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Overview

This Chemistry specification is part of the linked Gateway Science Suite of specifications: Science B, Additional Science B, Biology B, Chemistry B and Physics B. This linked suite allows Centres flexibility in the delivery of GCSE courses in Science and the separate Sciences.

Centres piloting GCSE Science have helped the development of this specification. OCR is the only awarding body to have piloted any of the new GCSE Sciences.

The primary objective of this specification is to interest and engage candidates in science.

This is achieved by:

• Identifying activities and experiences which will excite their interest, and linking these to scientific ideas and their implications for society
• Providing opportunities to develop science explanations and theories
• Providing a scheme of assessment which gives regular feedback.

This approach will appeal to candidates of all abilities. The specification emphasises the teaching and learning activities of the course, from which emerge the learning outcomes.

This specification comprises six teaching modules which are assessed through three Units. Each Unit is worth 33.3% of the total GCSE marks. Units 1 and 2 use structured questions to assess the Chemistry modules 1-3 and 4-6 respectively. For the final Skills Assessment Unit (33.3%) a choice is available between Can-do Tasks and a report on Science in the News OR a Research Study, a Data Task and Practical Skills. The final Unit is assessed by teachers, internally standardised and then externally moderated by OCR.

If Chemistry B is taken alongside Biology B and Physics B, the three courses will cover the KS4 Programme of Study for Science.

Candidates taking GCSE Science with GCSE Additional Science (or Additional Applied Science A from the Twenty First Century Science Suite), or GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry and GCSE Physics, will have the experience necessary to progress to appropriate level 3 qualifications.

OCR offers a full range of support for this specification which includes training meetings, sample and past question papers and mark schemes, coursework guidance materials and a coursework consultancy scheme. In addition, two publishers, Collins Educational and Heinemann, have produced a range of resource materials which are designed to support teachers and candidates.