Combined Science

Combined Science — IGCSE

British Curriculum · Pearson · Years 10-11 · Ages 14-16

Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Science (Double Award) (4SD0) covers biology, chemistry and physics in a single course worth two grades, untiered and graded 9 to 1.

The content is drawn from the separate Edexcel International GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics specifications with the most demanding material removed, and it keeps A Level science open in all three disciplines.

Because three disciplines share one timetable, the usual difficulty is coverage rather than difficulty of any single topic. Identifying which of the three is weakest and working on it specifically is far more effective than revising all three evenly.

Key topics covered

• Living Organisms — Cells, transport, nutrition, respiration, gas exchange and coordination.
• Inheritance & Ecology — Reproduction, DNA, genetic crosses, ecosystems and human influence.
• Principles of Chemistry — Atomic structure, bonding, the periodic table and mole calculations.
• Chemical Reactions — Acids and bases, electrolysis, rates, energetics and organic chemistry.
• Forces & Energy — Motion, Newton's laws, momentum, energy transfer and efficiency.
• Waves, Electricity & Radioactivity — Wave properties, circuits, magnetism, decay and half-life.
• Practical Skills — Experimental design, measurement, data handling and evaluation.