An Overview of the AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy Syllabus & Exams

The AQA GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy) syllabus covers a number of topics. In this blog post, we state the topics students are expected to know ahead of the exam.

There are six papers: two biology, two chemistry and two physics. Each of the papers will assess

knowledge and understanding from distinct topic areas.

All six papers have a written exam that’s 1 hour 15 minutes and have 70 marks each worth 16.7% of the GCSE. Foundation and higher tier are available, All exams have questions that are multiple-choice, structured, closed short answer, and open response.

The AQA GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy ) – Biology syllabus covers seven subject areas, split across two separate papers:

Biology

1. Cell Biology
2. Organisation
3. Infection and Response
4. Bioenergetics
5. Homeostasis and Response
6. Inheritance, Variation and Evolution
7. Ecology

Biology Paper 1

What’s assessed

Biology topics 1–4: Cell Biology; Organisation; Infection and response; and Bioenergetics.

Biology Paper 2

What’s assessed

Biology topics 5–7: Homeostasis and response; Inheritance, variation and evolution; and Ecology.

How it’s assessed

The AQA GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy ) – Chemistry syllabus consists of ten subject areas, spread out over two exam papers:

8. Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
9. Bonding, Structure, and the Properties of Matter
10. Quantitative Chemistry
11. Chemical Changes
12. Energy Changes
13. The Rate and Extent of Chemical Change
14. Organic Chemistry
15. Chemical Analysis
16. Chemistry of the Atmosphere
17. Using Resources

Chemistry Paper 1

What’s assessed

Chemistry topics 8–12: Atomic structure and the periodic table; Bonding, structure, and the

properties of matter; Quantitative chemistry; Chemical changes; and Energy changes.

Chemistry Paper 2

What’s assessed

Chemistry topics 13–17: The rate and extent of chemical change; Organic chemistry; Chemical

analysis; Chemistry of the atmosphere; and Using resources.

Questions in Paper 2 may draw on fundamental concepts and principles from: Atomic structure and the periodic table; Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter; Quantitative chemistry

The AQA GCSE Combined Science (Trilogy ) – Physics syllabus consists of seven subject areas, spread out over two exam papers:

18. Energy
19. Electricity
20. Particle Model of Matter
21. Atomic Structure
22. Forces
23. Waves
24. Magnetism and electromagnetism

Physics Paper 1

What’s assessed

Physics topics 18–21: Energy; Electricity; Particle model of matter; and Atomic structure.

Physics Paper 2

What’s assessed

Physics topics 22–24: Forces; Waves; and Magnetism and electromagnetism

I mentioned the question types earlier. Let’s look at each question type in more detail:

Multiple choice – In the tests, multiple choice questions are usually worth one mark. You’ll be presented with a question and a selection of possible answers. Some multiple-choice questions require you to demonstrate your retained knowledge, i.e. facts. Whereas other questions will require you to work out the correct answer using an equation or formula. Typically, you don’t need to show your work with multiple-choice questions, you only need to select the correct answer.

Structured – These question types usually ask you to answer in a specific way by providing command words like ‘why’, ‘how’ and ‘find’. Please pay close attention to the command word that’s being used as it can help guide your answer. For example, with a ‘why’ structured question, you’ll need to provide an explanation but not necessarily show your work.

Closed short answer – These questions require you to answer with a single word or short sentence. Closed short answers are typically worth 1-3 marks in the exam and assess your ability to remember facts. The key to answering these types of questions effectively is to get the right balance in terms of the length of your answer.

Open response – These questions usually have the highest number of marks. They’re generally multi-step questions that require you to show your work in a logical way. The key to answering these questions well is to put yourself in the examiner’s shoes and ask if you can clearly see where all your points will come from.