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AQA Science - Syllabus A (4461)

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About the course
Exams and dates
Exam papers
 Course specification
AQA website

Note...this syllabus is the version of science that uses short multiple choice questions, while syllabus B uses more 'traditional' written exam questions. Make sure you know which you're taking!

About the course

There are two parts: module tests (75% of total marks) and practical assessments (25%):

Practical assessments

These are also known as Investigative Skills Assignments - ISAs. They consist of a 45 minute written paper with questions based on the student's own data, collected in class practicals, plus additional data supplied. More than one ISA can be taken from the set supplied by AQA from Biology, Chemistry and Physics, with the best one submitted for marking. They are externally set and internally assessed. The overall mark also includes a holistic assessment by the teacher on general practical and safety skills (Practical Skills Assessment - PSA).

Module tests - externally assessed

There are six multiple choice question papers assessing the six modules. They are often refered to as objective tests.

Biology 1a - Human Biology [summary.pdf]
11.1 How do human bodies respond to changes inside them and to their environment?
11.2 What can we do to keep our bodies healthy?
11.3 How do we use/abuse medical and recreational drugs?
11.4 What causes infectious diseases and how can our bodies defend themselves against them?

Biology 1b - Evolution and Environment [summary.pdf]
11.5 What determines where particular species live and how many of them there are?
11.6 Why are individuals of the same species different from each other? What new methods do we have for producing plants and animals with the characteristics we prefer?
11.7 Why have some species of plants and animals died out? How do new species of plants and animals develop?
11.8 How do humans affect the environment?

Chemistry 1a - Products from Rocks [summary.pdf]
12.1 How do rocks provide building materials?
12.2 How do rocks provide metals and how are metals used?
12.3 How do we get fuels from crude oil?

Chemistry 1b - Oils, Earth and Atmosphere [summary.pdf]
12.4 How are polymers and ethanol made from oil?
12.5 How can plant oils be used?
12.6 What are the changes in the Earth and its atmosphere?

Physics 1a - Energy and Electricity [summary.pdf]
13.1 How is heat (thermal energy) transferred and what factors affect the rate at which heat is transferred?
13.2 What is meant by the efficient use of energy? Why are electrical devices so useful?
13.4 How should we generate the electricity we need?

Physics 1b - Radiation and the Universe [summary.pdf]
13.5 What are the uses and hazards of the waves that form the electromagnetic spectrum?
13.6 What are the uses and dangers of emissions from radioactive substances?
13.7 What do we know about the origins of the Universe and how it continues to change?

Relationship with other specifications

Science A has common units with other specifications in the AQA GCSE Sciences suite. For example, Biology 1a and Biology 1b are common to GCSE Science A and GCSE Biology and together have exactly the same content as Biology 1 in GCSE Science B. In addition, the Science entre-assessed unit is common to GCSE Science A and GCSE Science B.

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Exams details and dates for 2009/10

The six 'objective tests' are multiple choice, can be taken on-screen or on paper, last 30 minutes each and can be taken in November, March and/or June. Students have the choice of answering higher or foundation tier questions - they can decide which to take on the day of the exam. Students can opt to take different tiers for the different tests and can choose to resit a test at a different tier.

Dates: Nov 19th; March 3rd; June 28th.

Students usually take two modules in each of November, March and June. The school decides in which order the modules are taught, and are therefore assessed.

The practical assessments (ISAs) are taken throughout the year in lesson time.

Exam codes for 4461 Science A objective tests

Paper-based Objective Tests
(Each paper has higher and foundation tier questions - the student decides on the day which to answer.)
Biology 1a BLY1AP
Biology 1b BLY1BP
Chemistry 1a CHY1AP
Chemistry 1b CHY1BP
Physics 1a PHY1AP
Physics 1b PHY1BP

On-screen Objective Tests
Biology 1a BL1ASF or BL1ASH
Biology 1b BL1BSF or BL1BSH
Chemistry 1a CH1ASF or CH1ASH
Chemistry 1b CH1BSF or CH1BSH
Physics 1a PH1ASF or PH1ASH

Science Centre-Assessed Unit
SCYC

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Exam papers online

Use the links below to download practice objective tests papers from the AQA website, together with the answer sheet and answer key. Each paper is 30 minutes long and consist of multiple choice questions.

Unit B1a - Biology - Human Biology

Unit B1b - Biology - Evolution and Environment

Unit C1a - Chemistry - Products from Rocks

Unit C1b - Chemistry - Oils, Earth and Atmosphere

Unit P1a - Physics - Energy and Electricty

Unit P1b - Physics - Radiation and the Universe

For ISA past papers see the AQA website

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