Edexcel GCSE Combined Science

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Biology - Shared foundations

Topic 1 - Key concepts in biology

Biology 1.1 - Cell structuresLearn how the structures of animal, plant and bacterial cells make their jobs possible, and use those functions to explain similarities and differences between cells.
Biology 1.2 - Specialised cellsConnect the features of sperm, egg and ciliated epithelial cells to their jobs in fertilisation, early development and clearing the airways.
Biology 1.3 - 1.5 - Microscopy and cell scaleFind out how improved resolution reveals cell structures, estimate sizes and convert between cell-scale units. The final part teaches Higher-tier standard-form calculations.
Biology 1.6 - Observing cellsPrepare and observe onion and cheek-cell slides, calculate magnification and cell size, and record evidence in labelled scientific drawings. Evaluate the preparation and sampling choices that affect your observations.
Biology 1.7 - 1.9, 1.12 - How enzymes workExplain enzyme specificity, denaturation and the effects of temperature, pH and substrate concentration. Connect enzyme action to the building and breakdown of biological molecules.
Biology 1.10 - 1.11 - Investigating enzyme activityInvestigate how pH affects amylase, turn the disappearance of starch into an endpoint time, and calculate rates. Use controls and repeated measurements to make the comparison meaningful.
Biology 1.15 - Cell transportDistinguish diffusion, osmosis and active transport, then use concentration gradients to predict net movement into or out of a cell.
Biology 1.16 - 1.17 - Investigating osmosisInvestigate osmosis using potato tissue and sucrose solutions. Calculate percentage gains and losses in mass, interpret the zero-change concentration and improve the quality of your evidence.

Biology 1

Topic 2 - Cells and control

Biology 2.1 - 2.4 - Mitosis, growth and cancerFollow how a cell copies and shares its chromosomes to make two matching daughter cells, then connect this process to growth, repair, asexual reproduction and cancer.
Biology 2.5 - 2.6 - Growth and differentiationDistinguish the processes that make organisms grow and develop working tissues: division supplies cells, elongation lengthens plant cells, and differentiation makes cells suited to particular jobs.
Biology 2.7 - Growth chartsUse percentile charts to monitor growth over time, translate between tables and graphs, and calculate percentage mass gain or loss without confusing it with percentile rank.
Biology 2.8 - 2.9 - Stem cells in medicineExplain how stem cells supply specialised cells in embryos, adult tissues and plants, then weigh the possible medical benefits against biological risks, evidence limits and ethical objections.
Biology 2.13 - Neurones and synapsesTrace electrical impulses through specialised neurones and chemical signals across synapses, then interpret reaction-time data as an example of nervous-system investigation.
Biology 2.14 - Reflex arcsFollow a withdrawal reflex from stimulus to muscle contraction, explain why it is rapid and automatic, and predict the effects of an interruption to the pathway.

Topic 3 - Genetics

Biology 3.3 - Meiosis and gametesMeiosis halves the chromosome number and produces genetically different haploid cells. Follow a chromosome-count example and explain how this preserves the chromosome number when gametes fuse.
Biology 3.4 - 3.5 - DNA, genes and genomesExplore how nucleotide units form the two complementary strands of DNA. Connect this molecular structure to a gene, which codes for a specific protein, and to the genome, which contains all of an organism’s DNA.
Biology 3.6 - Extracting DNA from fruitMake DNA visible by releasing it from fruit cells, filtering away large debris and precipitating it with cold ethanol. Explain the purpose of each step, the expected observation and the precautions needed.
Biology 3.12 - 3.14, 3.16 - Inheritance and probabilityExplain inherited differences using alleles, then follow one gene through gametes, fertilisation and offspring. Use Punnett squares and family pedigrees to predict and analyse dominant and recessive traits with probabilities, ratios and percentages.
Biology 3.15 - Sex determinationUse the GCSE XX–XY chromosome model to show how the sex of offspring is determined at fertilisation. A genetic diagram explains the equal expected probabilities and why earlier births do not change the next outcome.
Biology 3.19 - 3.20, 3.22 - 3.23 - Variation and mutationMost features reflect several genes, often together with the environment. Distinguish these causes of variation, investigate an environmental effect, and explain how mutations generate new alleles with different sizes of phenotypic effect.
Biology 3.21 - The Human Genome ProjectThe Human Genome Project produced a shared reference sequence and improved tools for studying DNA. Explore how those outcomes can support diagnosis and treatment, and why medical interpretation, privacy and consent still matter.

