Is this subject right for me?

Are you interested in the ways in which science is used in our everyday lives – to
make new products, make important decisions, look after peoples’ health and
conserve the environment?
Do you like debates and the opportunity to discuss controversial issues?

The Twenty First Century Science GCSE course focuses on the role of science in
society and understanding the ways in which science, and scientists work. You will
study a range of topics to understand the science behind an issue and then discuss
the ethics or environmental considerations arising from the topic.

You will need to be prepared to work hard though! This course, which leads to a
single GCSE award, is completed in 6 months so the pace of work is high. But as
long as you are motivated and interested the work is manageable.

This course is ideal for anyone wanting to improve their grade in GCSE Science.
It is suitable for students who need to improve their scientific knowledge to support
their studies in PE or Psychology, or for those who hope to progress on to further
study in Teaching or Nursing.

This is a good basic science course but will not be sufficient to qualify you for AS
level Sciences later.

What is the course content?

The GCSE course is made up of six modules which cover topics in Biology,
Chemistry and Physics:

B1 You and your genes
B2 Keeping healthy
B3 Life on Earth
C1 Air quality
C2 Material choices
C3 Food matters
P1 Earth in the Universe
P2 Radiation and life
P3 Radioactive materials

How will your work be assessed?
You are assessed by a combination of exams and coursework.
You complete three short exams throughout the year and a final exam in June.
You are given source material in advance of the final exam.
The coursework consists of a scientific practical investigation where you have to
draw conclusions and evaluate your experiment, and a researched presentation
into a current topic of scientific interest.

What are the entry requirements?
You will need to achieve a grade DD in Double Science GCSE (or separate Sciences)
and three other GCSEs at least at grade E.

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