Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
Art and Design	GCSE	OCR	J170-J176

Additional cost: £595 supplement per year owing to the extra one-to-one time required for the oversight and completion of coursework.

Course Overview: Art is a wonderful subject, where you will be able to develop your technical and creative skills through exposure to a wide variety of styles and methods, while structuring your portfolio work around areas of particular interest to you. Given the practical nature of the course, it can provide a great balance to the more academic subjects you'll be studying. You should choose Art GCSE if you are interested in and committed to exploring and developing your creativity through visual media.

Assessment:

Students must work within one of the following endorsed titles: currently restricted to Fine Art or Textiles (but hopefully expanding to include Art, Craft & Design, Graphic Communication, Photography, Three-dimensional Design, Critical & Contextual Studies).

Component 1 - Personal Portfolio (60% of the GCSE):

Students must submit a portfolio of practical work showing their personal response to either a centre- or learner-set starting point, brief, scenario or stimulus. This portfolio will consist of a project, theme or course of study. It may be presented in appropriate format(s) for the specification title and area(s) of study chosen. For example, sketchbooks, digital presentations, mounted sheets, maquettes, prototypes, animated work, scale models or illustrated written work.

Component 2 - Externally-set Assignment (40% of the GCSE):

This paper can be given to learners at the discretion  of centres any time on or after 2 January in the  year of certification. Centres may determine the amount of time for preparatory study prior to learners undertaking their 10-hour supervised time period. The paper will give learners a choice of five themes, each with a choice of written and/or visual starting points or stimuli. From this paper, learners are expected to choose one option for which they will generate an appropriate personal response of one or more artefact(s)/product(s)/personal outcome(s) within a 10-hour supervised time period. The paper will also give the learner an opportunity to develop an extended response.

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
Biology	IGCSE	Edexcel	4BI1

Course Overview: 

The Biology course aims to promote a respect for all forms of life. In the course pupils will develop a concerned and informed awareness of relationships between living organisms, of relationships between organisms and their environment, and the effect of human activities on these relationships.

Assessment:

2 exams - Paper 1 (2 hours), Paper 2 (1 hour 15), both papers focus on the five core content areas.

Paper 1 - foundation content, the same paper as pupils studying Double Science

The paper is assessed through a 2-hour written examination paper set and marked by Pearson. • The total number of marks is 110. • A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions. • A calculator may be used in the examinations.

Paper 2 - foundation and extension content

The paper is assessed through a 1-hour and 15-minute written examination paper set and marked by Pearson. • The total number of marks is 70. • A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions. • A calculator may be used in the examinations.

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
Business	IGCSE	Edexcel	4BS1

Course Overview:

Business will teach you about business activity in the private and public sectors.  You will learn about the running of small businesses and large organisations, covering all of the major areas, such as marketing, human resources, finance, operations management and external influences on business.  You will get the opportunity to explore your own business ideas and gain experience of setting up and running your own business! 

Assessment:

2 exams - Paper 1 (1 hour 30), Paper 2 (1 hour 30)

Paper 1 Investigating Small Businesses - all topics, questions focus on scenarios based on a small business

Examination of 1 hour and 30 minutes, consisting of four compulsory questions, each worth 20 marks – total of 80 marks in Paper 1. The sub-questions are a mixture of multiple-choice, short-answer, data-response and open-ended questions. Calculators may be used in the examination

Paper 2  Investigating Large Businesses - all topics, questions focus on scenarios based on a large business

Examination of 1 hour and 30 minutes, consisting of four compulsory questions, each worth 20 marks – total of 80 marks in Paper 2. The sub-questions are a mixture of multiple-choice, short-answer, data-response and open-ended questions. Calculators may be used in the examination.

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
Chemistry	IGCSE	Edexcel	4CH1

Course Overview: Chemistry is an explosive subject that helps us understand why things change. Whether that is rapid changes like explosions or slower changes like the formation of diamonds they are all due to chemical reactions.

Throughout this course you will develop the skills to analyse and ask questions about the world around us. You will understand how and why chemical reactions happen from everything from the rust on your bike to literal rocket science!

