Specification

AQA GCSE Physics 8463

Physics is …

Please note: This is a linear course with all the papers being sat in the summer of Year 11.

Subject content

1. Energy
2. Electricity
3. Particle model of matter
4. Atomic structure
5. Forces
6. Waves
7. Magnetism and electromagnetism
8. Space physics
9. Key ideas

Scheme of Assessment

Paper 1 Topics 1–4: Energy; Electricity; Particle model of matter; and Atomic structure.; 1 hours 45 minutes; 100 marks; 50% of total

Paper 2* Topics 5–8: Forces; Waves; Magnetism and electromagnetism; and Space physics.; 1 hours 45 minutes; 100 marks; 50% of total

*Questions in Paper 2 may draw on an understanding of energy changes and transfers due to heating, mechanical and electrical work and the concept of energy conservation from Energy and Electricity.

Specification

AQA GCSE Chemistry 8462

Chemistry is …

Please note: This is a linear course with all the papers being sat in the summer of Year 11.

Subject content

1. Atomic structure and the periodic table
2. Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter
3. Quantitative chemistry
4. Chemical changes
5. Energy changes
6. The rate and extent of chemical change
7. Organic chemistry
8. Chemical analysis
9. Chemistry of the atmosphere
10. Using resources
11. Key ideas

Scheme of Assessment

Paper 1 Sections 1 to 5 Atomic structure and the periodic table; Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter; Quantitative chemistry, Chemical changes; and Energy changes; 1 hours 45 minutes; 100 marks; 50% of total

Paper 2* Sections 6 to 10 The rate and extent of chemical change; Organic chemistry; Chemical analysis, Chemistry of the atmosphere; and Using resources; 1 hours 45 minutes; 100 marks; 50% of total

Specification

AQA GCSE Biology 8461

Chemistry is …

Please note: This is a linear course with all the papers being sat in the summer of Year 11.

Subject content

1. Cell biology
2. Organisation
3. Infection and response
4. Bioenergetics
5. Homeostasis and response
6. Inheritance, variation and evolution
7. Ecology
8. Key ideas

Scheme of Assessment

Paper 1 Sections 1 to 4 Cell biology; Organisation; Infection and response; and Bioenergetics; 1 hours 45 minutes; 100 marks; 50% of total

Paper 2 Sections 5 to 8 Homeostasis and response; Inheritance, variation and evolution; and Ecology; 1 hours 45 minutes; 100 marks; 50% of total

Specification

AQA GCSE English Language 8700

Chemistry is …

Please note: This is a linear course with all the papers being sat in the summer of Year 11.

Subject content

1. Explorations in creative reading and writing
2. Writers’ viewpoints and perspectives
3. Non-exam assessment

Scheme of Assessment

Paper 1 Sections 1 to 4 Explorations in Creative Reading and Writing; 1 hours 45 minutes; 80 marks; 50% of total

Paper 2 Sections 5 to 8 Writers’ Viewpoints and Perspectives; 1 hours 45 minutes; 80 marks; 50% of total

Non-examination Assessment: Spoken Language 0% of total

Specification

AQA GCSE English Literature 8702

Chemistry is …

Please note: This is a linear course with all the papers being sat in the summer of Year 11.

Subject content

1. Shakespeare
2. The 19th-century novel
3. Modern texts
4. Poetry
5. Unseen poetry

Scheme of Assessment

Paper 1 Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel; 1 hours 45 minutes; 64 marks; 40% of total

Paper 2 Modern texts and poetry; 2 hours 15 minutes; 96 marks; 60% of total

Specification

AQA GCSE French 8658

French is …

Please note: This is a linear course with all the papers being sat in the summer of Year 11.

Subject content

1. Identity and culture
2. Local, national, international and global areas of interest
3. Current and future study and employment

Scheme of Assessment

Paper 1 Listening – Understanding and responding to different types of spoken language; (Higher Tier) 45 minutes; 50 marks; 25% of total

Paper 2 Speaking – Communicating and interacting effectively in speech for a variety of purposes; (Higher Tier) 10-12 minutes + preparation time; 60 marks; 25% of total

Paper 3 Reading – Understanding and responding to different types of written language; 1 hour; 60 marks; 25% of total

Paper 4 Writing – Communicating effectively in writing for a variety of purposes; 1 hours 15 minutes; 60 marks; 25% of total

Specification

AQA GCSE French 8658

German is …

Please note: This is a linear course with all the papers being sat in the summer of Year 11.

