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About GCSE
Physics
Physics GCSE is compulsory
for everyone in years 10 & 11, along with chemistry GCSE
and biology GCSE.
At Emanuel, physics is
taught as part of the AQA
Science: Double Award
syllabus (course code: 2610).
GCSE Physics is taught
mainly in year 10 and year 11, but some parts of the
syllabus are covered in the year 9 and year 8.
The public exam taken at
the end of year 11 consists of three
written papers: one in physics, one in chemistry and
one in biology, each lasting 1 hr 30 mins.
By sitting papers in three
subjects you gain 2 GCSE grades (hence
double
award.)
There is also a
coursework
element based on experiments carried out in normal lesson
time.
Your final grade is based
on your performance in the three written papers (each of
which contributes 26.6% to your final mark), and the
coursework (which is worth 20% of the final mark)
There are two tiers of
entry: foundation
and higher.
You will be entered for
either the higher
or the foundation
tier in physics depending on your performance over the two
year course. But you must take all three subjects at the
same tier. Foundation tier papers cover the essentials of
the subject, whilst the higher tier papers also include the
more demanding topics.
Grades available at
foundation tier range from C to G, and at higher tier allows
they range A* - D. See table below.
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Tier
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•
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•
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•
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•
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•
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•
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•
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Foundation
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•
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•
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•
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C
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D
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E
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F
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G
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Higher
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A*
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A
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B
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C
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D
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•
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•
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•
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It is generally thought to
be easier to achieve a CC grade at Foundation tier
(although if you find science difficult, it still takes a
lot of work and effort to achieve this grade).
Therefore, if you want to
ensure that you pass your GCSE, it is better to enter at
Foundation level. If you have a realistic chance of
achieving a BB
grade or above (and remember that's in all three sciences),
then you should enter the higher tier.
About
coursework
The final coursework mark
is based on your performance in each of four skill areas.
These are:
- Planning Experimental
Procedures (P)
- Obtaining Evidence
(O)
- Analysing Evidence and
Drawing Conclusions (A)
- Evaluating Evidence
(E)
The coursework marks that
are submitted to the board must come from at least two of
the three subjects. At least one of these marks must come
from a complete investigation. Hence your mark for obtaining
evidence may be taken from a complete physics investigation,
your mark for planning from a chemistry experiment, and
marks for analysing and evaluating evidence from biology.
At Emanuel you carry out
coursework in in each subject, though strictly speaking this
is not required by the exam board. We believe that this
gives you a better change of scoring good coursework marks.
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