During this course you will also get the chance to try out some of the practical experiments for yourself doing acid tests, growing crystals and making ice cream without a freezer!

Assessment:

2 exams - Paper 1 (2 hours), Paper 2 (1 hour 15), both papers focus on the four core content areas.

Paper 1 - foundation content, the same paper as pupils studying Double Science

The paper is assessed through a 2-hour written examination paper set and marked by Pearson. • The total number of marks is 110. • A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions. • A calculator may be used in the examinations.

Paper 2 - foundation and extension content

The paper is assessed through a 1-hour and 15-minute written examination paper set and marked by Pearson. • The total number of marks is 70. • A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions. • A calculator may be used in the examinations.

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
Computer Science	IGCSE	Edexcel	4CP0

Course Overview: 

Where would we be without YouTube, Google and Whatsapp? Do you remember a world without Amazon or Instagram? Technology has completely re-shaped our lives and will continue to do so at an ever-increasing pace. These technological marvels have been brought to us by the efforts of some very hard-working people. How did they do it? With Computer Science!

This course is all about giving pupils the opportunity to learn about the fascinating world of computers and coding. It will not only give an insight into coding but also how computers work, giving pupils a solid foundation in these areas.

Assessment:

2 exams - Paper 1 (2 hours), Paper 2 (1 hour 15).

Paper 1 Principles of Computer Science

Assessment is through a 2-hour examination paper set and marked by Pearson. • The paper consists of multiple-choice, short open-response, open-response and extended open-response answer questions. • The total number of marks available for the examination paper is 80. • All questions are mandatory.

Paper 2 - Application of Computational Thinking

Assessment is through a 3-hour practical examination, set and marked by Pearson. • A choice of three programming languages will be available (Python, C# or Java). • The paper consists of multiple-choice, short open-response, open-response, extended open response answer and task-based questions. • The task-based questions will be carried out using a computer system under supervision. All other questions requiring a written response will be answered in the paper. • The total number of marks available for the examination paper is 80. • All questions are mandatory. • A pseudocode reference document will be available for learners to reference during the assessment.

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
Economics	IGCSE	Edexcel	4EC1

Coming in September 2023!

Course Overview:

Do you know why countries want to host the World Cup or the Olympics? And why does Greta Thunberg challenge world leaders to take action for climate change? Is Elon Musk crazy for wanting to replace human workers with Tesla’s AI-powered Optimus humanoid robots? What is the cause for the price increase of the Playstation 5 console or the explosion of the GameStop stock price on Wall Street? And why do some people smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol or eat fatty food when we know it is unhealthy?

If you wish to explore these questions further, then come and join us in IGCSE Economics. Together, we will study how modern-day societies work and how individuals make decisions. Everything you experience on a daily basis is somehow linked to economics and we will make sure to explore the economic concepts and apply these to real-life situations. 

Assessment:

• Paper 1 - Microeconomics and Business Economics
  • All topics, relating to the market system and business economics
  • Understanding how consumers and producers interact in different markets and how production works and businesses operate 
  • Examination of 1 hour 30 minutes, consisting of four compulsory questions, each worth 20 marks
  • The sub-questions are a mixture of multiple-choice, short-answer, data response and open-ended questions

• Paper 2 - Macroeconomics and the Global Economy
  • All topics, relating to government and the economy and the global economy
  • Understanding national and international economies and their different objectives such as growth, inflation, employment and trade
  • Examination of 1 hour 30 minutes, consisting of four compulsory questions, each worth  20 marks
  • The sub-questions are a mixture of multiple-choice, short-answer, data response  and open-ended questions

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
English Language	IGCSE	Edexcel	4EA1

Course Overview: 

By studying GCSE English Language, you learn how to understand a writer - not just the words they've written on the page but the hidden or obscured meanings and associations behind the lines too. The skills developed throughout this course remain with students through their whole life and can be applied to any piece of writing they encounter - from novels to news and opinion pieces. When writing, students will learn to write for impact and to produce clear and coherent written texts. The course provides opportunities to develop sophisticated reading and critical thinking skills that encourage genuine enquiry into different topics and themes.

