specification overview
Edexcel GCSE (9-1) Combined Science (1SC0) is a linear qualification combining biology, chemistry and physics, awarded as a double grade from 9-9 to 1-1. Students sit six 1h 10m papers (two per science) at Foundation (5-1) or Higher (9-4) tier.
specification overview
subject content
1. Biology 1
Paper 1- Key concepts in biology (cells, transport, enzymes)
- Cells and control; genetics; natural selection
- Health, disease and the development of medicines
2. Biology 2
Paper 2- Plant structures and their functions
- Animal coordination, control and homeostasis
- Exchange and transport in animals; ecosystems and material cycles
3. Chemistry 1
Paper 3- States of matter, mixtures, atomic structure, periodic table
- Ionic, covalent and metallic bonding; calculations
- Chemical changes; extraction of metals; reactivity
4. Chemistry 2
Paper 4- Groups 1, 7 and 0; rates of reaction; heat energy changes
- Fuels; Earth and atmospheric science
5. Physics 1
Paper 5- Key concepts of physics (Topic 1)
- Motion, forces, conservation of energy
- Waves; light and the electromagnetic spectrum
- Radioactivity
6. Physics 2
Paper 6- Energy, forces doing work, electricity and circuits
- Magnetism and the motor effect; electromagnetic induction
- Particle model; forces and matter
subject content
assessment structure
| Paper | What's assessed | Length | Marks | Weight | Question types |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (Biology 1) | Topics 1-5 (Key concepts, cells and control, genetics, natural selection, health) | 1h 10m | 60 | 16.67% | Multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions |
| Paper 2 (Biology 2) | Topic 1 + Topics 6-9 (Plants, coordination, exchange, ecosystems) | 1h 10m | 60 | 16.67% | Multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions |
| Paper 3 (Chemistry 1) | Topics 1-4 (Concepts, states, atomic structure, bonding, chemical changes) | 1h 10m | 60 | 16.67% | Multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions |
| Paper 4 (Chemistry 2) | Topics 1, 6-8 (Groups, rates, energy, Earth science) | 1h 10m | 60 | 16.67% | Multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions |
| Paper 5 (Physics 1) | Topics 1-6 (Motion, forces, waves, radioactivity) | 1h 10m | 60 | 16.67% | Multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions |
| Paper 6 (Physics 2) | Topics 1, 8-10, 12-15 (Energy, electricity, magnetism, particle model) | 1h 10m | 60 | 16.67% | Multiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions |
PaperPaper 1 (Biology 1)
What's assessedTopics 1-5 (Key concepts, cells and control, genetics, natural selection, health)
Length1h 10m
Marks60
Weight16.67%
Question typesMultiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions
PaperPaper 2 (Biology 2)
What's assessedTopic 1 + Topics 6-9 (Plants, coordination, exchange, ecosystems)
Length1h 10m
Marks60
Weight16.67%
Question typesMultiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions
PaperPaper 3 (Chemistry 1)
What's assessedTopics 1-4 (Concepts, states, atomic structure, bonding, chemical changes)
Length1h 10m
Marks60
Weight16.67%
Question typesMultiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions
PaperPaper 4 (Chemistry 2)
What's assessedTopics 1, 6-8 (Groups, rates, energy, Earth science)
Length1h 10m
Marks60
Weight16.67%
Question typesMultiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions
PaperPaper 5 (Physics 1)
What's assessedTopics 1-6 (Motion, forces, waves, radioactivity)
Length1h 10m
Marks60
Weight16.67%
Question typesMultiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions
PaperPaper 6 (Physics 2)
What's assessedTopics 1, 8-10, 12-15 (Energy, electricity, magnetism, particle model)
Length1h 10m
Marks60
Weight16.67%
Question typesMultiple-choice, short-answer and extended-response questions
Combined Science covers less depth than each separate science. Awarded as a double grade (e.g. 7-6) worth 2 GCSEs. Higher-tier students access grades 9-4 with a safety net of grade 3.
assessment structure
assessment objectives
| AO | What it means | Overall |
|---|---|---|
| AO1 | Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, techniques and procedures. | 40% |
| AO2 | Apply knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, techniques and procedures. | 40% |
| AO3 | Analyse information and ideas to interpret, evaluate, make judgements and draw conclusions, and develop and improve experimental procedures. | 20% |
AOAO1
What it meansDemonstrate knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, techniques and procedures.