Topic 4 - Natural selection and genetic modification

Biology 4.2 - 4.3 - Natural selection and resistanceNatural selection changes inherited characteristics in a population over generations. Follow variation, selection and reproductive success, then use antibiotic-resistant bacteria as observable evidence supporting Darwin’s mechanism.
Biology 4.4 - 4.5 - Evidence for human evolutionCompare Ardi, Lucy and the 1.6-million-year-old Leakey-team fossils, then interpret changes in stone tools. Connect each observation to an inference and use dated surrounding layers to bracket a tool’s age.
Biology 4.7 - Classification and the three domainsSimilar-looking cells can have very different evolutionary histories. Follow how comparisons of inherited molecular sequences revealed two distinct prokaryotic groups and led to the three-domain classification proposal.
Biology 4.8 - Selective breedingChoosing which organisms breed can make desired inherited characteristics more common. Follow selection over generations and examine the benefits, loss of genetic diversity and welfare effects in food plants and domesticated animals.
Biology 4.10, 4.14 - Genetic engineering and its usesGenetic engineering deliberately changes a genome to introduce a desired characteristic. Compare it with selective breeding and weigh the practical and ethical benefits and risks of both methods in agriculture and medicine.
Biology 4.11 - The genetic engineering toolkitHigher tier: follow how a desired gene is cut out, matched to a plasmid and joined into a DNA vector. Distinguish the roles of restriction enzymes, sticky ends, DNA ligase and the vector that carries the gene into a host cell.

Topic 5 - Health, disease and the development of medicines

Biology 5.1-5.3 - Health and diseaseHealth includes physical, mental and social well-being. Learn to classify diseases by transmission and explain why one disease can increase the chance of another.
Biology 5.4-5.6, 5.8 - Pathogens and transmissionIdentify the pathogens behind common infections, connect them to the damage they cause, and choose prevention measures that interrupt each transmission route.
Biology 5.12-5.14 - Defences and immunityFollow how physical barriers, chemicals and the specific immune response protect the body, then explain how immunisation prepares immune memory before an infection.
Biology 5.16 - AntibioticsAntibiotics inhibit processes in bacterial cells. Use differences between bacteria, human cells and viruses to explain selective treatment and its limits.
Biology 5.20 - Developing medicinesFollow a candidate medicine from discovery to clinical testing, measure early evidence, and learn why independent scrutiny and clear communication matter.
Biology 5.23-5.24 - Lifestyle and diseaseExplain how diet, activity, alcohol and smoking affect disease risk, then use BMI, ratios and population data to interpret health patterns without confusing correlation with causation.
Biology 5.25 - Treating cardiovascular diseaseCompare life-long medication, procedures and lifestyle changes, then weigh their benefits and limitations for a patient with narrowed coronary arteries.

Biology 2

Topic 6 - Plant structures and their functions

Biology 6.1 - 6.4 - Photosynthesis and limiting factorsPlants and algae use light energy to make the organic food that supports most food chains. Learn how light, carbon dioxide and temperature limit that reaction, then explain how the limiting factor can change.
Biology 6.5 - 6.6 - Investigating photosynthesisMeasure how photosynthesis rate changes with distance from a lamp. Plan fair comparisons, process oxygen or indicator measurements, and use the inverse-square relationship on Higher tier.
Biology 6.7 - 6.10 - Plant transportFollow water and mineral ions from the soil to the leaves, and sucrose from a source to a sink. Connect root hairs, xylem, phloem and stomata to the different jobs they perform.
Biology 6.12 - 6.13 - Transpiration ratesLight, moving air and temperature change water loss at the leaves and the water taken up to replace it. Use a potometer, calculate rates, and distinguish the measurement from the biological inference.

Topic 7 - Animal coordination, control and homeostasis

Biology 7.1 - Endocrine glandsLocate the six endocrine glands and follow a hormone from its production into the blood. Explain why the same circulating hormone changes some cells while others do not respond.
Biology 7.2 - 7.3 - Adrenalin and thyroxineOn Higher tier, explain how adrenalin prepares the body for sudden action and how TRH, TSH and thyroxine form a negative-feedback system that controls metabolic rate.
Biology 7.4 - 7.5 - The menstrual cycleFollow changes in the ovaries and uterus through a menstrual cycle. Connect oestrogen and progesterone to the uterus lining, then add FSH, LH and feedback on Higher tier.
Biology 7.6 - 7.8 - Contraception and fertilityExplain how hormonal and barrier methods reduce pregnancy risk and compare their advantages. Higher-tier work applies reproductive hormone control to clomifene therapy and IVF.
Biology 7.9, 7.13 - 7.17 - Blood glucose and diabetesBlood glucose control keeps cells supplied with glucose despite meals and activity. Follow insulin and Higher-tier glucagon, compare the two types of diabetes, and use BMI and waist:hip evidence without confusing risk with diagnosis.

Topic 8 - Exchange and transport in animals

Biology 8.1 - 8.3 - Exchange surfaces and diffusionExplain what organisms exchange with their surroundings, why larger organisms need transport systems, and how the alveoli keep diffusion distances short.
Biology 8.6 - 8.8 - Blood, vessels and the heartFollow blood through its vessels and the four heart chambers, linking the structures of blood components, vessels and valves to transport and protection.
Biology 8.9 - 8.10 - Cellular respirationCompare how aerobic and anaerobic respiration release energy in living cells, including their oxygen requirements, products and uses of released energy.
Biology 8.11 - Measuring respirationUse a respirometer to investigate how temperature affects oxygen uptake, then calculate rates and evaluate whether the measurements support a reliable conclusion.
Biology 8.12 - Heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac outputCalculate how much blood the heart pumps each minute, rearrange the cardiac-output equation, and interpret changes in heart rate and stroke volume during exercise.