Assessment: 

2 exams - Paper 1 (2 hours 15), Paper 2 (1 hour 30)

Paper 1 Non-Fiction Texts and Transactional Writing

• Section A: Reading – a mixture of short- and long-answer questions related to a nonfiction text from Part 1 of the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE English Anthology and one previously unseen extract. Total of 45 marks.
• Section B: Transactional Writing – one 45-mark writing task, from a choice of two involving a given audience, form or purpose.
• The total number of marks available is 90.
• The assessment duration is 2 hours 15 minutes.
• Students will be provided with the anthology text in the examination.

Paper 2 Poetry and Prose Texts and Imaginative Writing

• Section A: Reading: one 30-mark essay question on a poetry or prose text from Part 2 of the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE English Anthology.
• Section B: Imaginative Writing – one 30-mark imaginative writing task from a choice of three.
• The total number of marks available is 60.
• The assessment duration is 1 hour and 30 minutes.
• Students will be provided with the anthology text in the examination.

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
English Literature	IGCSE	Edexcel	4ET1

Course Overview: 

As George R. R. Martin, the author of Game of Thrones writes:  “A reader lives a thousand times … The person who never reads lives only once.”  To read a book or a play invites us to step into a new world, to meet a different cast of characters, to join someone else’s adventure, and to experience places and times sometimes unrecognisable from our own. In this course you will explore a range of texts and dive into how exactly literature has evolved over time.

Assessment: 

2 papers - Paper 1 (2 hours) and Paper 2 (1 hour 30)

Paper 1 Poetry and Modern Prose

Section A – Unseen Poetry: one 20-mark essay question exploring the meaning and effects created in an unseen poem. The poem will be reproduced in the question paper. • Section B – Anthology Poetry: one 30-mark essay question from a choice of two, comparing two poems from Part 3 of the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE English Anthology. • Section C – Modern Prose: one 40-mark essay question from a choice of two on each of the set texts. • The total number of marks available is 90. • The assessment duration is 2 hours. • Closed book: texts are not allowed in the examination. However, students will be provided with the anthology poems in the examination.

Paper 2 Modern Drama and Literary Heritage Texts

Section A – Modern Drama: one 30-mark essay question from a choice of two on each of the set texts. • Section B – Literary Heritage Texts: one 30-mark essay question from a choice of two on each of the set texts. • The total number of marks available is 60. • The assessment duration is 1 hour and 30 minutes. • Open book: prescribed editions of set texts are allowed in the examination.

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
French	IGCSE	Edexcel	4FR1

Course Overview: 

As you may know, French is a main or official language not just in France, but in 55 other countries worldwide. It is also reputed to be the foreign language which is most widely used in international communications (after English). French is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations and almost 300 million people speak French as their native or as a second language - that’s a whole load of potential new pen pals!

The course enables you to manipulate and use French effectively, independently and creatively. Remember- the objective behind learning a foreign language goes much further than passing the exam: speaking, reading and writing French are assets that you will benefit from during the entire course of your adult life, both when at home and when travelling abroad. 

Assessment:

3 papers - Listening (30 mins), Reading and Writing (1 hour 45), and Speaking (8-10 mins)

Paper 1 Listening

Seven questions, which are a combination of multiple-choice, multiple-matching, note-taking and gap-fill questions. All five topic areas are assessed.

Paper 2 Reading and Writing

Section A: Reading Five questions, which are a combination of multiple-choice, note-taking, gap-fill and short-answer questions. Section B: Writing There are two open-response writing tasks and a task that requires writing verbs in their correct forms. Each task in this section is linked to a specific topic area.

Paper 3 Speaking

The examination is made up of three tasks (A, B and C). Students will present and answer questions on a picture that is related to one of the topic areas. They will also discuss two different topics, chosen at random by Pearson. The assessments are conducted by teachers in one session within a prescribed assessment window. The recordings are then submitted to Pearson for external marking.

