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The Science Department is introducing the International GCSE (IGCSE) specifications for the first time in September 2006. The first examinations for these specifications will be the summer of 2008 and will, therefore, affect the current U4 pupils. The decision to adopt IGCSE was based on a consideration of the needs of the pupils in relation to the new specifications for the current Science GCSEs that will be available from September 2006. The Science Department felt very strongly, that these would reduce considerably the rigour of our current science study in the Fifth Forms. By contrast, the IGCSE specifications enable us to maintain the school’s high standards of science education. They follow a very similar pattern to the current GCSE specifications and hence continuity is maintained.
All girls continue to study Biology, Chemistry and Physics to GCSE and will receive separate lessons in them from subject specialists. They may opt, however, either for the Double Award course (9 periods per week) or the Separate Sciences course (12 periods per week). The Double Award course leads to the award of two GCSE certificates in Science whilst the Separate Science course leads to the award of three GCSE certificates and grades, one in each of the sciences.
If a girl is considering studying any of the science subjects beyond A-level, or if she is considering a career in medicine, veterinary science, dentistry, engineering or any other science related field, then the Science Department recommends that she opt for the Separate Sciences course. It should be noted however that there is no actual disadvantage per se to these girls if they study Double Award science. The AS and A2 science specifications are designed to dovetail with the Double Award GCSE science courses (primarily owing to the fact that very few students nationally (about 5%) take triple award science.) In recent years, St. Catherine’s has sent students from both courses to prestigious universities to study the subjects given above.
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Dual Award
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DOUBLE AWARD SCIENCE
Assessment of practical skills - 20%; Assessment of theory - 80%
Practical skills can be assessed either through the submission of coursework assignments or through the completion of written examination papers. A decision on the method chosen will be taken closer to the time with the needs of the pupils in mind.
Theory will be assessed by the completion of three written papers, one in each of the three sciences.
The major areas of study in each of the three subjects are listed below:
Biology
1.The nature & variety of living organisms
2.Structures & functions in living organisms
3.Reproduction & inheritance
4.Ecology & the environment
5.Use of biological resources
Chemistry
1.Principles of Chemistry
2.Chemistry of the elements & motion
3.Organic chemistry
4.Physical chemistry
5.Chemistry in society
Physics
1.Forces
2.Electricity & magnetism
3.Waves
4.Energy resources & energy transfer
5.Solids, liquids & gases
6.Radioactivity & particles
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Separate Sciences
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SEPARATE SCIENCES
Assessment of practical skills - 20%; Assessment of theory - 80%
Each of the subjects follows the same pattern. There is a core of work that is common to the Double Award specification and, in addition, there are extra topics and/or more in depth knowledge to be studied. Some of these are outlined below:
Biology
More knowledge and depth in:
Biological molecules
Cloning
Genetic modification
Human nutrition & excretion
Micro-organisms
Reproduction & inheritance Transport
Co-ordination response
Chemistry
Extra topics include:
Electrolysis calculations
Ethanol
Group 2 elements
Manufacture of nitric acid
Manufacture of sulphuric aid
Oxygen & oxides
Sulphur & nitrogen
Hydrogen
Physics
More knowledge and depth in:
Electron theory
Electrostatics
Electromagnetism
Transformer theory
Uses and analysis of oscilloscope traces
Kinetic theory
The assessment procedure follows the same pattern as for Double Award.
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