Topic 9 - Ecosystems and material cycles

Biology 9.1 - 9.4 - Communities and interdependenceExplore how organisms form populations, communities and ecosystems, and trace the effects of environmental change, competition, predation, mutualism and parasitism.
Biology 9.5 - 9.6 - Quadrat and transect fieldworkChoose representative field samples, investigate an environmental gradient using a belt transect, and turn quadrat counts into population estimates with clear limits.
Biology 9.9 - 9.10 - Human impacts and biodiversityTrace how fish farming, introduced species and nutrient pollution affect biodiversity, then evaluate how animal conservation and reforestation can protect it.
Biology 9.12 - 9.13 - Material cycling and carbonFollow conserved matter between living organisms and non-living stores, with carbon cycling through photosynthesis, feeding, respiration, decomposition and combustion.
Biology 9.14 - Water cycle and desalinationFollow water through the environment and living organisms, then compare how distillation and reverse osmosis can support water supplies during drought.
Biology 9.15 - Nitrogen cycle and farmingFollow the bacterial conversions that make nitrate available to plants, and explain how fertilisers and legume crop rotations replace nitrogen removed by harvesting.

Chemistry - Shared foundations

Topic 1 - Key concepts in chemistry

Chemistry 1.1 - 1.6 - Atomic models and structureFollow how discoveries changed the atomic model, then use particle locations, charges and masses to explain the structure of a neutral atom.
Chemistry 1.7 - 1.11 - Isotopes and atomic massUse atomic and mass numbers to count particles, distinguish isotopes, and explain why a sample of whole atoms can have a non-whole relative atomic mass.
Chemistry 1.12 - Calculating relative atomic massHigher tier: calculate a weighted mean from isotope masses and percentages or relative counts, then check the range, rounding and lack of units.
Chemistry 1.13 - 1.17 - Building the periodic tableSee how patterns in properties let Mendeleev predict missing elements, and why the modern periodic table uses proton number to put every element in order.
Chemistry 1.18 - 1.20 - Electron shells and table positionBuild electron-shell diagrams for the first twenty elements, connect their configurations to periods and groups, and explain the broad division between metals and non-metals.
Chemistry 1.21 - 1.24, 1.27 - Ions and ionic bondingFollow electron transfer to predict ion charges, count particles in ions, and explain how electrostatic attraction holds a giant ionic lattice together.
Chemistry 1.25 - 1.26 - Names and ionic formulaeUse compound names and supplied ion charges to write the smallest neutral formula, keeping groups of atoms such as nitrate and hydroxide intact.
Chemistry 1.28 - 1.31 - Covalent molecules and scaleExplain shared electron pairs, build dot-and-cross models for six simple molecules, and compare the size of these tiny particles with everyday objects.
Chemistry 1.32 - 1.34 - Structure and propertiesUse melting, boiling, solubility and electrical conduction to infer how particles are arranged. Distinguish the strong attractions in an ionic lattice from the weaker forces between separate molecules.
Chemistry 1.35 - 1.37 - Diamond and graphiteDiamond and graphite contain the same element but behave very differently. Follow the carbon bonds and mobile electrons to explain cutting tools, electrodes and lubricants.
Chemistry 1.38 - 1.39 - Carbon sheets, cages and chainsCompare an extended graphene sheet with separate fullerene cages and long poly(ethene) molecules. Locate the bonds and mobile electrons before explaining the properties of each structure.
Chemistry 1.40, 1.42 - Metals and their propertiesExplain how mobile electrons let a solid metal carry charge and how ion layers can slide while the metal stays together. Compare typical metal and non-metal properties while recognising exceptions.
Chemistry 1.41 - Models of chemical structuresChemical pictures make selected features visible: electron sharing, connections or spatial shape. Learn what each representation can show and how to avoid mistaking a model for the real structure.
Chemistry 1.43 - Formula mass and compositionA chemical formula counts atoms; relative formula mass adds their mass contributions. Use the same total to find what percentage of a compound’s mass comes from a chosen element.
Chemistry 1.44 - 1.45 - Empirical and molecular formulaeTurn reacting masses or percentage composition into the simplest atom ratio. Then distinguish that empirical formula from the actual atom counts in one molecule and use relative molecular mass to connect them.
Chemistry 1.46 - Finding an empirical formulaMeasure the magnesium and oxygen that combine in magnesium oxide. Learn why three cooled mass readings, controlled oxygen access and careful product collection are needed before a formula can be trusted.
Chemistry 1.47 - Conservation of massA balance can show no change, a loss or a gain during a reaction. Explain all three by tracking atoms and deciding whether a gas crosses the boundary of the measured system.
Chemistry 1.48 - Reacting massesBalanced equations give particle ratios, not direct gram ratios. Combine coefficients with relative formula masses, then scale the resulting mass relationship forwards or backwards.
Chemistry 1.49 - Solution concentrationFind how much solute is present per cubic decimetre of solution. Convert volumes, rearrange the concentration relationship and combine it with a reacting-mass calculation when the solute is made chemically.
Chemistry 1.50 - 1.51 - Moles, mass and particlesHigher tier: count enormous numbers of atoms, molecules, formula units or ions using the mole. Move in both directions between mass, amount and particle number, keeping units and particle identity clear.
Chemistry 1.52 - 1.53 - Reacting amountsHigher tier: use reaction ratios to decide which reactant runs out first and to deduce an equation from mass measurements. Check that the product amounts, atom counts and experimental evidence tell the same story.

