Download Entry level and GCSE Additional Applied Science

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Twenty First Century Science - 2006
Entry level and GCSE Additional Applied Science
Linking Entry level with GCSE Additional Applied Science
GCSE Additional Applied Science in the Twenty First Century Science programme can
successfully motivate students that do not thrive in a concept-led course. The course is in many
ways a natural progression from Entry level. The applied modules are set in practical contexts of
everyday importance. The course motivates by building on success.
There are many similarities in the approach to assessment as shown by this table. For potential F
and G grade students the assessment model for GCSE Additional Applied Science may seem a
more accessible progression from Entry level that the assessment model for GCSE Science.
What is assessed
Entry level assessment
Knowledge and
understanding
Hands-on skills
Analysis of data
Research and presentation
Short tests
GCSE Additional Applied
Science assessment
Short tests
Can-do tasks
Data analysis
Science topic
Standard procedures
Suitability test
Work related report
Entry level items and Additional Applied Science modules
There are three modules in GCSE Additional Applied which links closely to Entry level items.
This is shown in the following tables. This allows for progression to three out of the six modules
for GCSE Additional Applied Science (all that students have to study). Sticking to these three
modules could be the better approach if the Entry level course runs over two years with a relative
late decision to enter for GCSE. Even so it might be more stimulating to take on at least one
fresh module. A4 Scientific detection is popular and appropriate.
However some school may choose to complete Entry level in year 10 (in double-science time)
and then offer GCSE to some students in year 11. If so the choice of additional applied modules
is more open, though A1, A2, A3 and A6 are likely to more appropriate for young people
moving on from Entry level.
The tables below show that there are links between 17 of the Entry level items and the three
Additional Applied modules (9 biology items, 4 chemistry items and 4 physics items). There can
be a free choice when selecting the other Entry level items to cover.
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Twenty First Century Science - 2006
A1 Life Care
AP1: Life Care
Related Entry level
items
Notes on the Entry level content
1.1 People and organisations
B2 Babies
B4 Casualty
These two items suggest experiences involving
healthcare workers.
1.2 Baseline assessment

Medical history
B4 Casualty
Knowing what to do in a medical emergency is
relevant in this context.

Basic tests
B1 Dead or alive
B4 Casualty
Students find out how exercise affects breathing and
pulse rates. They link recovery time to fitness.

Further tests
B2 Babies
Tests to monitor pregnancy including urine tests
B1 Dead or alive
The suggested data analysis is about the effect of
exercise on breathing rate.
1.3 Diagnosis and action plans

Using data from tests to
assess health or fitness
1.4 Treatment and aftercare
This section of the module is not explicitly covered by any items.
1.5 Underlying skills and
knowledge
B1 Dead or alive
This item revisits ideas from earlier Key Stages which
students need to build on.

The heart, blood vessels
B4 Casualty
The item covers the heart and circulatory system.

Breathing system, structure
and function
B7 Gasping for breath
This item covers the breathing system and respiration.

Composition of the blood
B4 Casualty
This item covers the circulation of oxygen in the body
but not detail of the composition of the blood.

Skeleton: structure and
function. Ligaments,
tendons, muscles and bones
Muscles feature in items B4, B6 and B7 but the skeletal system is not covered in
Entry level.

Female reproductive system
including changes during
pregnancy and birth
B2 Babies
The item includes the female reproductive system and
changes during pregnancy and birth

Body’s response to changes
in temperature
B6 Control systems
The item covers how the body controls its temperature
and water content.

The function of the kidneys
B6 Control systems
This item includes the knowledge that kidneys remove
excess water.
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Twenty First Century Science - 2006
A2 Agriculture and food
AP2: Agriculture and food
Related Entry level
items
Notes on the Entry level content
B11 From field to
plate
This item uses the commercial ‘food chain’ for milk to
illustrate stages from field to plate.
AP2.1 The agriculture and food
industries

Farming in Britain
This item shows that plants and animals are sources of
natural fibres
C5 Fibres and fabrics
AP2.2 Growing plants for food

Food from plants
B10 Green and
growing
This item covers the different parts of plants that
people eat.

