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How hard is triple science?

I'm in year 9 and so we'll be picking our options soon, I was thinking about do Geography, french, history and business studies. I've heard that our school used to do Triple Science, and if you plead you can take it, but they also say it's extremely difficult especially piled on top of additional science. Is this true?

We've been ranked, and so I know that I'm 2nd best in my year and hilariously (not) second best at science (we've already started our core science) with me getting either 8's or 7's (mostly 8's) in the test. Would it be smart or stupid if i took triple science?

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I think you should take the chance. Sure, it would be hard, (i'm doing it currently, in year 10) but this will help you a lot if you're planning to take sciences for A-Level. And it could open up more opportunities for yourself, which is always good if you're not sure what field to go on.
Hope this helped!
Original post by zwastix
I think you should take the chance. Sure, it would be hard, (i'm doing it currently, in year 10) but this will help you a lot if you're planning to take sciences for A-Level. And it could open up more opportunities for yourself, which is always good if you're not sure what field to go on.
Hope this helped!


Thanks for the advice!
Reply 3
Avatar for emduck
emduck
12
At my school triple science was compulsory unless you did badly in your mocks in year 11. I would recommend doing it, especially if you want to do science A levels- or even at university. (Maybe a little while off yet!) It will be an added workload, but it is totally doable. If you want to do science A levels, doing triple science GCSE will seriously help you.

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I'm in year 11 and doing triple science now, it is hard and some of the stuff is apparently verging on a-level. You do have to work a lot harder for triple because only top sets in schools generally do it, so the grade boundaries are a lot higher, but with your grades you'll definitely be fine. Triple can also help to develop understanding of core and additional, and it's also a good start if you want to do a-level sciences!
Reply 5
Avatar for mdnvmpr
mdnvmpr
15
I took triple science as an option because I didn't know what else I wanted to do and thought it would keep my options open.
I wouldn't say it's 'hard'. The content, depending on how difficult you find Science, is a similar level to every other GCSE, it's just a lot of work because there's so much content to learn. It's really interesting though.
Reply 6
Avatar for tamilux
tamilux
5
im in year 11 taking the same options as you! i did double science which im glad i did because we had less coursework, but it makes it hard to choose a science at A level. i'd say because of reformed gcses and there being no coursework, if u think ur able there's no reason for you to not take triple :smile:
Reply 7
Avatar for emduck
emduck
12
I thought I'd add that I know two people in my school who did double science who are doing A level biology- they're doing okay. But if you want to do physics or chemistry at A level I'd recommend triple on the basis that they do get much more challenging- and some things you learn in triple will come up in the a level

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Original post by emduck
At my school triple science was compulsory unless you did badly in your mocks in year 11. I would recommend doing it, especially if you want to do science A levels- or even at university. (Maybe a little while off yet!) It will be an added workload, but it is totally doable. If you want to do science A levels, doing triple science GCSE will seriously help you.

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Original post by __Jess__
I'm in year 11 and doing triple science now, it is hard and some of the stuff is apparently verging on a-level. You do have to work a lot harder for triple because only top sets in schools generally do it, so the grade boundaries are a lot higher, but with your grades you'll definitely be fine. Triple can also help to develop understanding of core and additional, and it's also a good start if you want to do a-level sciences!


Original post by lizzieerobinson
I took triple science as an option because I didn't know what else I wanted to do and thought it would keep my options open.
I wouldn't say it's 'hard'. The content, depending on how difficult you find Science, is a similar level to every other GCSE, it's just a lot of work because there's so much content to learn. It's really interesting though.


Original post by tamilux
im in year 11 taking the same options as you! i did double science which im glad i did because we had less coursework, but it makes it hard to choose a science at A level. i'd say because of reformed gcses and there being no coursework, if u think ur able there's no reason for you to not take triple :smile:


Thanks guys, I'm going to bring it up to my teacher, I just didn't want to fall into a bear trap everyone else managed to avoid!
With the normal science GCSE you do 12 modules, for triple you do 18. The extra six are harder and cover some of the topics done in A-level, if your school will properly teach it to you, as in schedule proper classes, coursework and homework. I'd do it, mine didn't. Two teachers offered to give us after school classes once a week for me and three others and it wasn't enough. Brutally though if you go on to do science at A-level your GCSE results don't matter in the long run.
Its pointless i did it in year 11 now in year 12 studying science a levels. Its alot of work and its often rushed by teachers so more likely not to do aswell, i achieved all A's and A* in my gcses apart from triple scicne i got a B this is cos its last exam and teachers rushed so regret taking it, its just a extra B i wouldnt have got not only that its not usefull to a level cos you honestly dont rmeber most of the content at all, i certianly dont althought i knew it thoroughly during the triple science exam time. Its only relevent to some bits not that much , i think tou should not take it and focus on the other subjects as i feel like if i had not taken it i would have gotten more A*'s in oher subjects as without triple science i would have had more time to spend on other subjects.


