Year 9 Options - Science
GCSE Biology
Biology is the study of life and living organisms, including their physical structure, chemical processes, development and evolution.
It also involves studying and understanding the physiology, behaviour and other qualities of an organism or class of organisms.
Course overview
There are 7 Biology modules at GCSE:
B1. Cell biology: In this module you will learn that every living thing is made up of cells and the different types and parts of those cells.
B2. Organisation: This module looks at how the different organs of living things function and how they are arranged.
B3. Infection and response: In this module, you will look at various diseases and how they infect and affect organism. It also looks at how these diseases can be treated.
B4. Bioenergetics: This module will help you understand how organisms generate and release energy through various processes.
B5. Homeostasis and response: This module looks at the different chemical reactions and processes that takes place in organisms. It also looks at the importance of maintaining these reactions within the best of conditions.
B6. Inheritance, variation and evolution: In this module, you will learn about the structure and composition of DNA, evolution and genetic engineering.
B7. Ecology: This module will help you understand more about the environment and how living things coexist in their different habitats.
Future pathways
- Biotechnologist
- Higher Education lecturer
- Medicine
- Marine biologist
- Microbiologist
- Nature conservation officer
- Pharmacologist
- Dentistry
GCSE Chemistry
Chemistry is the study of properties, composition and structure of substances (defined as elements and compounds), the transformations they undergo, and the energy that is released or absorbed during these processes.
Course overview
There are 10 Chemistry modules at GCSE:
C1: Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table : In this module you will learn that all substances are made of atoms . You also learn about elements , compounds and mixtures and different techniques to separate mixtures.
C2: Bonding and Structure : This module looks at the three states of matter and how the elements are joined together chemically in different compounds.
C3 : Quantitative Chemistry : In this module, you will look at law of mass conservation and take measurements of chemical amounts. We will also practise on how to write equation for chemical reactions and how to balance them.
C4 : Chemical Reactions : This module will help you to understand how different elements react. You will also study how to order these elements based on their reactivity.
C5 : Energy Changes : in his module you will learn that the amount of energy in the universe at the end of a chemical reaction is the same as before the reaction takes place.
C6 : Rate and Extent of Chemical Change : In this module, you will learn how to calculate the speed of chemical reaction by measuring the amount of a reactant used or the amount of product formed over time.
C7: Organic Chemistry: In this module you will learn about the crude oil and its components . You will also look at the formation and uses of crude oil.
C8 : Chemical Analysis : You will learn about The differences between pure and impure substances and how to separate them from one another.
C9 : Chemistry of The Atmosphere : In this module you look at the proportions of different gases in the atmosphere and the contribution of modern life to global warming.
C10 : Using resources : In this module you will look at how humans use the Earth’s resources to provide warmth, shelter, food and transport.
Future pathways
- Analytical Chemist.
- Chemical Engineer.
- Chemistry Teacher.
- Forensic Scientist.
- Geochemist.
- Hazardous Waste Chemist.
- Materials Scientist.
- Pharmacologist.
- Medicine.
- Dentistry
GCSE Physics
Physics is the study of the physical world: matter, energy, motion and forces.
It is the study of the fundamental laws of nature, which simply put underlie all physical phenomena in the universe.
Physics teaches how the world, and the universe, work.
Without the laws of physics nothing can happen
Course overview
There are 8 physics modules at GCSE:
P1 – Energy: In this module you will study the different energy stores and the transfers between them
P2 – Electricity: This module looks at what electricity is, how electricity transfers energy and electricity in the home.
P3 – Matter: The different states of matter and density of objects
P4 – Radiation: You will discover that radiation is not all bad! What is radiation, how is it used to affect our daily lives.
P5 – Forces and Motion: Interaction of forces between bodies and the changes to their motion that this brings about.
P6 – Waves: How sound, light and other waves transfer energy. The uses of different types of waves
P7 – Electromagnetism: You will discover how electricity and magnetism are linked. How one can bring about another, how motors work and how our electricity is generated.
P8 – Space physics (triple physics only): You will study how the universe started and stars are formed.
Future pathways
- Robotics
- Engineering
- Computer Science
- Climate change
- Renewable energy
- Medicine
- Medical physics
- Law
- Finance