AQA GCSE Combined Science grade boundaries Synergy June 2018
| Level | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Combined Foundation 1 | 59 | 51 | 38 | 25 | 12 | ||||
| Combined Higher 1 | 60 | 51 | 42 | 34 | 27 | 20 | 13 | ||
| Combined Foundation 2 | 58 | 49 | 37 | 25 | 13 | ||||
| Combined Higher 2 | 63 | 54 | 46 | 38 | 30 | 23 | 16 | ||
| Combined Foundation 3 | 55 | 46 | 34 | 22 | 11 | ||||
| Combined Higher 3 | 64 | 55 | 47 | 36 | 26 | 16 | 6 |
AQA Synergy Science Specification Content
1. Building blocks – DNA, sugars, proteins and other biological molecules.
2. Transport over larger distances
3. Interactions with the environment
4. Explaining change
5. Building blocks for understanding
6. Interactions over small and large distances
7. Movement and interactions
8. Guiding Spaceship Earth towards a sustainable future
9. Key ideas
Assessments
Paper 1 – Life and environmental sciences
Assessment structure:
· Topics 4.1–4.4: Biological molecules; Transport over larger distances; Interactions with the environment and Explaining change.
· Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
· Foundation and Higher Tier papers available
· 100 marks
· 25% of the Science GCSE
· Questions: There are structured questions; longer and shorter questions as well as some multiple choice. Some longer questions have a greater emphasis on knowledge and application (AO1 and AO2) than analysis and evaluation (AO3).
Paper 2 – Life and environmental sciences
Assessment Structure
· Topics 4.1–4.4: Building blocks; Transport over larger distances; Interactions with the environment and Explaining change.
· Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
· Foundation and Higher Tier papers available
· 100 marks
· 25% of GCSE Science
· Questions: There are all types of questions including long and short answers, applied and recall questions. This paper assesses more of the analysis and evaluation (AO3) skills, and knowledge based around the required practicals.
Paper 3 – Physical sciences
Assessment Structure
· Topics 4.5–4.8: Building blocks for understanding; Interactions over small and large distances; Movement and interactions and Guiding Spaceship Earth towards a sustainable future.
· Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
· Foundation and Higher Tier
· 100 marks
· 25% of GCSE
· Questions: Multiple choice, structured, closed and open short answer questions, with greater emphasis on knowledge and application (AO1 and AO2) than analysis and evaluation (AO3).
Paper 4 – Physical sciences
Assessment Structure:
· Topics 4.5–4.8: Building blocks for understanding; Interactions over small and large distances; Movement and interactions and Guiding Spaceship Earth towards a sustainable future.
· Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
· Foundation and Higher Tier examinations available
· 100 marks
· 25% of the Science GCSE Synergy
· Questions: This paper assesses the analysis and evaluation (AO3) skills part of the course, as well as the required practicals. Questions include multiple choice and a mixture of long and short answers.