Subject content

1. Identity and culture
2. Local, national, international and global areas of interest
3. Current and future study and employment

Scheme of Assessment

Paper 1 Listening – Understanding and responding to different types of spoken language; (Higher Tier) 45 minutes; 50 marks; 25% of total

Paper 2 Speaking – Communicating and interacting effectively in speech for a variety of purposes; (Higher Tier) 10-12 minutes + preparation time; 60 marks; 25% of total

Paper 3 Reading – Understanding and responding to different types of written language; 1 hour; 60 marks; 25% of total

Paper 4 Writing – Communicating effectively in writing for a variety of purposes; 1 hours 15 minutes; 60 marks; 25% of total

Specification

AQA GCSE French 8658

Spanish is …

Please note: This is a linear course with all the papers being sat in the summer of Year 11.

Subject content

1. Identity and culture
2. Local, national, international and global areas of interest
3. Current and future study and employment

Scheme of Assessment

Paper 1 Listening – Understanding and responding to different types of spoken language; (Higher Tier) 45 minutes; 50 marks; 25% of total

Paper 2 Speaking – Communicating and interacting effectively in speech for a variety of purposes; (Higher Tier) 10-12 minutes + preparation time; 60 marks; 25% of total

Paper 3 Reading – Understanding and responding to different types of written language; 1 hour; 60 marks; 25% of total

Paper 4 Writing – Communicating effectively in writing for a variety of purposes; 1 hours 15 minutes; 60 marks; 25% of total

Specification

AQA GCSE History 8145

History is …

Please note: This is a linear course with all the papers being sat in the summer of Year 11.

Subject content

The GCSE History content comprises the following elements:

• one period study
• one thematic study
• one wider world depth study
• one British depth study including the historic environment.

Paper 1: Understanding the modern world

Section A: Period studies

Options to be declared at point of entry.

Choose one of the following options:

• AA America, 1840–1895: Expansion and consolidation
• AB Germany, 1890–1945: Democracy and dictatorship
• AC Russia, 1894–1945: Tsardom and communism
• AD America, 1920–1973: Opportunity and inequality

Section B: Wider world depth studies

Options to be decalred at point of entry.

Choose one of the following options:

• BA Conflict and tension: The First World War, 1894–1918
• BB Conflict and tension: The inter-war years, 1918–1939
• BC Conflict and tension between East and West, 1945–1972
• BD Conflict and tension in Asia, 1950–1975
• BE Conflict and tension in the Gulf and Afghanistan, 1990–2009

Paper 2: Shaping the nation

Section A: Thematic studies

Options to be declared at point of entry.

Choose one of the following options:

• AA Britain: Health and the people: c1000 to the present day
• AB Britain: Power and the people: c1170 to the present day
• AC Britain: Migration, empires and the people: c790 to the present day

Section B: British depth studies including the historic environment

Options to be declared at point of entry.

Choose one of the following options:

• BA Norman England, c1066–c1100
• BB Medieval England: the reign of (page 26)Edward I, 1272–1307
• BC Elizabethan England, c1568–1603
• BD Restoration England, 1660–1685

Scheme of Assessment

Paper 1 Understanding the modern world ; 1 hours 45 minutes; 84 marks (4 SPAG marks); 50% of total

Paper 2 Shaping the nation; 1 hours 45 minutes; 84 marks (4 SPAG marks); 50% of total

Specification

AQA GCSE Geography 8035

Geography is …

Please note: This is a linear course with all the papers being sat in the summer of Year 11.

Subject content

1. Living with the physical environment
   1. Section A: The challenge of natural hazards
   2. Section B: The living world
   3. Section C: Physical landscapes in the UK
2. Challenges in the human environment
   4. Section A: Urban issues and challenges
   5. Section B: The changing economic world
   6. Section C: The challenge of resource management
3. Geographical applications
   7. Section A: Issue evaluation
   8. Section B: Fieldwork
4. Geographical skills
   9. Geographical skills

Scheme of Assessment

Paper 1: Sections 1 to 3 & 9 – Living with the physical environment; 1 hours 30 minutes; 88 marks (3 SPAG marks); 35% of total

Paper 2: Sections 4 to 6 & 9 – Challenges in the human environment; 1 hours 30 minutes; 88 marks (3 SPAG marks); 35% of total

Paper 3: Sections 7, 8 & 9 – Geographical applications; 1 hours 15 minutes; 76 marks (6 SPAG marks); 30% of total; Pre-release resources booklet made available 12 weeks before Paper 3 exam

Specification

AQA GCSE Religious Studies 8062

Religion is …

Please note: This is a linear course with all the papers being sat in the summer of Year 11.

Subject content

1. The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices
   • Beliefs, teachings and practices of two from:
     • Buddhism
     • Christianity
     • Catholic Christianity
     • Hinduism
     • Islam
     • Judaism
     • Sikhism.

Christianity and Catholic Christianity is a prohibited combination.

2. Thematic studies

Either four religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes or two religious, philosophical and
ethical studies themes and two textual studies themes

• Religious, philosophical and ethical studies themes:
  • Theme A: Relationships and families.
  • Theme B: Religion and life.
  • Theme C: The existence of God and revelation.
  • Theme D: Religion, peace and conflict.
  • Theme E: Religion, crime and punishment.
  • Theme F: Religion, human rights and social justice.

