School Success
AQA Science GCSE courses
AQA offer three separate science courses in Biology, Chemistry and Physics (Triple Science), and two combined science courses called Trilogy and Synergy. Combined science covers two thirds of the topics studied in the separate sciences.
AQA Science Exam timetable (provisional)
I’ll update the dates for 2025 soon. Here’s a link to them.
Biology
Paper 1 1h 45m
Paper 2 1h 45m
Chemistry
Paper 1 1h 45m
Paper 2 1h 45m
Combined Science: Trilogy
Paper 1: Biology 1h 15m
Paper 2: Biology 1h 15m
Paper 1: Chemistry 1h 15m
Paper 2: Chemistry 1h
Paper 1: Physics 1h 15m
Paper 2: Physics 1h 15m
Combined Science: Synergy
Life and environmental sciences 1h 45m
Life and environmental sciences 1h 45m
Physical sciences 1h 45m
Physical sciences 1h 45m
Physics
Paper 1 1h 45m
Paper 2 1h 45m
Triple Science
Paper 1 topics
Biology
1. Cell biology
2. Organisation
3. Infection and response
4. Bioenergetics
Chemistry
1. Atomic structure and the periodic table
2. Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter
3. Quantitative chemistry
4. Chemical changes
5. Energy changes
Physics
1. Energy
2. Electricity
3. Particle model of matter
4. Atomic structure
Paper 2 topics
Biology
5. Homeostasis and response
6. Inheritance, variation and evolution
7. Ecology
8. Key ideas
Chemistry
6. The rate and extent of chemical change
7. Organic chemistry
8. Chemical analysis
9. Chemistry of the atmosphere
10. Using resources
Physics
5. Forces
6. Waves
7. Magnetism and electromagnetism
8. Space physics
Combined Science – Trilogy
Paper 1 topics
Biology
1. Cell biology
2. Organisation
3. Infection and response
4. Bioenergetics
Chemistry
1. Atomic structure and the periodic table
2. Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter
3. Quantitative chemistry
4. Chemical changes
5. Energy changes
Physics
1. Energy
2. Electricity
3. Particle model of matter
4. Atomic structure
Paper 2 topics
Biology
5. Homeostasis and response
6. Inheritance, variation and evolution
7. Ecology
Chemistry
6. The rate and extent of chemical change
7. Organic chemistry
8. Chemical analysis
9. Chemistry of the atmosphere
10. Using resources
Physics
5. Forces
6. Waves
7. Magnetism and electromagnetism
Combined Science – Synergy
Paper 1 – Life and environmental sciences (analysis & evaluation)
Building blocks
Transport over larger distances
Interactions with the environment
Explaining change.
Paper 2 – Life and environmental sciences (knowledge & application)
Building blocks
Transport over larger distances
Interactions with the environment
Explaining change.
Paper 3 – Physical sciences (analysis & evaluation)
Building blocks for understanding
Interactions over small and large distances
Movement and interactions
Guiding Spaceship Earth towards a sustainable future
Paper 4 – Physical sciences (knowledge & application)
Building blocks for understanding
Interactions over small and large distances
Movement and interactions
Guiding Spaceship Earth towards a sustainable future
Required practicals (triple only in bold)
Biology
Microscopy
Osmosis
Enzyme reaction rate
Photosynthesis and light
Habitat population size
Food tests
Human reaction time
Microbiology
Effect of gravity or light on germination
Decay
Chemistry
Salt preparation
Electrolysis
Chromatography
Effect of concentration on reaction rate
Neutralisation reactions – Temperature changes
Water purification
Tests for ions
Titration
Physics
Specific Heat capacity
Resistance – in a wire
Resistance – series and parallel circuits
I/V characteristics of circuits
Density
Springs
Force and acceleration
Wave speed
Insulation
Reflection and refraction