Overall40%
AOAO2
What it meansApply knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, techniques and procedures.
Overall40%
AOAO3
What it meansAnalyse information and ideas to interpret, evaluate, make judgements and draw conclusions, and develop and improve experimental procedures.
Overall20%
assessment objectives
required practicals
| Practical | What it involves |
|---|---|
| 1.6 Biological specimens using microscopes | Investigate biological specimens using microscopes, including magnification calculations and labelled scientific drawings (Biology). |
| 1.10 Effect of pH on enzyme activity | Investigate the effect of pH on enzyme activity (Biology). |
| 1.16 Osmosis in potatoes | Investigate osmosis in potatoes (Biology). |
| 6.5 Light intensity and photosynthesis | Investigate the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis (Biology). |
| 8.11 Rate of respiration in living organisms | Investigate the rate of respiration in living organisms (Biology). |
| 9.5 Field-work: quadrats and belt transects | Investigate the relationship between organisms and their environment using field-work techniques, including quadrats and belt transects (Biology). |
| 2.11 Composition of inks (distillation and chromatography) | Investigate the composition of inks using simple distillation and paper chromatography (Chemistry). |
| 3.6 pH change with calcium hydroxide/oxide and HCl | Investigate the change in pH on adding powdered calcium hydroxide/calcium oxide to a fixed volume of dilute hydrochloric acid (Chemistry). |
| 3.17 Preparation of hydrated copper sulfate crystals | Investigate the preparation of pure, dry hydrated copper sulfate crystals starting from copper oxide, including use of a water bath (Chemistry). |
| 3.31 Electrolysis of copper sulfate solution | Investigate the electrolysis of copper sulfate solution with inert electrodes and copper electrodes (Chemistry). |
| 7.1 Rates of reaction (gas production and colour change) | Investigate the effects of changing conditions on rates of reaction, measuring gas production (HCl + marble chips) and colour change (sodium thiosulfate + HCl) (Chemistry). |
| 2.19 Force, mass and acceleration | Investigate the relationship between force, mass and acceleration by varying the masses added to trolleys (Physics). |
| 4.17 Wave speed, frequency and wavelength | Investigate the suitability of equipment to measure the speed, frequency and wavelength of a wave in a solid and a fluid (Physics). |
| 5.9 Refraction in glass blocks | Investigate refraction in rectangular glass blocks in terms of the interaction of electromagnetic waves with matter (Physics). |
| 10.17 Electrical circuits: V, I, R | Construct electrical circuits to investigate the relationship between potential difference, current and resistance for a resistor and filament lamp, and to test series and parallel circuits (Physics). |
| 14.3 Densities of solids and liquids | Investigate the densities of solids and liquids (Physics). |
| 14.11 Specific heat capacity of water | Investigate the properties of water by determining the specific heat capacity of water and obtaining a temperature-time graph for melting ice (Physics). |
| 15.6 Extension and work done on a spring | Investigate the extension and work done when applying forces to a spring (Physics). |
Practical1.6 Biological specimens using microscopes
What it involvesInvestigate biological specimens using microscopes, including magnification calculations and labelled scientific drawings (Biology).
Practical1.10 Effect of pH on enzyme activity
What it involvesInvestigate the effect of pH on enzyme activity (Biology).
Practical1.16 Osmosis in potatoes
What it involvesInvestigate osmosis in potatoes (Biology).
Practical6.5 Light intensity and photosynthesis
What it involvesInvestigate the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis (Biology).
Practical8.11 Rate of respiration in living organisms
What it involvesInvestigate the rate of respiration in living organisms (Biology).
