AQA GCSE Additional Science 4408 and 4409

About this course

This is the new Additional Science GCSEs that started in September 2011.

You may be following the old science course, depending on which year you’re in and whether you are doing triple or double science. And just to make things more complicated, there are two routes you can take for the new course – route 1 (code 4408) and route 2 (code 4409). Both routes cover exactly the same material, but they present and examine this material in different ways.

So, make sure you know whether it’s the old or new Additional Science GCSE you’re taking, and if it’s the new one, which route you are following.

Here are the exam codes:

(HP = Higher paper, FP = Foundation paper)

Route 1 (4408)

Unit 1 (Biology) BL2FP or BL2HP – covers all the biology modules
Unit 2 (Chemistry) CH2FP or CH2HP – covers all the chemistry modules
Unit 3 (Physics) PH2FP or PH2HP – covers all the physics modules
Unit 4 (Controlled Assessment) AS4P – the practical assessment

Route 2 (4409) 

Unit 5 (combined sciences) AS1FP or AS1HP – covers half the modules for each science
Unit 6 (Combined sciences) AS2FP or AS3HP – covers the other half of the modules for each science
Unit 4 (Controlled Assessment) AS4P – the practical assessment

Exam dates

The first examinations are in summer 2012. But this doesn’t include the controlled assessment. Therefore, even if you start the new Additional Science course this year, and take one or more of the unit exams in the summer of 2012, you will not get the qualification until Summer 2013 when the controlled assessments are presented.
From Summer 2012 onwards, you’ll be able to take the exams in January and/or summer. I don’t have the exact dates yet. The controlled assessments can be certified (presented to the exam boards) In January or Summer from Summer 2013 onwards.
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Exam papers and other resources

From the AQA ScienceLab website:

On the resources page:

Exam papers and marking schemes – one set of specimen papers (it’s a new course, so there are no past papers)
Specification – Details of the course, its content and structure. The contents section can be used as a check-list to make sure you’ve covered all the topics. It’s a large file, so print it at your peril! Apart from the contents section and the course structure summary, the rest is mainly of interest to teachers.
Specimen examples of completed controlled assessment papers with examiners comments and advice.
Schemes of work – my favourite resource! Contains details of all topics along with learning outcomes, suggestions for homework, exam hints and tips and links to relevant websites.
Homework and lesson ideas – another great resource of questions and answers.
Assessing progress – a collection of worksheets testing knowledge of all the topics.

On the controlled assessment page – go here and then scroll to the bottom of the page for the following link:

Guide to quality of written communication – specimen examples of students descriptions of their tasts along with examiners comments and advice.
Glossary of terms – a list of words and phrases used in the controlled assessments. Essential!
Guide to command words – Examples of exam papers showing the use of command words, the mistakes students make, and advice on interpreting them correctly.

Course content

Biology

B2.1 Cells and simple cell transport
B2.2 Tissues, organs and organ systems
B2.3 Photosynthesis
B2.4 Organisms and their environment
B2.5 Proteins – their functions and uses
B2.6 Aerobic and anaerobic respiration
B2.7 Cell division and inheritance
B2.8 Speciation

Chemistry

C2.1 Structure and bonding
C2.2 How structure influences the properties and uses of substances
C2.3 Atomic structure, analysis and quantitative chemistry
C2.4 Rates of reaction
C2.5 Exothermic and endothermic reactions
C2.6 Acids, bases and salts
C2.7 Electrolysis

Physics

P2.1 Forces and their effects
P2.2 The kinetic energy of objects speeding up or slowing down
P2.3 Currents in electrical circuits
P2.4 Using mains electricity safely and the power of electrical appliances
P2.5 What happens when radioactive substances decay, and the uses and dangers of their emissions
P2.6 Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion
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Study resources

Details of textbooks, websites and other resources to follow…

Websites

BBC Bitesize
s-cool

…more to follow…

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