Applied Science Introduction Level 3 Extended Certificate Course

Applied Science Introduction Level 3 Extended Certificate

Course overview • Applied Science consists of 4 units. • 2 are external units and are assessed via examinations. • 2 units are internally assessed coursework. • Year 12 focus on Units 1 and 2. • Year 13 focus on Units 3 and 10.

Y 12 units • Unit 1 is externally assessed and focuses on aspects of A-level chemistry, biology and physics. • At the end of unit 1 in January 2021, you will sit 3 x 40 min examinations in the hall under exam conditions. You will be accredited a score of Pass, Merit or Distinction for the combined marks gained in all 3 exams (biology, chemistry and physics). • Unit 2 is developing practical skills in scenarios that are prepared for future development in laboratories and research. • This is comprised of 4 Tasks that all focus on the importance of accuracy and the implications it can have in different industries. • For example, you will learn how to accurately titrate acids against unknown quantities of alkalis to determine how well they were made. You will then critically analyse your procedures and determine its importance in scenarios such as manufacturing drugs in the pharmaceutical industry. • You will perform more detailed chromatography technique's and analyse the use of TLC paper, gas chromatography and its applications in forensics and the food industry.

Y 13 units • Unit 3 is an externally assessed unit but your grade is awarded through a 3 hour practical exam and a 1. 5 hour written paper. • The 3 hour exam is performed in a science classroom with the teacher and an exam invigilator. the 1. 5 hour written exam is in the same format, however it might not take place in the science class. • Unit 3 content consists of a mix of all 3 sciences that cover enzymes, diffusion, circuits. You are taught many practical techniques and the importance of communicating your research in written format similar to GCSE but in more depth. Each science concept will cover 2 -3 different practical elements. Unit 10 • This is an internally assessed unit comprising of 3 tasks. Each task is centred around aspects of biology. You will cover the importance of biological molecules within the human body, respiration within depth and the effects of substances such as smoking and emphysema. And finally plants and the effects of light, temperature and CO 2 on photosynthesis. • Again, these 3 tasks have extensive practical elements.

How the course is assessed • We have covered that Unit 1 and unit 3 will be externally assessed through examinations. • Unit 2 and 10 will be assessed via the teacher, Lead IV and then coursework will be sent to the exam board for moderating. • You will be awarded one final grade at the end of the course dependant on how well you did for all 4 units. Grades are based on UMS points and these are all added to give a final grade. • To gain a distinction star you need to gain 4 x distinctions in all units. • It is possible to gain 2 merits in the external exam and 2 distinctions in the internal if you have enough UMS points for each unit. • However, a low UMS band for merit in both external exams combined with 2 distinction internal units will not necessarily accredit you a distinction overall. If UMS points are lower in the external units, you maybe awarded a Merit overall. • If you do not gain the qualification needed/aspire to, there are opportunities to retake the external exams if needed.

Internal units – the important stuff • All coursework needs to adhere to set deadlines and these will be communicated to you on regular intervals. • Each task will be handed to you at the start of the assessment period on a brief sheet with dates and explained guidelines. • All coursework tasks written up must be your own work. We have a plagiarism checker that will be used to see how much of the work is your own, the exact websites it uses and the work copied. You should be proud of your work, so own it well! • We will of course guide you on how to write research into your own words if you get stuck. • Coursework will follow the same criteria for each piece so after 1 or 2 tasks you will be very familiar with what you need to do. • You must back up your work. . . Save it to a USB, email it to us and save it in 1 more place like your cloud/google drive. If you loose work, it is not our responsibility. . You are getting older now! • Work will be completed in school but also you will be set work to complete at home/during study periods. If for any reason you are struggling to meet a deadline, please inform us asap and not on the day of the deadline.

The fun part…. . • Not only do you get me… Mrs Kempthorne but you will also be spilt with another one of Goffs’ science team. • An insight into the topics and practical's…. . Y 12 • High powered microscopes looking at cells never seen in Y 7 to Y 11, the heart and vessels, muscles, the nervous system, chemical reactions, the periodic table, bonding, waves, light, sound, communication waves including Bluetooth and inferred, how fibre optics work and critical angles. Y 13 • Enzymes- looking at temperature and p. H, diffusion with agar jelly and acids, circuits, food testing, plants in varying amounts of light CO 2 and temperature, effects of exercise and your CO 2 output. • These are just some of the areas we cover in the course.