OCR GCSE 21st century Additional Science – J631

As usual for science gcses there are four modules – three examined by written exams and one by contolled assessment. Each counts for 25% of the total marks. The controlled assessment module comprises a Practical Data Analysis and Case Study of a topical issue in science from a choice set by OCR Assessed by teachers, internally standardised and externally moderated by OCR.

Here is a link to the specification.

Course Content

There are three modules for each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, just like for Core Science A.

Modules

Module B4: Homeostasis
~ What is homeostasis?
~ Why is homeostasis important for a cell?
~ How is our body temperature kept constant?
~ How does the body control water balance?

Module C4: Chemical Patterns
~ What are the patterns in the properties of elements?
~ How do chemists explain the patterns in the properties of the elements?
~ How do chemists explain the properties of compounds of Group 1 and Group 7 elements?

Module P4: Explaining Motion
~ How can we describe motion?
~ What are forces?
~ What is the connection between forces and motion?
~ How can we desribe motion in terms of energy changes?

Module B5: Growth and Development
~ How does an organism produce new cells?
~ How do genes control growth and development within the cell?
~ How do new organisms develop from a single cell?

Module C5: Chemicals of the Natural Environment
~ What types of chemicals make up the atmosphere and hydrosphere?
~ What types fo chemiscals make up the Earth’s lithosphere?
~ How can we extrcat useful metals from minerals?

Module P5: Electric Circuits
~ Electric current – a flow of charge?
~ What determines the size of the current in an electric circuit?
~ How do parallet and series circuits work?
~ How is mains electricity produced?
~ How much electrical energy do we use at home?

Module B6: Brain and Mind
~ How do organisms respond to changes in their environment?
~ How is information passed through the nervouse system?
~ What are reflex actions?
~ How do humans develop more complex behaviour?
~ What do we know about the way in which the brain co-ordinates our senses?
~ How do drugs affect our nervous systems?

Module C6: Chemical Synthesis
~ Chemicals and why we need them
~ Planning, carrying out and controlling chemical synthesis

Module P6: The Wave Model of Radiation
~ What are waves?
~ Why do scientists think that light and sound are waves?
~ Do all types of electromagnietic radioation behave in the same way?
~ How is information added to a wave?

Exam dates for 2012

Exams can be taken in January and/or Summer

Unit A215: B4, C4, P4 – Monday, January 30th and Monday May 21st.
Unit A216: B5, C5, P5 – Tuesday, January 31st and Monday June 25th.
Unit A217: B6, C6, P6 – Thursday, February 2nd and Wednesday June 20th.