Practical9.5 Field-work: quadrats and belt transects
What it involvesInvestigate the relationship between organisms and their environment using field-work techniques, including quadrats and belt transects (Biology).
Practical2.11 Composition of inks (distillation and chromatography)
What it involvesInvestigate the composition of inks using simple distillation and paper chromatography (Chemistry).
Practical3.6 pH change with calcium hydroxide/oxide and HCl
What it involvesInvestigate the change in pH on adding powdered calcium hydroxide/calcium oxide to a fixed volume of dilute hydrochloric acid (Chemistry).
Practical3.17 Preparation of hydrated copper sulfate crystals
What it involvesInvestigate the preparation of pure, dry hydrated copper sulfate crystals starting from copper oxide, including use of a water bath (Chemistry).
Practical3.31 Electrolysis of copper sulfate solution
What it involvesInvestigate the electrolysis of copper sulfate solution with inert electrodes and copper electrodes (Chemistry).
Practical7.1 Rates of reaction (gas production and colour change)
What it involvesInvestigate the effects of changing conditions on rates of reaction, measuring gas production (HCl + marble chips) and colour change (sodium thiosulfate + HCl) (Chemistry).
Practical2.19 Force, mass and acceleration
What it involvesInvestigate the relationship between force, mass and acceleration by varying the masses added to trolleys (Physics).
Practical4.17 Wave speed, frequency and wavelength
What it involvesInvestigate the suitability of equipment to measure the speed, frequency and wavelength of a wave in a solid and a fluid (Physics).
Practical5.9 Refraction in glass blocks
What it involvesInvestigate refraction in rectangular glass blocks in terms of the interaction of electromagnetic waves with matter (Physics).
Practical10.17 Electrical circuits: V, I, R
What it involvesConstruct electrical circuits to investigate the relationship between potential difference, current and resistance for a resistor and filament lamp, and to test series and parallel circuits (Physics).
Practical14.3 Densities of solids and liquids
What it involvesInvestigate the densities of solids and liquids (Physics).
Practical14.11 Specific heat capacity of water
What it involvesInvestigate the properties of water by determining the specific heat capacity of water and obtaining a temperature-time graph for melting ice (Physics).
Practical15.6 Extension and work done on a spring
What it involvesInvestigate the extension and work done when applying forces to a spring (Physics).
required practicals
higher vs foundation
| Aspect | Foundation tier | Higher tier |
|---|---|---|
| Grades available | 5-5 to 1-1 | 9-9 to 4-4 (with grade 3-3 safety net) |
| Question style | More structured, easier maths, more MCQ | Extended-response, harder maths, tougher application |
| Content | Same core content, less depth | Same core plus HT-only content |
AspectGrades available
Foundation tier5-5 to 1-1
Higher tier9-9 to 4-4 (with grade 3-3 safety net)
AspectQuestion style
Foundation tierMore structured, easier maths, more MCQ
Higher tierExtended-response, harder maths, tougher application
AspectContent
Foundation tierSame core content, less depth
Higher tierSame core plus HT-only content
higher vs foundation
key tips for success
Cover all three sciences
Six papers means you can't shortchange one science. Split revision evenly biology/chemistry/physics.
Master the 18 core practicals
18 core practicals (6 biology, 5 chemistry, 7 physics) appear across all 6 papers as applied questions. Learn methods, expected results and evaluations for each.
Practise fast pacing
1h 10m and 60 marks means roughly 1 minute per mark. Practise past papers to get the rhythm.
Learn Higher-only content
If Higher tier, learn the HT-only content in each subject (advanced calculations, extended theory). It's worth ~30% of Higher papers.
Know your double grade
Combined Science is awarded as a double grade (e.g. 6-6). Two GCSEs total. Different from separate sciences (three GCSEs).
Use the equation sheet
Physics equation sheet is provided in Papers 5 and 6. Learn to apply the equations quickly, don't waste time deriving.
key tips for success
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