Chemistry 1

Topic 2 - States of matter and mixtures

Chemistry 2.1 - 2.4 - States and particle changesUse the particle model to explain solids, liquids, gases and changes of state. Melting and boiling data then let you predict which state a substance has under stated conditions.
Chemistry 2.5 - 2.6 - Purity and melting rangesDistinguish chemical purity from everyday labels, then use melting ranges as evidence. Learn how careful measurement separates a real mixture from a misleading experimental result.
Chemistry 2.7 - 2.8 - Separating mixturesChoose a separation method by comparing the properties of a mixture’s components and deciding what you want to collect. Follow insoluble solids, dissolved solids and liquids through a complete separation route.
Chemistry 2.9 - 2.10 - Reading chromatogramsExplain why dyes travel at different rates, read the resulting pattern and calculate retention factors. Use matching spots as evidence while recognising when a chromatogram cannot establish purity or identity.
Chemistry 2.11 - Ink chromatography and distillationInvestigate aqueous inks using both required methods: separate their dyes by paper chromatography, then collect water by simple distillation. Build a method you can explain, carry out safely and evaluate from its observations.
Chemistry 2.12 - Potable water and dissolved saltsExplain how water treatment removes suspended solids and microorganisms, and how distillation separates water from dissolved salts. Use evaporation evidence to distinguish drinking water from water suitable for chemical analysis.

Topic 3 - Chemical change

Chemistry 3.1 - 3.3 - Acids, alkalis and indicatorsUse ions, pH and indicator colours to identify acidic, neutral and alkaline solutions, and recognise what one indicator result can and cannot show.
Chemistry 3.4, 3.5, 3.7, 3.8 - Concentration and acid strengthFor Higher tier, connect hydrogen-ion concentration to pH and distinguish how much acid is dissolved from how completely its particles dissociate into ions.
Chemistry 3.6 - Investigating pH changeInvestigate how measured additions of calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide change the pH of a fixed volume of dilute hydrochloric acid. Plan repeatable measurements and use them to locate the neutral region.
Chemistry 3.9 - 3.14 - Acid reactions and neutralisationPredict salts, water and gases from the substance reacting with an acid. Use diagnostic gas tests and the hydrogen-ion/hydroxide-ion model to explain the observations.
Chemistry 3.15, 3.17 - Preparing copper sulfate crystalsMake pure, dry hydrated copper sulfate crystals from an insoluble base and an acid. Explain why excess copper oxide, filtration, gentle concentration and cooling each matter.
Chemistry 3.16, 3.18 - Titration and pure saltsUse a burette, pipette and indicator to find reacting volumes, then repeat without indicator to prepare a pure salt. Calculate titres and select consistent measurements.
Chemistry 3.19 - 3.20 - Solubility and precipitatesUse the common solubility rules to predict whether two solutions form a precipitate. Follow the ions into the solid and explain what remains dissolved.
Chemistry 3.21 - Preparing an insoluble saltPrepare a pure, dry precipitate by mixing suitable solutions, filtering, washing and drying. Distinguish a high measured mass from good purity and recovery.
Chemistry 3.22 - 3.24, 3.25(e), 3.26 - Molten electrolysisConnect the direct current supply, electrode charges and ion movement. Predict the products of molten binary compounds and explain the lead bromide demonstration.
Chemistry 3.25(a-d) - Aqueous electrolysisExplain the products from four named aqueous electrolytes using inert electrodes. Identify gases safely and use the presence of water to explain how solutions differ from melts.
Chemistry 3.27 - 3.29 - Electrolysis half-equationsFor Higher tier, balance electrode half-equations by conserving atoms and charge. Use the position of electrons to explain reduction at the cathode and oxidation at the anode.
Chemistry 3.30 - 3.31 - Copper electrolysis and purificationCompare graphite and copper electrodes in copper sulfate solution. Relate visible products and electrode mass changes to copper-ion transfer, then apply the process to purifying copper.