Life cycle of flowering
plants
B10 Green and
growing
The item covers key stages in the life cycle of plants
and the functions of roots and leaves.

Germination of seeds
B10 Green and
growing
The suggested data analysis is based on data from
studies of germination.

Growing media and their
characteristics
B11 From field to
plate
This item includes tests on samples of soil and the
different pH preferences of plant species
This item covers pH including the pH of soils
C1 Acids and alkalis

Photosynthesis
B8 Creepy crawlies
This item introduces the idea that plants make their
own food from carbon dioxide and water.

Taking cuttings
B10 Green and
growing
The item covers cloning plants by taking cuttings.
AP2.3 Animal farming for food

Food from animals
B11 From field to
plate
This item features milk and milk processing. It also
covers aspects of organic farming

Animal reproduction and
breeding including selective
breeding
B2 Babies
The item deals with human reproduction but
introduces language and ideas that also apply to
animals.
B10 Green and
growing
This item introduces the idea of selective breeding –
mainly with plants but interpretation of data from
animal breeding is included.
B11 From field to
plate
This item covers the stage in the production of milk,
cheese and yogurt.

Processing a food product
from animals
AP2.4 Biotechnology and food

Food from microorganisms
B11 From field to
plate
This item includes examples of food and drink made
with the help of microorganisms: cheese, yogurt

Types of microorganisms
B13 Body wars
This item covers the different types of microorganisms
in the context of infectious diseases.

Population growth
B13 Body wars
This item features the interpretation of data related to
the size of microbial populations.

Stages in processing a food
product made with
microorganisms
B11 From field to
plate
This item includes the stages in turning into milk or
yogurt.
Twenty First Century Science - 2006
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AP2.5 Quality, value and
sustainability

The importance of testing to
ensure the quality and safety
of food.
B11 From field to
plate
B13 Body wars
These items feature the importance of hygiene in
making diary products and preparing food.
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Twenty First Century Science - 2006
A6 Materials and performance
AP6: Materials and
performance
Related Entry level
items
Notes on the Entry level content
AP6.1 People and organisations
This work-related section is not explicitly covered by any items.
AP6.2 Mechanical behaviour of
materials

Mechanical properties and
how to measure them
C4 Heavy metal?
This item includes a comparison of the densities of
iron and aluminium
C5 Fibres and fabrics
P4 G-force
These items include opportunities to measure the
stretchiness of fibres.
C7 Strong stuff
In this item students compare the hardness of
minerals using scratch tests.

Alloys: their properties and
uses
C7 Strong stuff
In this item students compare pure metals and
alloys. They relate the properties of alloys to their
uses

Composite materials
C7 Strong stuff
This item features selected composites: their
advantages and uses

Forces and movement
P4 G-force
This item explores the force of gravity and the
motion of falling objects.

Materials and devices to
improve road safety
P4 G-force
This item covers the uses of materials in a number
of devices to improve road safety
AP6.3 Electrical, thermal and
acoustic behaviour of materials

Electrical properties, their
measurement and
applications
This section is not explicitly covered in detail by any items.

Thermal properties, their
measurement and
applications
P10 Hot stuff
This item compares some thermal properties of
metals and polymers. It also covers the use of
insulators to slow down energy loss from buildings
and from hot food.

Sound, noise and their effects
P9 Sound effects
This item deals with the amplitude, pitch and
frequency of sound; also with sound as a wave and
with the dangers of loud sounds.
AP6.4 Optical behaviour of
materials

Optical properties and the
use of materials
P5 Let there be light
This item covers optical fibres and their uses to
transmit data

Mirrors and lenses
P5 Let there be light
This item includes an introduction to reflection
and refraction by mirrors and lenses
C5 Fibres and fabrics
This items illustrates some properties of synthetic
polymers
C7 Strong stuff
In this item compare metals with non-metallic
materials with respect to mechanical, thermal and
electrical properties. They also meet ceramic
bricks as well as concrete and relate their
properties to uses.
AP6.5 Underlying skills and
knowledge

Comparison of classes of
materials in terms of
properties