This year, the data shows an increase in the top grades in GCSE Physics, with the most results awarded in grades 8 (15.2 percent) and 9 (12.5 percent). In GCSE Physics, students are assessed on their ability to explain practical exams, as they would have done with the old system. The specification outlines all the topics and learning objectives that a student should cover throughout their GCSE course. Grade limits tell us the number of gross grades a student must achieve to receive a given grade. When students are required to have a science GCSE to enter teacher training or similar, a 4-3 in combined science is sufficient.
In combined science, there are no prior double GCSE awards for comparison. Examining boards will use statistics so that, in general terms, the same proportion of students achieve grade 4 or higher as they had previously earned a grade C or higher in legacy GCSE single science grades. A consultation gathered more than 6,000 responses, with nearly a quarter of students, and showed that more than 90 percent of students and parents were in favor of giving advance information about the test approach next summer to support students with the review. Students pursuing combined sciences will study all three sciences and will cover approximately two-thirds of the content of individual GCSEs in biology, chemistry and physics. This guide for parents of GCSE students explains everything you need to know about the new science GCSEs “9-1”.
There are three more grades that count in the English Baccalaureate (eBACC) and three that can be GCSE grades or any other non-GCSE grade from the list approved by the Department of Education. Results for the English language are similar to those for mathematics, and one factor in this could be that each student has to study mathematics and English, while other subjects are chosen by the student. No longer are there grades for any coursework in any GCSE; all exams are taken at the end of Year 11; this is called a “linear system”. Double Award Science (also known as “Combined Science” or “Trilogy”) is where students study all three sciences (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics) but end up with two GCSEs. The new study programs for all GCSEs, including physics, which is the specification set by the Department of Education of what all exam boards should cover, have been updated and include more content than the old GCSE programs. Several people have asked us about the basis of the predictions for the new science GCSEs and, in particular, for the combined scientific prize.
It is important to note that grade 8 is equivalent to 15.2 percent of results awarded in GCSE Physics.