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
Geography	IGCSE	Edexcel	4GE1

Course Overview: 

This course encourages students to learn about the world in which they live, and to look deeply into the physical and human environments around them. The world is constantly changing and has a lot of variation and inequality. By looking at case studies from the UK, other high income countries (HICs), newly emerging countries (MICs) and lower income countries (LICs), students learn about a wide variety of topics such as climate change, poverty, deprivation, global shifts in economic power and the challenge of sustainable resource use. They’ll also be encouraged to develop and challenge their own attitudes and viewpoints to the world around them, as well as developing important skills such as interpreting data and presenting evidence.

Assessment:

2 papers - Paper 1 (1 hour 10) and Paper 2 (1 hour 45)

Paper 1 Physical Geography 

Examination of 1 hour and 10 minutes, consisting of two sections. The questions are a mixture of multiple-choice, short-answer, data-response and open-ended questions. Section A Candidates choose two out of three questions on: river environments, coastal environments, hazardous environments. Section B Candidates choose one out of three fieldwork-related questions on: river environments, coastal environments, hazardous environments.

Paper 2 Human Geography

Examination of 1 hour and 45 minutes, consisting of three sections. The questions are a mixture of multiple-choice, short-answer, data-response and open-ended questions. Section A Candidates choose two out of three questions on: economic activity and energy, rural environments, urban environments. Section B Candidates choose one out of three fieldwork-related questions on: economic activity and energy, rural environments, urban environments. Section C Candidates choose one out of three questions on: fragile environments and climate change, globalisation and migration, development and human welfare.

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
German	IGCSE	Edexcel	4GN1

Course Overview:

German is the most commonly spoken language across the European Union and is a language that actually shares a great deal of vocabulary with English. The German course aims to prepare pupils to take their place in a multilingual global society, by providing a thorough yet engaging course where pupils build on their grammar and lexis, and develop an awareness of the German-speaking world and its culture. 

Assessment:

3 papers - Listening (30 mins), Reading and Writing (1 hour 45), and Speaking (8-10 mins)

Paper 1 Listening

Seven questions, which are a combination of multiple-choice, multiple-matching, note-taking and gap-fill questions. All five topic areas are assessed.

Paper 2 Reading and Writing

Section A: Reading Five questions, which are a combination of multiple-choice, note-taking, gap-fill and short-answer questions. Section B: Writing There are two open-response writing tasks and a task that requires writing verbs in their correct forms. Each task in this section is linked to a specific topic area.

Paper 3 Speaking

The examination is made up of three tasks (A, B and C). Students will present and answer questions on a picture that is related to one of the topic areas. They will also discuss two different topics, chosen at random by Pearson. The assessments are conducted by teachers in one session within a prescribed assessment window. The recordings are then submitted to Pearson for external marking.

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
Global Citizenship	IGCSE	Edexcel	4GL1

Course Overview:

Global Citizenship encourages pupils to reflect on what makes them a ‘global citizen'. The subject teaches unique skills and knowledge so that pupils can act more prominently in their local and national communities. Pupils will respond to important global issues, take part in a community project, and learn to take greater ownership and responsibility for community activity – improving others’ societies as well as their own.

Assessment:

100% external assessment.

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
History	IGCSE	Edexcel	4HI1

Course Overview: 

In History, we will study the evolution of the modern world – from the British Empire and the early growth of capitalism in the 1700s and the 1800s, to the first half of the twentieth century rocked by revolution, dictators and two world wars and into the second half of the century, an era of cold war, superpower rivalry and mutually assured destruction. Why? To understand where we have come from and where we might be going. Being a historian is a lot like being a detective. The story is not always as simple as it seems on first inspection. People lie. Things are covered up. Evidence is tampered with, damaged, lost. It is our task to properly examine the evidence and get to the root of the matter: to find out the truth of what really happened in the past, why it happened in this way and what this means for us in today’s world.

Assessment:

2 Papers - Paper 1 (1 hour 30) and Paper 2 (1 hour 30)

Paper 1 Depth Studies

Students are assessed through an examination based on their selected depth studies. Students answer two questions, one on each of the depth studies they have studied.

