GCSE · Science

GCSE Science: how each board marks it

AQA · OCR · Pearson Edexcel. A separate book for each

The assessment objectives below are worded almost identically whichever board you teach. What differs is the weight each one carries, and that is what decides where a department spends its time. Each book quotes its own board’s specification word for word, and the first 8 pages of each are open to read here.

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The assessment objectives

AO1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding
AO2 Apply knowledge and understanding
AO3 Analyse information and ideas

Read off the GCSE Science specification. The weightings, the mark scheme levels and what separates a middle answer from a top one are set out board by board inside each book.

How it’s assessed

All three boards run Combined Science the same shape: six papers, two each for biology, chemistry and physics, sat at the end of the course and combined into one double grade. What differs is the size of each paper. AQA’s six run 1 hour 15 minutes and 70 marks apiece; OCR’s and Pearson Edexcel’s run 1 hour 10 minutes and 60 marks. Same structure, same six papers, not the same exam.

3 books, one per board

GCSE · 28 pages each · the first 8 pages open

Science · GCSE · AQA £4.99

AQA GCSE Science Assessment Objectives — Exam Preparation

AQA only, for AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy (8464). A working manual for a GCSE science department. It moves in one direction (specification, curriculum, teaching, assessment, intervention, examination) because that is the order in which the decisions get made. Part One is the only board-specific part, and it is quoted verbatim. Everything after it is subject pedagogy that is true whichever board you teach.

AO1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding
AO2 Apply knowledge and understanding
AO3 Analyse information and ideas

AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy (8464) · 28 pages, 22 sections ·For teachers, heads of department and SLT. Not a student revision guide

Preview · first 8 pages

🔒 20 more pages unlock on purchase

One purchase covers the school that buys it · PDF straight after payment · Refunds

Science · GCSE · OCR £4.99

OCR GCSE Science Assessment Objectives — Exam Preparation

OCR only, for OCR GCSE (9–1) Gateway Science Combined Science A (J250). A working manual for a GCSE science department. It moves in one direction: specification, curriculum, teaching, assessment, intervention, examination. That is the order in which the decisions get made. Part One is the only board-specific part, and it is quoted verbatim. Everything after it is subject pedagogy that is true whichever board you teach.

AO1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding
AO2 Apply knowledge and understanding
AO3 Analyse information and ideas

OCR GCSE (9–1) Gateway Science Combined Science A (J250) · 28 pages, 22 sections ·For teachers, heads of department and SLT. Not a student revision guide

Preview · first 8 pages

🔒 20 more pages unlock on purchase

One purchase covers the school that buys it · PDF straight after payment · Refunds

Science · GCSE · Pearson Edexcel £4.99

Pearson Edexcel GCSE Science Assessment Objectives — Exam Preparation

Pearson Edexcel only: Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Combined Science (1SC0). A working manual for a GCSE science department. It moves in one direction (specification, curriculum, teaching, assessment, intervention, examination) because that is the order in which the decisions get made. Part One is the only board-specific part, and it is quoted verbatim. Everything after it is subject pedagogy that is true whichever board you teach.

AO1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding
AO2 Apply knowledge and understanding
AO3 Analyse information and ideas

Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Combined Science (1SC0) · 28 pages, 22 sections ·For teachers, heads of department and SLT. Not a student revision guide

Preview · first 8 pages

🔒 20 more pages unlock on purchase

One purchase covers the school that buys it · PDF straight after payment · Refunds