry and Physics revision guides are priced at £2.85 each. The cost for all three would therefore be £8.55. To order one please contact the science department and pay through parent pay.
We recommend R band science classes choose the higher revision guide and S band science classes purchase the foundation revision guide unless their science teacher has advised them differently.
Online Tools
There are many resources online that assist revision. The science department have found two that we think are particularly effective, especially if started early enough as part as regular revision.
Seneca learning is a free online tool (and app) that revises topics with self-check questions and then assesses how well it has been revised with a series of questions.
GCSE POD
GCSE POD is a very professional revision site that we at Fisher More have subscribed each pupil to. This site offers a great way of filling knowledge gaps.