Paper 2 Investigation and Breadth Studies

Students are assessed through an examination based on their historical investigation and breadth study in change. Students answer two questions, one question on their historical investigation and one question on their breadth study in change.

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
Maths A	IGCSE	Edexcel	4MA1

Course Overview: 

Maths gives us a way to understand patterns, to quantify relationships, and to even predict the future. Algebra can be used by businesses to explain sales patterns and can even predict how much a certain customer will spend. A study of geometry can explain the science behind architecture throughout the world. Statistics and probability can estimate the probability of rain in an area. This course runs through all of the fundamentals of maths whilst also explaining the real world context behind the theory. 

Assessment:

2 Papers - Paper 1 (2 hours) and Paper 2 (2 hours)

Higher Tier

Each paper is assessed through a 2-hour examination set and marked by Pearson. • The total number of marks for each paper is 100. • Questions will assume knowledge from the Foundation Tier subject content. • Each paper will assess the full range of targeted grades at Higher Tier (9–4). • Each paper will have approximately 40% of the marks distributed evenly over grades 4 and 5 and approximately 60% of the marks distributed evenly over grades 6, 7, 8 and 9. • There will be approximately 40% of questions targeted at grades 5 and 4, across papers 2F and 2H, to aid standardisation and comparability of award between tiers. • A Higher Tier formulae sheet (Appendix 5) will be included in the written examinations. • A calculator may be used in the examinations (please see page 42 for further information).

Foundation Tier

Each paper is assessed through a 2-hour examination set and marked by Pearson. • The total number of marks for each paper is 100. • Each paper will assess the full range of targeted grades at Foundation Tier (5–1). • Each paper will have approximately equal marks available for each of the targeted grades. • There will be approximately 40% of questions targeted at grades 5 and 4, across papers 1F and 1H to aid standardisation and comparability of award between tiers. • A Foundation Tier formulae sheet (Appendix 4) will be included in the written examinations. • A calculator may be used in the examinations (please see page 42 for further information).

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
Music	GCSE	OCR	J536

Restrictions: 

Examinations for this subject can only be taken in UK centres. Therefore, pupils must be in the UK at the time of the Music exams (May/June) in the examination year.

Additional costs:  

£595 supplement per year owing to the extra one-to-one time required for the oversight and completion of coursework.

Course Overview: 

GCSE Music will provide a contemporary, accessible and creative education in Music with an integrated approach to the three main elements – performing, composing and appraising. Learners are encouraged to be creative and to broaden their musical horizons and understanding with Areas of Study that inspire and challenge. This specification will enable learners to explore performance and composition with a focus on their own instrument and genre choices and offer an opportunity to explore new instrumental skills. Through the various genres, styles and eras contained in our Areas of Study they will explore musical context, musical language, and performance and composition skills.

Assessment:

3 Components - Integrated Portfolio (coursework), Practical Component (coursework) and Listening and Appraising Paper (1 hour 30)

Integrated Portfolio:

Learners’ understanding will be assessed through: • a performance • a composition to a learner determined brief. The learner should prepare and record a performance and a composition to a self-determined brief. This must be assessed by the centre and submitted to OCR for moderation. The performance must be completed in the academic year in which the qualification is awarded. The composition may be completed at any time during the course. The performance repertoire should be selected by the learner following discussion with the centre. The performance should normally be a commercially available piece and a copy of the score or lead sheet should be supplied. In Composing, the learner should prepare a composition of their own choice.