Topic 4 - Extracting metals and equilibria

Chemistry 4.1-4.3 - Reactivity and displacementUse reactions with water, dilute acids and salt solutions to build a reactivity order. Connect the visible evidence to metal atoms forming positive ions, then use electron transfer to explain displacement at Higher tier.
Chemistry 4.4-4.7 - Extracting metalsMost useful metals begin as compounds in ores. Follow oxygen during reduction, use a metal’s position relative to carbon to choose an extraction method, and weigh chemical feasibility against cost.
Chemistry 4.8 - Biological metal extractionBacteria and plants can help recover metals from low-grade materials. Follow the metal into a solution or plant ash, distinguish these intermediates from pure metal, and compare the methods for a particular site. This lesson is Higher tier only.
Chemistry 4.9-4.10 - Oxidation and recyclingA metal’s reactivity affects how readily it is oxidised. Follow used metal through collection and reprocessing to evaluate how recycling can conserve ores, reduce environmental impacts and change production costs.
Chemistry 4.11-4.12 - Life-cycle assessmentsA product affects the environment before, during and after its use. Compare the same service across all four life-cycle stages, calculate totals and percentage changes, and use environmental trade-offs to reach a qualified conclusion.
Chemistry 4.13-4.16 - Equilibrium and the Haber processReversible reactions can continue in both directions even when a mixture looks unchanged. Explain dynamic equilibrium and apply it to ammonia production, including the reactant sources and the Haber conditions required on both tiers.
Chemistry 4.17 - Changing equilibriumAn equilibrium mixture responds when temperature, pressure or concentration changes. Predict the direction using energy transfer and gas-particle counts, then distinguish equilibrium yield from reaction rate in the Haber process. This lesson is Higher tier only.

Chemistry 2

Topic 6 - Groups in the periodic table

Chemistry 6.1-6.5 - Group 1 metalsPosition in the periodic table identifies chemical families. Compare lithium, sodium and potassium with water, connect their products to balanced equations, and explain the increasing reactivity using their electron shells.
Chemistry 6.6-6.10 - Halogen properties and reactionsChlorine, bromine and iodine show patterns in colour, state and reaction with metals and hydrogen. Learn the chlorine test, predict the behaviour of other halogens, and distinguish elemental molecules from halide ions.
Chemistry 6.11-6.13 - Halogen displacement and reactivityUse displacement evidence to rank chlorine, bromine and iodine and predict astatine’s reactions. Explain the trend through electron gain and practise a controlled investigation, with electron-transfer redox clearly labelled as Higher-only.
Chemistry 6.14-6.16 - Noble gasesFull outer electron shells explain why noble gases react so little. Link their properties to balloons, lamps and protective atmospheres, then use boiling-point and density data to make justified predictions.

Topic 7 - Rates of reaction and energy changes

Chemistry 7.1-7.2 - Investigating reaction ratesInvestigate reaction rates by collecting carbon dioxide from marble chips and acid, and by timing the disappearing cross as warmed sodium thiosulfate reacts with acid. Plan fair measurements, process graphs and judge the limitations of each method.
Chemistry 7.3-7.5 - Collision theory and rate graphsUse particle collisions to explain how conditions change reaction rate, then read rates and amounts from graphs. Work with mean rates, surface area to volume ratios and proportionality; the final part develops Higher-tier tangent calculations.
Chemistry 7.6-7.8 - Catalysts and enzymesExplain how catalysts speed reactions while remaining unchanged overall. Use gas and recovery evidence to test those claims, and connect biological catalysts to alcoholic-drink production.
Chemistry 7.9-7.13 - Heat changes and bondsMeasure heat changes when salts dissolve and when solutions react. Connect warming and cooling to energy transfers, then explain the result by comparing bond breaking with bond making.
Chemistry 7.14 - Bond energy calculationsHigher tier: calculate reaction energy changes from supplied bond energies. Count bonds using the balanced equation, subtract the energy released from the energy required, and interpret the sign.
Chemistry 7.15-7.16 - Activation energy and profilesExplain why a reaction can need an initial energy input, then draw and interpret exothermic and endothermic reaction profiles. Distinguish the activation-energy barrier from the overall energy change.

Topic 8 - Fuels and Earth science

Chemistry 8.1 - 8.4 - Crude oil and fractional distillationCrude oil contains many different hydrocarbons. Learn how fractional distillation separates this finite resource into useful mixtures and connect each fraction with its uses.
Chemistry 8.5 - 8.6 - Fraction properties and alkanesThe size of hydrocarbon molecules helps explain their boiling points, flow and ease of ignition. Use these trends to understand fractions and the common patterns in an alkane homologous series.
Chemistry 8.7 - 8.13 - Combustion and air pollutantsA fuel’s products depend on oxygen supply, impurities and temperature. Trace complete and incomplete combustion, explain the harm caused by pollutants and interpret evidence from burning fuels.
Chemistry 8.14 - 8.15 - Choosing fuelsCompare hydrogen and petrol by their sources, production, exhaust products, storage and supply. Use these comparisons to make a justified fuel choice for a particular situation.
Chemistry 8.16 - 8.17 - Cracking hydrocarbonsCrude oil does not supply hydrocarbons in the proportions people demand. Connect the bonds and atom balances in cracking with the useful fuels and chemical feedstocks it produces.
Chemistry 8.18 - 8.23 - Early atmosphere and oxygenReconstruct how volcanic gases, a cooling Earth, ocean formation and photosynthesis changed the atmosphere. Learn what the evidence can establish and how a glowing splint tests for oxygen.
Chemistry 8.24 - 8.26 - Greenhouse effect and climate evidenceFollow the energy transfers in the greenhouse effect, evaluate evidence of human-caused warming and compare ways to limit climate change while considering their scale and environmental effects.