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Original post by Gwilym101
With the normal science GCSE you do 12 modules, for triple you do 18. The extra six are harder and cover some of the topics done in A-level, if your school will properly teach it to you, as in schedule proper classes, coursework and homework. I'd do it, mine didn't. Two teachers offered to give us after school classes once a week for me and three others and it wasn't enough. Brutally though if you go on to do science at A-level your GCSE results don't matter in the long run.


Original post by sophie_22
Its pointless i did it in year 11 now in year 12 studying science a levels. Its alot of work and its often rushed by teachers so more likely not to do aswell, i achieved all A's and A* in my gcses apart from triple scicne i got a B this is cos its last exam and teachers rushed so regret taking it, its just a extra B i wouldnt have got not only that its not usefull to a level cos you honestly dont rmeber most of the content at all, i certianly dont althought i knew it thoroughly during the triple science exam time. Its only relevent to some bits not that much , i think tou should not take it and focus on the other subjects as i feel like if i had not taken it i would have gotten more A*'s in oher subjects as without triple science i would have had more time to spend on other subjects.


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Okay...thanks...deep. I really don't know what to do now.
Original post by streetdude28
Okay...thanks...deep. I really don't know what to do now.


First find out IF you school does triple science, this whole thing is moot if they don't.

Second, if they do, find out exactly how they run the classes, if you're going to have proper support, scheduled full lessons to do the extra and harder 6 modules, do it if you want.

Brutally Sophie_22 and I both got offered triple science at schools that didn't specialise in doing triple science and whilst my (and I'm sure sophies) teachers were excellent, we didn't have the appropriate time and support to properly learn the harder modules and our GCSE grades suffered. However Sophie is now doing A-levels in science and once you've got them your science GCSE results don't matter as your A-levels are more important, if you carry on to do a science degree generally your A-level results don't matter any more. I have an MSc from Imperial College, no one cares what I got a A-level or GCSE.

If you like science and you will be properly taught, feel free to do it. If science isn't your main interest or you won't be taught properly, possibly don't.
I do triple science, and i am currently in yr 11. Triple science is not that hard as long as you are consistent with revision then you will be fine. however i do know you are doing the new spec and it is more challenging than our spec as you cover more content. But if you want a science career then its a good idea though you can still do science a levels with double award science.
do this if you are really good at science or love it.
It isn't hard but make sure you pay attention most of the time, As I think yours will be 100% Exams unfortunately no Controlled Assessments..
Original post by streetdude28
I'm in year 9 and so we'll be picking our options soon, I was thinking about do Geography, french, history and business studies. I've heard that our school used to do Triple Science, and if you plead you can take it, but they also say it's extremely difficult especially piled on top of additional science. Is this true?

We've been ranked, and so I know that I'm 2nd best in my year and hilariously (not) second best at science (we've already started our core science) with me getting either 8's or 7's (mostly 8's) in the test. Would it be smart or stupid if i took triple science?


I'm in year 2 of Sixth Form now, and i look back at the time when i did triple science.
I got decent grades, but not As. There are quite a lot of topics you need to cover and back then i absolutely hated it. But i crammed in quite a lot of revision the night before (which is NOT recommended) and i got Bs in Biology& Chemistry and a C in Physics.
At times you will think why you were cursed with so many things to learn, but now i sometimes feel like i could have done better. There is an element of regret and that i should have enforced a better revision timetable and such.
But anyway, if you think you are able to strictly revise and know and remember a sh!t ton of work, then be prepared. It is definitely rewarding at the end when you get the grades that you want.
Original post by Popsiclez
It isn't hard but make sure you pay attention most of the time, As I think yours will be 100% Exams unfortunately no Controlled Assessments..


I'd rather it be 100% exams
Original post by streetdude28
I'd rather it be 100% exams


Then you haven't seen how easy the ISA is
Original post by streetdude28
I'd rather it be 100% exams


Im equally good at CA aswell as exams, im just saying some people dont cope aswell with exams and are better with CA, where you cant have really one bad day as you do it in groups and its just putting down all the relevant points.
I think it depends on your strengths and what you enjoy. My school has it as compulsory, and you can only drop it if you do badly in mocks which I think is a waste of time for the people pulling their hair out over it and going on to do arty A-levels!!

However, I would say it's worthwhile to keep options open unless you already know that you do not want to do Science A-Level (I certainly had no idea in Y9).

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