There are several ways students can take GCSE Science, each with a slightly different structure and level of depth. This article explains the main science specifications and how they’re assessed, so you can understand which option is right for you.
What is Combined Science: Trilogy?
Students study Biology, Chemistry, and Physics together in one combined specification 🔄️
The specification is split into clear topic areas for each science, taught across the two years so students build their knowledge step by step. Everything is assessed through six exams - two papers for each science - taken at the end of the course ⏱️
These exams test knowledge, understanding, and practical skills from the course 🧪
The marks from all six papers are combined to give two GCSE grades.
This is the specification that the Up Learn course is aligned with - read more about what the course includes here!
What is Triple (single) Science?
Students study Biology, Chemistry, and Physics as three separate GCSEs 👐
Each science has its own specification, set of topics, and exams, so students cover more content in greater depth than in Combined Science.
Like Combined Science, practical skills are built into lessons and assessed through exam questions 📊
Assessment is done through three separate exams for each science, usually taken at the end of the course. Each set of exams gives a separate GCSE grade, meaning students finish with three GCSEs, one for each science.
What is the difference between combined science and triple (single) science?
The main difference between the two options is the number of GCSEs awarded 📜
🔬 Combined Science leads to two GCSE grades
🧪 Triple Science leads to three GCSE grades
Students can take either option at Foundation or Higher tier.
Up Learn currently covers the combined science curriculum. For single science students, Up Learn covers about 75% of the topics needed for their exam 💡
What is Combined Science: Synergy?
Students follow a single combined science qualification that blends Biology, Chemistry, and Physics topics into interconnected themes, rather than separating them strictly by discipline 🕸️
The specification is organised into broad topic areas that link ideas from across the three sciences.
Instead of six shorter papers, students sit four longer written exams, all at the end of the course.
These exams test knowledge, application, practical and analytical skills drawn from the combined content, and the marks from all four papers are combined to give two GCSE grades 🧠
What is Foundation and Higher tier?
In GCSE science, all exams are offered at two tiers: Foundation and Higher. These determine the range of grades students can achieve.
Foundation tier focuses on the core content and is designed for grades 1–5, with questions that test essential knowledge and straightforward applications 🧪
Higher tier includes all Foundation content plus additional, more challenging material. It is aimed at grades 4–9 and includes questions that require deeper understanding, problem-solving and more complex calculations 📊
Both tiers follow the same topic structure and include practical and mathematical skills within exam questions ⚗️