Physics 1

Topic 2 - Motion and forces

Physics 2.1 - 2.5 - Scalars, vectors and velocityDistinguish quantities that need only a magnitude from those that also need a direction. Compare distance with displacement and speed with velocity, then classify the named physical quantities.
Physics 2.6 - 2.7, 2.11 - 2.12 - Speed and its measurementCalculate average speed and distance, read speed from a distance-time graph, and choose suitable laboratory measurements. Everyday speed estimates help you judge whether an answer is sensible.
Physics 2.8 - 2.10, 2.13 - Acceleration and velocity graphsConnect changes in velocity to acceleration, use the two acceleration equations, and interpret velocity-time gradients and areas. The principal equations and straight-section graph work are required at both tiers. The final extension on areas under curved graphs is Higher tier.
Physics 2.14 - 2.15 - Newton’s first and second lawsUse the resultant force on one object to explain rest, constant velocity and acceleration. Combine opposing forces before applying Newton’s second law.
Physics 2.16 - 2.18 - Mass, weight and field strengthExplain why mass stays the same when gravitational field strength changes but weight does not. Calculate weight and measure it with a calibrated force meter.
Physics 2.19 - Force, mass and acceleration practicalInvestigate how adding mass to a trolley changes acceleration. Use light gates, keep the external drive approximately constant, and distinguish the trolley from the whole moving system when interpreting forces.
Physics 2.20 - 2.22 - Circular motion and inertial massExplain changing velocity at constant speed and the inward force that keeps an object moving in a circle. Use force divided by acceleration to compare inertial masses. This lesson is Higher tier only.
Physics 2.23 - Newton’s third law in equilibriumIdentify the two sides of a force interaction and explain why a third-law pair differs from balanced forces on one object. This equilibrium part of Physics 2.23 is required at both tiers.
Physics 2.23 - 2.26 - Momentum and collisionsTrack signed momentum before and after a collision, explain conservation using third-law interactions, and calculate average force from momentum change. This lesson covers the Higher collision clause of Physics 2.23 and Higher points 2.24–2.26.
Physics 2.27 - Measuring reaction timeMeasure the delay between a stimulus and a response using ruler and electronic methods. Plan fair repeats, convert ruler distances to times, and recognise the limits of each method.
Physics 2.28 - 2.31 - Stopping distances and decelerationSeparate thinking distance from braking distance and explain how driver, vehicle and road conditions affect a stop. Understand why rapid deceleration is dangerous; only the public-road force estimates are Higher tier.

Topic 3 - Conservation of energy

Physics 3.1 - 3.2 - Gravitational and kinetic energyA raised object and a moving object require different energy calculations. Use mass, vertical height change and speed to calculate gravitational and kinetic energy, rearrange the equations and check units and scale.
Physics 3.3 - 3.6 - Energy transfers and conservationEnergy-transfer diagrams show where energy starts, how it transfers and where it ends up. Follow five familiar changes and use conservation to check that every joule is accounted for within the chosen system.
Physics 3.7 - 3.10 - Dissipation and insulationRubbing machine parts and cooling buildings show energy spreading into less useful stores. Explain dissipation, use lubrication and insulation to reduce unwanted transfers, and compare how wall thickness and material affect cooling.
Physics 3.11 - 3.12 - EfficiencyEfficiency compares useful energy with the total supplied. Calculate it as a fraction or percentage, rearrange the relationship for an unknown energy, and check that the energy account balances. The final part, explaining how efficiency is increased (Physics 3.12), is Higher tier only.
Physics 3.13 - 3.14 - Energy resources and trendsCompare how fossil fuels, nuclear fuel, bio-fuels, wind, water, tides and sunlight supply useful energy. Then use numerical evidence and physical reasons to explain why the mix of resources changes over time.

Topic 4 - Waves

Physics 4.1 - 4.5 - Wave behaviour and propertiesFollow a travelling wave while its particles oscillate locally. Use amplitude, wavelength, frequency, period and wavefronts to describe the pattern, and compare transverse and longitudinal waves.
Physics 4.6 - Wave equationsCalculate how quickly a wave pattern travels using frequency and wavelength or distance and time. Work through unit conversions, rearrangements and checks that distinguish wave speed from particle motion.
Physics 4.7, 4.17 - Measuring wave speedMeasure sound in air, ripples in water and waves in a metal rod. Choose instruments that resolve the required distances and times, then use repeats and comparisons to judge how trustworthy the measurements are.
Physics 4.10 - 4.11 - Refraction and wave interactionsTrace a ray across a boundary using the normal as a reference. The direction change is common to both tiers; the speed explanation and wavelength-dependent absorption, transmission and reflection are Higher content.