• Textual studies themes:
  • Theme G: St Mark’s Gospel – the life of Jesus.
  • Theme H: St Mark’s Gospel as a source of religious, moral and spiritual truths.

Scheme of Assessment

Paper 1 Component 1: The study of religions: beliefs, teachings and practices; 1 hours 45 minutes; 96 marks + 6 SPAG; 50% of total

Paper 2 Component 2: Thematic studies; 1 hours 45 minutes; 96 marks + 3 SPAG; 50% of total

Specification

AQA GCSE Computer Science 8520

Computer Science is …

Please note: This is a linear course with all the papers being sat in the summer of Year 11.

Subject content

1. Fundamentals of algorithms (page 9)
2. Programming
3. Fundamentals of data representation
4. Computer systems
5. Fundamentals of computer
6. Networks
7. Fundamentals of cyber security
8. Ethical, legal and environmental impacts of digital technology on wider society, including
9. issues of privacy
10. Aspects of software development
11. Programming project

Scheme of Assessment

Paper 1 Sections 1 to 4 Computational thinking and problem solving; 1 hours 30 minutes; 80 marks; 50% of total

Paper 2 Sections 3 to 7; 1 hours 30 minutes; 80 marks; 50% of total

Programming project; A computer program to solve the programming project; Written report: totalling 20 hours of timetabled work; 0% of total

Specification

AQA GCSE Electronics 4430

Electronics is …

Please note: This is a linear course with all the papers being sat in the summer of Year 11.

Subject content

1. Electrical safety
2. System design
3. Information system processing
4. The science of components
5. Applications of electronic systems
6. Practical skills and processes
7. Practical electronics system synthesis
8. Practical electronics system synthesis – project work

Scheme of Assessment

Component 1 Written Paper; 2 hour; 150 marks; 75% of total

Component 2 Practical Electronics System Synthesis (controlled assessment); 50 marks; 25% of total

Specification

AQA GCSE Fine Art 8202 / Photography 8206

Art is …

Please note: This is a linear course with all the papers being sat in the summer of Year 11.

Subject content

Areas of study

In Component 1 and Component 2 students are required to work in one or more area(s) of fine art, such as those listed below:

• drawing
• painting
• sculpture
• installation
• lens-/light-based media
• photography and the moving image
• printmaking
• mixed media
• land art.

They may explore overlapping areas and combinations of areas.

Knowledge, understanding and skills

Students must develop and apply the knowledge, understanding and skills specified in the subject content within the context of fine art practice and their selected area(s) of study. The following aspects of the knowledge, understanding and skills are defined in further detail to ensure students’ work is clearly focused and relevant to fine art.

Knowledge and understanding

The way sources inspire the development of ideas, relevant to fine art including:

• how sources relate to individual, social, historical, environmental, cultural, ethical and/or issues based contexts
• how ideas, themes, forms, feelings and concerns can inspire personally determined responses that are primarily aesthetic, intellectual or conceptual.

The ways in which meanings, ideas and intentions relevant to fine art can be communicated including the use of:

• figurative representation, abstraction, stylisation, simplification, expression, exaggeration and imaginative interpretation
• visual and tactile elements, such as:
  • colour
  • line
  • form
  • tone
  • texture
  • shape
  • composition
  • rhythm
  • scale
  • structure
  • surface.

Skills

Within the context of fine art, students must demonstrate the ability to:

• use fine art techniques and processes, appropriate to students’ personal intentions, for example:
• mark-making
• monoprint, collagraph and block printing
• assemblage
• construction
• carving
• film and video
• digital working methods
• use media and materials, as appropriate to students’ personal intentions, for example:
• charcoal, pastels, pen and ink, crayons and pencil
• watercolour, gouache, acrylic and oil paint
• found materials
• clay, wood and metal
• digital imagery
• different papers and surfaces on which to work.

Scheme of Assessment

Component 1: Portfolio; No time limit; 96 marks; 60% of total

Component 2: Externally set assignment; Preparatory period followed by 10 hours of supervised time; 96 marks; 40% of total

Specification

AQA GCSE Music 8271

Music is …

Please note: This is a linear course with all the papers being sat in the summer of Year 11.

Subject content

1. Understanding music
2. Performing music
3. Composing music

Scheme of Assessment

Component 1: Understanding music ; 1 hours 30 minutes; 96 marks; 40% of total

Component 2: Performance 1: Solo performance (36 marks) & Performance 2: Ensemble performance (36 marks). ; 4 minutes minimum; 72 marks; 30% of total

Component 3: Composition 1: Composition to a brief (36 marks) & Composition 2: Free composition (36 marks); 3 minutes minimum; 72 marks; 30% of total