Exam and revision advice to help you get your target grades in GCSE Science
When you're revising for your GCSE exams, you want to make the most of your study time.
So, we invited the experts at the AQA exam board to share their tips and advice on preparing for GCSE Science exams.
The article that follows has been written by an AQA curriculum expert, based on their years of experience in the assessment of their subject.
You can find more articles in this series, covering a range of subjects at both GCSE and A-level, over on our revision section.
Also on The Student Room, you can find student discussion of 2024 GCSE exams.
Do...
1) DO plan your revision to target the areas you’re less confident about first - but mix it up with aspects of topics you like
- Make flash cards to help you learn the chemical calculations and equations included in biology, chemistry and physics topics.
- Look for links between different areas of the specification.
2) DO make sure you fully understand the practical work you’ve done so you can refer to it in the exam
What you’ve learned in practical activities is very important.
- Can you explain the reasons for carrying out a particular practical technique, or the use of a particular piece of apparatus?
- Think about how you might have improved the approach you took in your practical work – evaluation is an important skill.
3) DO be ready to apply what you know about the use of scientific apparatus and techniques to practical situations you may not have met before
Some questions will ask you to apply your investigative skills.
- Make sure you understand the subject-specific language which applies when answering questions on practical techniques.
4) DO make sure you read the question carefully, identifying the correct command word
A common error students make is writing a description when they’ve been asked to explain something - a description alone will not get any marks. Remember:
- Identify key words and parts of the question instruction, especially those relating to unit conversions and the command words.
- You can underline key words and circle command words.
- You can also annotate the question.
5) DO use appropriate scientific vocabulary to show the examiner that you understand scientific ideas and techniques
- Proper application of knowledge is important to show understanding.
- Use the information from diagrams and tables to help you to answer the question.
Don't...
1) DON’T panic
- You’ll know more than you think you do and everyone taking the exam is in the same boat.
- In GCSE science, 40% of the marks will be for applying knowledge in unfamiliar contexts, including asking you to link together ideas that aren’t linked on the specification. You’ll be asked questions in contexts that you haven’t studied in class.
- Don’t let this put you off – think how the science you’ve studied relates to the question we’re asking.
2) DON’T start writing straight away when answering 6-mark questions
- Think about what the question is asking you to write - and plan your answer so that you give a coherent, sequenced line of reasoning that answers the question.
- Always give it a go!
3) DON’T leave any gaps
- If you don’t think you know an answer, work out what the question is asking and then make an intelligent guess.
- Remember the first part of the next question may be easier than the question you’re answering. If you get stuck, don’t give up - try the next question.
