Unit 1
Assessed through an examination worth 90 marks with a total time of 2 hours, undertaken in three timed sessions of 40 minutes for each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Pearson sets and marks the task.
Unit 2
This unit is assessed by four summative assignments - three are related to practical work and one assignment requires you to reflect on your skills development.
Unit 3
This unit will be assessed through a written task (Part B) worth 60 marks that is set and marked by Pearson. The assessment task will assess learners’ ability to plan, record, process, analyse and evaluate scientific findings, using primary and secondary information/data. In order to complete the written task in Part B, learners will need to obtain results/observations from the practical investigation in Part A.
Unit 4
This unit is assessed by four summative assignments - two are related to practical work, one is related to health and safety and one is related to communication.
Unit 5
This unit is assessed through an examination worth 120 marks with a total time of 2.5 hours, undertaken in three timed sessions of 50 minutes for each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Pearson sets and marks the task.
Unit 6
This unit is assessed through two assignments. One relates to you carrying out a scientific literature search and review, considering the project’s aims and objectives, and then producing a realistic plan. The second assignment relates to you carrying out the project safely using your scientific investigation skills, project management skills and what you have learnt from the other units and submitting an evaluative report that will consider the project outcomes and suggest amendments that may have improved those outcomes.
Unit 7
Learners will be given three articles in Part A two weeks before a supervised assessment session in order to prepare. The material will form the basis for the focus of the assessment and learners will be able to bring in written support materials to help with the assessment tasks. The task will assess learners’ ability to understand a contemporary scientific issue described in the articles. In Part B learners will analyse and interpret each article in the context of how the scientific issue is being tackled and will be able to make reasoned judgements. Part B is worth 50 marks and must be completed in a single session of 2 hours and 30 minutes. Pearson sets and marks the task.
Unit 8
This unit is assessed by three summative research assignments - one related to the musculoskeletal system, one to the lymphatic system and one to the digestive system.
Unit 9
This unit is assessed by three summative research assignments - one related to the interrelationship and nervous control of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, one to the homeostatic mechanisms used by the human body and one to the role of hormones in the regulation and control of the reproductive system.
Unit 11
This unit is assessed by four summative assignments - three related to practical work; one on exploring how the process of cell division in eukaryotic cells contributes to genetic variation, one on exploring the principles of inheritance and their application in predicting genetic traits and one on exploring basic DNA techniques and the use of genetic engineering technologies - and one research assignment on understanding the structure and function of nucleic acids.
Unit 14
This unit is assessed by four summative assignments - three research ones; one related to the reactions of a range of carbonyl and non-carbonyl functional group compounds, one related to the the reactions and properties of aromatic compounds and one related to the types, structures, reactions, uses and properties of different isomers - and one assignment related to preparative organic chemistry practical work.
Unit 15
This unit is assessed by three summative assignments - one is related to a practical on electric circuits and two are research assignments - one on AC and DC production and one on the uses of transducers and sensors.
Unit 16
This unit is assessed by three summative assignments - two research ones; one related to understanding the fundamental aspects of the Solar System and one related to investigating the essential factors involved in space flight and understanding the fundamental concepts outlined in astrophysics and cosmology - and one practical based assignment related to undertaking measurement and observation of astronomical objects.