11 Plus Exams Forum

Hi,

I'm sorry to ask a dopey question but until now I thought I knewbut having reflected I find that either I don't know or I am confusing myself so I'd really appreciate it if someone can enlighten me please!!

Can someone explain the difference between 'Seperate Science' and 'Double Award Science' in relation to GCSE?

Thanks
Coolmum

Hi

all I know is that some kids do 3 GCSEs in Chemistry, Physics and Biology
while others do the equivalent of 2 GCSEs including all three sceinces - so I presume that the double award contains about 2/3rds of each of the single award subjects????

I think this is whre my confusion lies!!

So if one does Seperate science then they attend lessons on individual science subjects? ie Lessons in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
If Double award then do they just sit lessons labelled Science? or are they individual too but a smaller syllabus?

Exactly
If your child is considering science post GCSE they would need to take individual sciences (ie three GCSEs). The double award is very basic coverage so if you have a reasonably academic child I would only consider it if they are sure they want to go down a route that excludes science & requires them to use the 'spare' GCSE option for eg. an additional MFL.

coolmum123 wrote:I think this is whre my confusion lies!!

So if one does Seperate science then they attend lessons on individual science subjects? ie Lessons in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
If Double award then do they just sit lessons labelled Science? or are they individual too but a smaller syllabus?

Now that is what I don't know...... I expect someone will tell us!

aah!! Ok thanks that makes more sense now! I knew I could rely on the Forum to educate me!!!

The double award covers about 2/3rds of each of the three sciences full syllabus (syllabi??!)- They are taught individually but obvously are likely to be in less depth. My dd is doing all three - though we were originally told there would be an option to do double award, and it seems that increasingly indies certainly are moving away from the double award completely. Fine if you are a scientist, annoying if you are not and you have drop Latin and geography both of which would have been preferable! At NLCS they still do the double award and teach beyond the syllabus - it doesn''t stop them churning out science undergraduates so it is possible. They do so because it narrows the options too much. My dd (year 10) is doing the first modules of all three this summer, the second in spring and the final next summer. Then she'll drop the lot! but I hope will be wiser for it!!

Hi All

My DD, now in year 12 took the 3 separate sciences at GCSE.

At the end of year 10, she and her class mates were entered for 'single science' GCSE, which they all passed easily. At the end of year 11 they all took the 3 separate GCSE exams and gained 3 individual GCSEs. This means DD gained 4 GCSEs in science in total which I suppose is good in that it boosts the number of GCSEs she has.

Both my sons did "double science" as it was all that was on offer (language college, so they did 2 MFL GCSEs) but went on to successfully take A level sciences, so it can/could be done. Now schools are supposed to offer the three separate sciences to those that want it and acheive at least level 6 (?) in year 9 SATS (or equivalent???) so my daughter is taking the three. However it all depends on the quality of the science teaching, which may not necessarily be by specialists in the particular discipline

Going back a few years now, but the double science and separate science exams used to be the same for the first 2/3 or so of the paper, then the separate science people would have to do an extra half an hour or so of more in-depth, thought-provoking questions.

My daughter did 3 separate ones because she thought, mistakenly, that it would be less work than doing double and another subject. She dropped all three like hot potatoes on sixth form.

Her friend did double, then went on to do Biology and Chemistry, and is now in 3rd year of medical degree.

I don't think the double seriously disadvantages their prospects at A level; it just might give them a better 'taster' of things to come.