GCSE Science - Virtual communities - Supporting materials - Published: Autumn 2020 - Practical work and subject example questions

Oct 20, 2026

Supporting materials for GCSE Science in Autumn 2020, focused on virtual communities and the required practicals for 2020/21. The document outlines the 2021 exam approach, clarifying how students can use demonstrations or simulations while still meeting apparatus and techniques requirements. It provides discussion prompts for practical work decisions, includes example questions tied to specific required practical activities, and maps subject coverage across Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, including mock-focused guidance.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages28

Reading Time1 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

The situation for 2020/21

Practical work: Points to consider

Biology

Example based on RPA 6 (Photosynthesis)

Chemistry

Example based on RPA 4 (Energy changes in reactions)

Physics

Example based on RPA4 (I–V characteristics)

The importance of mocks: Points to consider

GCSE SCIENCE Virtual communities Supporting materials Published: Autumn 2020 Contents | Contents | Page | | --- | --- | | The situation for 2020/21 | 4 | | Practical work: Points to consider | 5 | | Biology | | | Example based on RPA 6 (Photosynthesis) | 6 | | AT criteria covered in each RPA | 11 | | Chemistry | | | Example based on RPA 4 (Energy changes in reactions) | 13 | | AT criteria covered in each RPA | 18 | | Physics | | | Example based on RPA4 (I–V characteristics) | 21 | | AT criteria covered in each RPA | 25 | | The importance of mocks: Points to consider | 27 | The situation for 2020/2021 • Although students sitting exams in 2021 should have as much hands-on experience as possible, for this year they’re permitted to observe demonstrations or simulations to cover required apparatus and techniques. • The Ofqual statement in their consultation about the number of required practicals (minimum of eight for each separate science and 16 for Combined Science) may mislead teachers into thinking that they need to cover only some of the required practicals in the AQA specifications. However, the Ofqual statement referred to the original reform requirements to cover the apparatus and techniques criteria. In order to cover these criteria, the AQA specifications contain more than these minima (21 in Combined Science; 10 in Biology; eight in Chemistry; 10 in Physics) . • Students will be expected to have experience of all of these practicals over their two-year GCSE course. • Students will have covered some of the required practicals already in Year 10, although they won’t have covered all of them. There are ideas and guidance on practicals in Focus on Success Pack 3: Practical questions. • Ofqual has stated that there will be no change to the format or content of the exams for 2021, so we’ll still assess practical and other skills in the same way as in previous exam series. Practical work Points to consider To help with your discussions, on the following pages we’ve provided an example question for each subject, and tables mapping the apparatus and techniques (AT) criteria that would be covered by following the required practical activities (RPA) method suggested in the Required practical handbook for the subject. • What are you doing in terms of practicals with your Year 11s? eg Are you intending to work with a combination of demonstrations, simulations and hands-on work? If so, what sort of split are you looking at? • The RPAs were developed to cover the AT criteria, such as using a microscope, using appropriate apparatus to carry out a titration or setting up a circuit to measure resistance. o How do you think reducing the amount of hands-on practical work will affect students’ ability to answer the exam questions? • Look at the example questions on the following pages, each of which is based on the ATs. o Which aspects of the question do you think might be more challenging to cover without doing hands-on work? o Share some ideas: what are you planning to do, or could you do, to mitigate any gap? • You might also want to think about what you are doing/could be doing with your Year 10s, who won’t be sitting exams until 2022. Biology Example question based on RPA 6 (Photosynthesis) GCSE Biology Q 9 Paper 1F, May 2019

FAQs

What practical experience are students expected to have for GCSE Science in 2020/21?

Students are expected to have experience of all required practicals over their two-year GCSE course. For exams in 2021, they may be permitted to observe demonstrations or simulations to cover required apparatus and techniques.

How does the document address the Ofqual guidance on the number of required practicals?

It explains that the Ofqual consultation statement may mislead teachers into thinking only minimum practicals are needed, but AQA specifications include more than the minima to cover apparatus and techniques criteria.

What types of activities are suggested to help teachers prepare students without reducing learning gaps?

The document encourages discussions about combining demonstrations, simulations, and hands-on work, and prompts consideration of what might be challenging without hands-on practicals and how to mitigate any gap for example questions.

Oct 20, 2026

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