Topic 5 - Light and the electromagnetic spectrum

Physics 5.7 - 5.8, 5.10 - 5.12 - The electromagnetic spectrumRadio waves, warmth and visible light belong to one continuous family of transverse waves. Connect spectrum order, wavelength and frequency, and explain how a detector receives energy even when the wave is invisible.
Physics 5.9 - Refraction in glass core practicalTrace a narrow beam through a rectangular glass block. Measure its angles from the normal, investigate how incidence affects refraction, and improve the reliability of each ray trace.
Physics 5.13 - 5.14 - Electromagnetic waves in matterHigher tier: compare how materials respond to different wavelengths, then explain how a change of wave speed changes wavelength and the direction of a transmitted ray.
Physics 5.20 - 5.22 - Uses and hazards of electromagnetic radiationConnect each region of the electromagnetic spectrum to communication, heating, imaging and medicine. Explain the useful interaction, the harm from excessive exposure, and how controlling exposure reduces risk.
Physics 5.23 - Radio waves and electrical circuitsHigher tier: follow a radio signal from an oscillating transmitter circuit to an oscillating receiver circuit. Distinguish the local motion of charges from the electromagnetic wave carrying energy across the gap.
Physics 5.24 - Radiation from atoms and nucleiMatter can emit electromagnetic radiation, and absorbed radiation can change matter. Follow the energy transfer in both directions and explain why different atomic and nuclear changes involve different frequencies.

Topic 6 - Radioactivity

Physics 6.1 - 6.6 - Atoms and isotopesAtoms have a tiny massive nucleus surrounded by electrons. Use particle charges, nuclear symbols and scale comparisons to explain neutral atoms and distinguish isotopes.
Physics 6.7 - 6.9 - Electron changesAn electron can change its allowed energy level or leave an atom altogether. Follow the energy transfer and count the remaining electrons to distinguish these changes.
Physics 6.10 - 6.11, 6.15 - 6.16 - Ionising radiationUnstable nuclei emit particles or electromagnetic radiation at unpredictable moments. Connect the physical nature of each emission to ionisation and its ability to penetrate matter.
Physics 6.12 - 6.14 - Background and detectionA radiation detector can record events even when no test source is nearby. Learn where background radiation comes from, how film and a Geiger–Müller tube detect radiation, and how to obtain a fair corrected count rate.
Physics 6.17 - Evidence for atomic modelsUnexpected alpha-particle deflections changed the model of the atom. Separate the observations from their explanations, then see why the nuclear model was refined to include allowed electron energy levels.
Physics 6.18 - 6.22 - Nuclear changes and equationsRadioactive decay can change a nucleus into a different element or leave it with less energy. Follow the nucleon changes, then balance nuclear equations using the supplied mass-number and charge data.
Physics 6.23 - 6.27 - Activity and half-lifeA single nucleus decays unpredictably, yet a large source follows a predictable half-life pattern. Use this distinction to interpret activity, read decay graphs and calculate what remains.
Physics 6.29, 6.31 - 6.32 - Radiation safetyIonisation can damage cells and change DNA. Choose precautions for patients and workers by tracing how radiation reaches tissue and whether radioactive material can spread.

Physics 2

Topic 8 - Energy – forces doing work

Physics 8.1 - 8.4 - Energy stores and transfersA falling ball, a warming motor and a cooling drink look unrelated, but the same energy model can describe all three. This lesson shows how to choose a system, track changes in its energy stores and represent transfers with diagrams. It also explains why the total energy of a closed system stays...
Physics 8.5 - 8.9 - Work and energy changesPush a trolley, lift a suitcase or speed up a bicycle and a force changes an energy store. This lesson connects the measurable work done by a force with changes in gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy, so three equations describe one physical story. The direction of motion, vertical...
Physics 8.10 - 8.15 - Dissipation, power and efficiencyReal machines transfer energy at different rates and put different fractions of their input into useful work. Track the energy that becomes less useful, then use power and efficiency to compare performance quantitatively.

Topic 9 - Forces and their effects

Physics 9.1 - 9.2 - Interactions and vectorsForces are interactions between objects. Learn how fields and contact produce force pairs, and use magnitude and direction to distinguish vector quantities from scalars.
Physics 9.3 - 9.5 - Scale vectors and free-body diagramsHigher tier: combine and resolve force vectors using scale drawings, then isolate one object and identify the external forces that change its motion. This lesson covers the Higher-only requirements Physics 9.3–9.5.
Physics 9.10 - LubricationMoving parts can become warm even when heating is not their purpose. The clue lies at the tiny contact points between surfaces that look smooth to the eye. This lesson explains how a layer of lubricant changes that contact and reduces unwanted energy transfer.