Practical Component:

Learners’ understanding will be assessed through: • an ensemble performance • a composition to a brief set by OCR. The learner should prepare and record an ensemble performance and a composition to a brief set by OCR. This must be assessed by the centre and submitted to OCR for moderation. The performance and composition must be completed in the academic year in which the qualification is awarded. The performance repertoire should be selected by the learner following discussion with the centre. The performance should normally be a commercially available piece and a copy of the score or lead sheet should be supplied. In Composing, learners are required to compose a piece of music in response to a brief set by OCR. Within this composition, Learners are expected to use and develop their knowledge and understanding of rhythm, melody, harmony and compositional techniques. There will be a choice of set briefs based on the Areas of Study that will give learners some opportunity to specialise in an area of particular relevance to their skills and interest. The set briefs will be available to Centres on September 1st of the academic year in which Learners are to undertake their assessment

Listening and Appraising Paper:

The examination will be one hour and 30 minutes. Learners will be given 2 minutes reading time at the start of the exam. Musical vocabulary used in the questions and expected in the learners’ responses will be taken from the Language for Learning (see appendix 5e). Learners will also be able to use non-technical language to communicate responses. The purpose of the examination is to assess aural perception and understanding of the content of the Areas of Study 2–5. A contrasting selection of musical extracts from the Areas of Study will be used. These extracts will be taken from both within and outside the suggested repertoire. Detailed specific knowledge of music in the suggested repertoire will not be expected.

Learners will be expected to answer questions based on extracts of music played during the examination. The following types of question will be asked: • multiple choice questions • single word or short answer questions • questions that require extended response.

Areas of Study: 2 - The Concerto Through Time. 3 - Rhythms of the World. 4 - Film Music. 5 - Conventions of Pop

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
Physics	IGCSE	Edexcel	4PH1

Course overview: 

Physics teaches you skills like problem-solving and quantitative reasoning for everyday problems, helps you see and create new connections between ideas and phenomena you encounter and study in the world - you're guaranteed 'Aha!' lightbulb moments in Physics...So it helps to develop your creative thinking skills, evaluate new ideas and analyse information critically. It also sets you up with a strong background for pursuing careers in health, sciences, business, law, and many more...

Assessment:

2 exams - Paper 1 (2 hours), Paper 2 (1 hour 15), both papers focus on the four core content areas.

Paper 1 - foundation content, the same paper as pupils studying Double Science

The paper is assessed through a 2-hour written examination paper set and marked by Pearson. • The total number of marks is 110. • A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions. • A calculator may be used in the examinations.

Paper 2 - foundation and extension content

The paper is assessed through a 1-hour and 15-minute written examination paper set and marked by Pearson. • The total number of marks is 70. • A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions. • A calculator may be used in the examinations.

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
Psychology	GCSE	Edexcel	1PS0

Restrictions: Examinations for this subject can only be taken in UK centres. Therefore, pupils must be in the UK at the time of the Psychology exams (May/June) in the examination year.

Course Overview: 

Edexcel GCSE in Psychology introduces students to psychological concepts and methodologies in the context of real-life issues, focusing on key questions, the work of renowned psychologists and the research students can undertake themselves. Studying how the brain works can help us to understand our behaviours and how we might not be as in control of our choices as we first thought…

Assessment:

2 Papers - Paper 1 (1 hour 45) and Paper 2 (1 hour 20)

Paper 1

This is a written examination in which all questions must be answered. ● The paper consists of six sections. The first five sections each cover one of the topics listed below. These sections will include multiple-choice, short-open and open-response questions. ● The sixth section will contain two extended open-response questions. These questions will focus on debates within psychology and the interrelationships between the core areas of psychology.

Topic 1: Development – How did you develop? ● Topic 2: Memory – How does your memory work? ● Topic 3: Psychological problems – How would psychological problems affect you? ● Topic 4: The brain and neuropsychology – How does your brain affect you? ● Topic 5: Social influence – How do others affect you?

Paper 2

Students must answer: All questions from Section A. All questions from two sections – B to F. Section A: Research methods – How do you carry out psychological research? This section will focus primarily on Topic 11: Research methods – How do you carry out psychological research?, although it can draw on material from Topics 1 to 5 from Paper 1. It will contain question types that include calculations, multiple-choice, short-open and open response questions, and one extended open-response question. Sections B to F: Optional topics Each of these sections covers one of the optional Topics 6 to 10. These sections will include multiple-choice, short-open and open-response questions, and one extended open-response question. Calculators may be used in the examination. 

