Year 9 Science Assessments - May 2023 - 1 May 2023 assessment week guide

Sep 5, 2026

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Year 9 Science assessments are scheduled for the week commencing 1 May 2023, with Biology on Tuesday 2 May (Lesson 3 for M students, Lesson 2 for E students), Chemistry on Wednesday 3 May (Lesson 3 for M, Lesson 4 for E), and Physics on Friday 5 May (Lesson 1 for M, Lesson 4 for E). Exams last 45 minutes plus 12 minutes extra time, requiring pen, pencil, ruler and calculator. Results support updated GCSE groupings and inform eligibility for high-attainment single science places. Active revision guidance covers recall, application, mind maps, and Google Classroom resources.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Assessment overview

Schedule by subject and group

Timing, required equipment, and concessions

Results use and course guidance

Grouping balance for GCSEs

Target grades and Combined vs Single Science routes

Exam structure and assessed topics

Biology, Chemistry, Physics topics

Revision information and resources

Active revision approach

Google Classroom and checklist access

Kerboodle, PLCs, and recommended guides

10 March 2023 Dear Parent/Guardian Year 9 Science Assessments – May 2023 We are writing to inform you that we will be assessing all Year 9 students on all the work that they have studied this year during the week commencing 1 May 2023 (year 9 assessment week) . | Subject | Date of assessment | Time of assessment for M students | Time of assessment for E students | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Biology | Tuesday 2 May | Lesson 3 | Lesson 2 | | Chemistry | Wednesday 3 May | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4 | | Physics | Friday 5 May | Lesson 1 | Lesson 4 | | Assessments will be 45 minutes + 12 minutes extra time. Students will need a pen, pencil, ruler and calculator for all assessments. If students have a word processor and computer reader concession, they will need their laptop and headphones. | | | | We will use the results of these examinations to help us update our groupings of the students and ensure the groups are balanced as they continue with their GCSEs. We would like as many students as possible to attain high grades in Science (7 or better) . Since the Combined Science GCSE course is both rigorous and challenging in terms of its breadth and depth , we feel that the vast majority of students would have a better chance of attaining these high grades by following the Combined Science course, than by following the Single (triple) Science GCSE courses. As the vast majority of students will be following the Combined Science course this course will be the expected route for our A level scientists. Having reviewed the latest GCSE guidance and papers to date, we will offer two Single Science groups. This will equate to a maximum of 27 in each class, on each side of the year. The final decision on offering these places will be based on the results of the 3 papers sat by students during this week. Results will be rank ordered, and places will be offered to the highest achieving 27 students on each year half where they have achieved a minimum of a 5L. Where a student chooses not to take up this offer, the place will be offered to the next student on the list. Revision information Please encourage your child to prepare fully for these Science assessments in good time. We recommend that students should revise in an active manner. They should avoid copying information from notes and textbooks and instead revise in away where they are having to think, recall and apply their knowledge. Making revision resources, mind maps or explaining concepts to others are examples of active revision. The students will sit 3 exams (approximately 42 marks each), one in Biology, one in Chemistry and one in Physics, they will be assessed on the following topics: Biology: Cell structure, Cell Transport, Cell Division, Animal Organisation and Plant Organisation. Chemistry: Organic Chemistry, Using Resources and Chemistry of the Atmosphere Physics: Simple Electrical Circuits , Electricity in the Home, Atoms and Materials Your child’s Science teacher will have made the topic checklists for these examinations available through Google Classroom but you can also access them and the Personalised Learning Checklists, PLCs for each topic in the GCSE Sciences Google drive using this link [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10z5IpDIEmZtaJu3WsxLDx65hDO7ZB2AG?us](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10z5IpDIEmZtaJu3WsxLDx65hDO7ZB2AG?us)[p=sharing](p=sharing) You can also access this link through the Year 9 Pastoral Google classroom where a PowerPoint with more revision links and information is made available for students. | Revision Resources | Web links | | --- | --- | | Kerboodle-for an electronic copy of the textbooks which include knowledge based questions and practice examination style questions at the end of each chapter (look out for the summary and practice questions at the end of each chapter, mark schemes for the practice questions can be accessed via the drive) | [www.kerboodle.com](www.kerboodle.com). | | GCSE Science Go

FAQs

When do Year 9 Science assessments take place in May 2023?

They take place during the week commencing 1 May 2023. Biology is Tuesday 2 May, Chemistry is Wednesday 3 May, and Physics is Friday 5 May.

How long are the exams and what equipment is needed?

Each assessment is 45 minutes with 12 minutes extra time. Students need a pen, pencil, ruler and calculator for all assessments.

How are assessment results used for GCSE science groupings?

The results are used to update student groupings and ensure balanced classes as students continue with their GCSEs. Rank-ordered results determine offers for single science places where minimum performance thresholds are met.

What revision approach and topics should students focus on?

Students should revise actively by thinking, recalling, and applying knowledge rather than copying notes. The assessed topics include Biology cell structure and organisation, Chemistry organic chemistry and atmosphere/using resources, and Physics circuits, electricity in the home, atoms and materials.

Sep 5, 2026

Upload by McQueen