GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy - Course Overview and Assessment Details

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by Terk

GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy outlines a two-year GCSE pathway covering Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in a traditional curriculum structure. The course specifies core topic areas across the three disciplines and emphasizes practical work through experiments assessed within exam settings rather than coursework. It explains the exam format, including six exam papers at the end of Year 11, timing, tiering (Foundation and Higher), and a range of question types. The qualification is graded as two GCSEs.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Course overview

Biology topics

Chemistry topics

Physics topics

Further study and progression

Practical work and assessment

Exam paper structure

Tiers and question types

Qualification value and grading

GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy Combined Science: Trilogy is a two-year GCSE course. Students studying Combined Science: Trilogy will cover the three science disciplines, Biology, Chemistry and Physics in the traditional way, learning about the following topics: Biology • Cell biology • Organisation • Infection and response • Bioenergetics • Homeostasis and response • Inheritance, variation and evolution • Ecology Chemistry • Atomic structure and the periodic table • Bonding, structure, and the properties of matter • Quantitative chemistry • Chemical changes • Energy changes • The rate and extent of chemical change • Organic chemistry • Chemical analysis • Chemistry of the atmosphere • Using resources Physics • Forces • Energy • Waves • Electricity • Magnetism and electromagnetism • Particle model of matter • Atomic structure Further Study: Students can use their Science GCSEs to go on to study many possible subjects at A Level and University. The new GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy has been designed by the exam board, AQA, to be the ideal preparation for studying A Level Sciences. The new A Level specifications have been written with the assumption that students progressing on to A Level Biology, Chemistry and Physics will have studied GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy. Popular science-based degrees include: Chemistry, Biology, Medicine, Veterinary Science, Pharmacology, Physics, Chemical Engineering, Medicine, Biochemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Pharmacy, Environmental Sciences, Chemical Physics and many others. Science related career options for students who enjoy science and are successful at GCSE, including: analytical chemist, chemical engineer, clinical biochemist, pharmacologist, research scientist, toxicologist, chartered accountant, environmental scientist, university lecturer, lawyer, science writer, secondary school teacher, patent attorney, dentist, doctor, vet and many more. Science is a practical subject and throughout the course students will have a chance to carry out many different practical activities. There is no longer any coursework at GCSE. Instead, students carry out a number of experiments during the course and these are assessed during the exams. There are six exam papers: at the end of Year 11: two Biology, two Chemistry and two Physics, with all the papers 1 hour 15 minutes in length . Tiers: Foundation and Higher. There are a range of question types: multiple choice, structured, closed, short answer and open response.. There is no longer any coursework in Science GCSEs. Some questions in the exam papers will assess practical skills. GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy is worth two GCSEs and will be graded from 9-9 to 1-1.

FAQs

How long is the GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy course?

The course runs for two years in total, as a standard GCSE pathway.

What practical assessment approach does the course use?

There is no coursework; students complete experiments during the course, and practical skills are assessed through exam questions.

What is the exam structure at the end of Year 11?

There are six exam papers in total: two Biology, two Chemistry, and two Physics, each lasting 1 hour 15 minutes, with Foundation and Higher tiers and multiple question formats.

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by Terk