Topic 10 - Electricity and circuits

Physics 10.1 - 10.3 - Atoms and circuit diagramsCircuit diagrams describe connections using a precise set of symbols. Start with the charge and mass of atomic particles, then draw components and distinguish series and parallel routes.
Physics 10.4 - 10.6 - Potential difference and energyA voltage reading tells you the energy transferred by each coulomb of charge. Learn where to connect a voltmeter and use energy, charge and potential difference to calculate the missing quantity.
Physics 10.7 - 10.11 - Current and chargeCurrent measures how much charge passes each second. Connect an ammeter correctly, relate current to electron motion and charge, and account for currents where a circuit divides.
Physics 10.12 - 10.13 - Resistance and currentChanging resistance changes the current at a fixed potential difference. Learn how a variable resistor controls the conducting path, then use voltage and current to calculate resistance and predict charge flow.
Physics 10.14 - 10.16 - Series and parallel circuit designCircuit layout determines how current divides and how potential difference is shared. Use those rules to calculate series circuits and connect meters so they measure the intended component.
Physics 10.17 - Core practical circuit measurementsBuild a resistor and filament-lamp test circuit, record paired current and potential-difference readings, and use them to calculate resistance. Then compare the same filament lamps in series and parallel using measured currents and potential differences.
Physics 10.18 - 10.20 - Component characteristicsA fixed resistor, filament lamp and diode respond differently as the potential difference changes. Read their characteristic graphs, calculate resistance at a point, and explain how light and temperature change two useful sensors.
Physics 10.21 - Investigating component resistanceA useful investigation changes one relevant quantity and measures the response of the component. Design circuits for lamps and diodes, then adapt the method to investigate how temperature and light intensity affect resistance.
Physics 10.22 - 10.24, 10.26 - 10.27 - Heating and electrical energyFollow energy from the source into a resistor and its surroundings, using electron–ion collisions to explain heating. Distinguish useful heating from unwanted dissipation and calculate electrical energy from current, potential difference and time.
Physics 10.25 - Reducing unwanted wire heatingHigher tier: connecting wires should carry the required current with little unwanted heating. Explain how material, thickness and length affect resistance, then choose a wire design that concentrates useful heating in the appliance.
Physics 10.28 - 10.31 - Electrical powerPower measures how quickly energy is transferred. Connect energy per second to current, potential difference and resistance, and use the quantities given for the same device to choose and rearrange an equation.
Physics 10.32 - 10.36 - AC, DC and domestic supplyA battery and a wall socket can both run motors and heaters, but their voltage and current patterns differ. Connect source polarity to charge movement and interpret the voltage and frequency of the UK domestic supply.
Physics 10.37 - 10.42 - Mains safety and appliance powerLive and neutral complete an appliance’s operating circuit; earth and protective devices deal with faults. Follow a live-to-case fault through disconnection, then connect power ratings to the rate at which energy stores change.

Topic 12 - Magnetism and the motor effect

Physics 12.1 - 12.3 - Magnetic materials and induced magnetsMagnetic materials behave differently when a magnetising field is removed. Use pole interactions and magnetic retention to choose materials and explain why attraction alone cannot prove that an object is a permanent magnet.
Physics 12.4 - 12.6 - Field maps and compassesA magnetic-field map shows direction and relative strength. Learn how to read bar-magnet and uniform-field patterns, trace directions with a plotting compass, and explain what a compass reveals about the Earth.
Physics 12.7 - 12.9 - Current and solenoid fieldsA current creates a magnetic field that can turn a compass. Connect the circular field around a straight wire to the strong, almost uniform field inside a solenoid, where the fields of many turns combine.
Physics 12.10 - 12.12 - Motor effect and force directionA current-carrying wire and a magnet exert forces on one another through their magnetic fields. In this Higher-tier lesson, use Fleming’s left-hand rule to predict the force direction and distinguish the equal and opposite forces on the two objects.
Physics 12.13 - Force on a current-carrying conductorCalculate the force on a perpendicular current-carrying conductor, convert centimetres and millinewtons, and rearrange the equation to find field strength, current or the length within the field. This is Higher-tier content.

Topic 13 - Electromagnetic induction

Physics 13.2 - Electromagnetic inductionA changing magnetic field can induce a voltage across a coil. Compare what changes its size and polarity, then explain why the magnetic effect of an induced current resists the original change. This is Higher-tier content.
Physics 13.5 - 13.6 - How transformers workA transformer transfers energy between two separate circuits through a changing magnetic field. Follow how AC in the primary induces an output, why steady DC cannot sustain it, and how the output voltage can be increased or decreased. This is Higher-tier content.
Physics 13.8 - 13.9 - The National GridElectrical energy travels through a network of cables and transformers. Explain how high transmission voltage reduces heating losses and why the voltage is reduced before local distribution and domestic use.
Physics 13.10 - Ideal transformer powerUse equal input and output power to calculate transformer voltages and currents. Work with the 100%-efficient model, convert units consistently, and check whether a proposed output obeys energy conservation. This content is assessed at both Foundation and Higher tiers.

Topic 14 - Particle model

Physics 14.1-14.4 - Particle model and densityA particle model can explain why solids keep their shape, liquids flow and gases spread out, even though the particles themselves are too small to see. Density then gives a precise way to compare how much mass is packed into a volume. In this lesson, you will use both ideas and learn the core pra...
Physics 14.5-14.10 - Heating and changes of stateHeating can raise temperature or change state. Learn how to choose and use the two thermal-energy equations, explain conservation of mass, and reduce unwanted transfer with insulation.
Physics 14.11 - Water heating and melting practicalMeasure the energy needed to warm water and record how temperature changes as ice melts. Use a joulemeter, mass and temperature readings to determine specific heat capacity, then use a Bunsen-heated water bath to obtain a melting graph.
Physics 14.12-14.15 - Gas pressure and absolute zeroA gas pushes on its container through particle collisions. Explain why a fixed mass of gas changes pressure when warmed or cooled at constant volume, then use absolute zero to convert between Celsius and kelvin.