Combined Science

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This subtopic explores the concept of internal energy within the particle model of matter, focusing on how energy is stored, transferred, and measured during changes of state. It integrates practical applications such as finding the specific heat capacity and latent heat of substances, linking theoretical principles to real-world thermal systems. Mastery of these concepts underpins understanding of thermal insulation and energy efficiency in domestic and industrial contexts.

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Cell biology

This topic explores the fundamental unit of life, the cell, examining the structural differences between eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. It covers essential biological processes including cell division via mitosis, the role of stem cells in growth and medicine, and the mechanisms of transport such as diffusion, osmosis, and active transport.

Organisation

This topic covers the hierarchical organisation of living organisms, starting from cells as basic building blocks to tissues, organs, and organ systems. It specifically focuses on the human digestive system, the heart and blood vessels, and the structure and function of plant tissues and organ systems.

Infection and response

This topic covers the nature of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, protists, and fungi, and how they cause infectious diseases in animals and plants. It explores the body's non-specific and specific immune defence systems, the role of vaccination, and the use of antibiotics and painkillers in treating disease, including the development of new medicines.

Bioenergetics

This topic explores how plants harness solar energy through photosynthesis to produce glucose, which is then used for respiration and growth. It also covers the processes of aerobic and anaerobic respiration in organisms, including the human response to vigorous exercise and the resulting oxygen debt.

Homeostasis and response

Homeostasis is the regulation of internal conditions in a cell or organism to maintain optimum conditions for function in response to internal and external changes. This topic covers the nervous system, the endocrine system, and the control of blood glucose, body temperature, and water levels.

Inheritance, variation and evolution

This topic explores how genetic information is passed from parents to offspring through sexual and asexual reproduction, involving meiosis and mitosis. It covers the principles of inheritance, including dominant and recessive alleles, genetic disorders, and the role of DNA in determining phenotypes, alongside the mechanisms of evolution, natural selection, and human intervention through selective breeding and genetic engineering.

Ecology

This topic explores the interactions within ecosystems, focusing on how organisms are adapted to their environments and the interdependence of species. It covers the cycling of materials, the impact of human activity on biodiversity, and the necessity of sustainable practices to maintain ecosystem stability.

Atomic structure and the periodic table

This topic covers the fundamental structure of the atom, including subatomic particles and the development of atomic models. It also explores the organization of the periodic table, focusing on how elements are arranged by atomic number and the properties of specific groups such as the noble gases, alkali metals, and halogens.

Using resources

This topic explores the sustainable use of Earth's resources, focusing on the distinction between finite and renewable resources and the importance of sustainable development. It covers the production of potable water through filtration and sterilisation, waste water treatment processes, and the environmental impact of resource extraction and product life cycles.

Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter

This topic explores how atoms bond through ionic, covalent, and metallic mechanisms to form various structures. It examines how these bonding types and structures determine the physical and chemical properties of materials, including melting points, conductivity, and state changes.

Quantitative chemistry

Quantitative chemistry focuses on the use of mathematical analysis to determine chemical formulae, reaction equations, and the purity of substances. It covers the law of conservation of mass, relative formula mass, and the use of moles to calculate reactant and product quantities in chemical reactions.

Chemical changes

This topic covers the reactivity of metals, including their reactions with oxygen, water, and acids, and the extraction of metals via reduction with carbon. It also explores the fundamental concepts of acids, bases, and salts, including neutralisation reactions, the pH scale, and the process of electrolysis for separating ionic compounds.

Energy changes

This topic explores energy changes in chemical reactions, distinguishing between exothermic and endothermic processes. It covers the use of reaction profiles to represent energy changes and, for Higher Tier students, the calculation of energy changes using bond energies.

The rate and extent of chemical change

This topic explores the factors that influence the rate of chemical reactions, including concentration, pressure, surface area, temperature, and the use of catalysts. It also covers the concept of reversible reactions and dynamic equilibrium, explaining how changing conditions can shift the position of equilibrium.

Organic chemistry

Organic chemistry focuses on the study of carbon compounds, primarily hydrocarbons found in crude oil. It covers the properties of alkanes, the process of fractional distillation, and how larger hydrocarbons are broken down into smaller, more useful molecules through cracking to produce alkenes.

Chemical analysis

Chemical analysis involves using qualitative tests to identify specific substances, such as gases, through distinct reactions. It also covers the use of paper chromatography to separate mixtures and identify substances based on their distribution between stationary and mobile phases.

Chemistry of the atmosphere

This topic explores the composition and evolution of the Earth's atmosphere over 4.6 billion years, including the roles of volcanic activity, photosynthesis, and human impact. It covers the greenhouse effect, the sources and effects of atmospheric pollutants, and the scientific challenges in modeling climate change.

Energy

This topic explores energy stores and systems, focusing on how energy is transferred through heating, work done by forces, and electrical work. It covers the calculation of energy changes in kinetic, elastic potential, and gravitational potential stores, as well as the concept of power and the conservation and dissipation of energy.

Electricity

This topic covers the fundamental principles of electricity, including the relationship between current, potential difference, and resistance. It explores the use of standard circuit symbols, the behavior of various components in series and parallel circuits, and the practical application of domestic electricity and safety.

Particle model of matter

This topic explores the particle model of matter, focusing on the density of materials and the internal energy of systems. It covers how the particle model explains states of matter, density differences, and energy transfers during temperature changes or changes of state.

Atomic structure

This topic covers the fundamental structure of the atom, including the arrangement of protons, neutrons, and electrons. It also explores the concept of isotopes and the historical development of atomic models, such as the plum pudding and nuclear models.

Forces

This topic covers the fundamental principles of forces, distinguishing between scalar and vector quantities and contact versus non-contact forces. It explores the relationship between mass and weight, the calculation of resultant forces, and the application of Newton's Laws of motion to describe the movement of objects.

Waves

This topic explores the fundamental properties of waves, distinguishing between transverse and longitudinal types. It covers key wave characteristics such as amplitude, wavelength, frequency, and period, and introduces the electromagnetic spectrum as a continuous range of waves that transfer energy.

Magnetism and electromagnetism

This topic covers the fundamental principles of magnetism, including permanent and induced magnets, magnetic fields, and the motor effect. It explores how electric currents produce magnetic fields and the practical application of these effects in devices like solenoids, electromagnets, and electric motors.