Topics 6 to 10 are optional; students must study two of them. Topic 11 is compulsory. ● Topic 6: Criminal psychology – Why do people become criminals? ● Topic 7: The self – What makes you who you are? ● Topic 8: Perception – How do you interpret the world around you? ● Topic 9: Sleep and dreaming – Why do you need to sleep and dream? ● Topic 10: Language, thought and communication – How do you communicate with others? ● Topic 11: Research methods – How do you carry out psychological research?

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
Religious Studies	IGCSE	Edexcel	4RS1

Course Overview: 

Religion and Philosophy has always been, and continues to be for us today, a powerful driving force in society for good and ill. It affects us all, whether or not we are believers. A knowledge of religion is needed to inform our own political and social understanding, to enlighten the subtleties of literature, and to aid our understanding of history. Beyond this, the study of Religious Studies and Philosophy is a fascinating one, interesting for its own sake and useful in that it sharpens the mind and provides an insight into the study of ideas and their accompanying debates. It forces you to examine your own ideas and raises questions where before you thought there were none. 

Assessment:

2 Papers - Paper 1 (1 hour 45) and Paper 2 (1 hour 30)

Paper 1 Beliefs and Values

This paper assesses knowledge and understanding of four key topic areas from a chosen religion: • Section 1: The Universe, Creation and the Place of Human Beings • Section 2: Life and Death • Section 3: Peace and Conflict • Section 4: Rights, Equality and Social Justice. 

Assessment is through a 1-hour 45-minute examination paper set and marked by Pearson. • The total number of marks for the paper is 100.

Paper 2 - The Religious Community

This paper assesses knowledge and understanding of three key topic areas from a chosen religion: • Section 1: Origins and their Impact on the Community • Section 2: Celebration and Pilgrimage • Section 3: Worship and Practice

Assessment is through a 1-hour 30-minute examination paper set and marked by Pearson. • The total number of marks for the paper is 60.

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
Spanish	IGCSE	Edexcel	4SP1

Course Overview: 

Spanish is the second most spoken language by native speakers in the world, with more than 400 million Spanish speakers in over 21 countries. It is also one of the easiest languages to learn, as it is, for the most part, phonetic, as the words are pronounced the way they are spelled, which is useful for beginners! 

The topics covered relate to the students, so that they can produce and comprehend language relating to themselves, their pastimes, their school, their holidays and future plans. The course will also cover topics more relevant to the twenty-first century, such as environmental issues, the media and information and communication technology.

Assessment:

3 papers - Listening (30 mins), Reading and Writing (1 hour 45), and Speaking (8-10 mins)

Paper 1 Listening

Seven questions, which are a combination of multiple-choice, multiple-matching, note-taking and gap-fill questions. All five topic areas are assessed.

Paper 2 Reading and Writing

Section A: Reading Five questions, which are a combination of multiple-choice, note-taking, gap-fill and short-answer questions. Section B: Writing There are two open-response writing tasks and a task that requires writing verbs in their correct forms. Each task in this section is linked to a specific topic area.

Paper 3 Speaking

The examination is made up of three tasks (A, B and C). Students will present and answer questions on a picture that is related to one of the topic areas. They will also discuss two different topics, chosen at random by Pearson. The assessments are conducted by teachers in one session within a prescribed assessment window. The recordings are then submitted to Pearson for external marking.

Course title	Qualification	Exam Board	Course code
Science Double Award	IGCSE	Edexcel	4SD0

Course Overview: 

In this course students study all three sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) but end up with two GCSEs. The course covers approximately two thirds of the content covered by students who sit the individual science courses. 

This is an excellent choice for students who enjoy science like to spend a little more time working through each topic or those who have less interest in carrying on with science after Year 11.

Assessment:

3 Papers - Biology (2 hours), Chemistry (2 hours) and Physics (2 hours)

Biology - foundation content, the same paper as pupils studying Double Science

The paper is assessed through a 2-hour written examination paper set and marked by Pearson. • The total number of marks is 110. • A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions. • A calculator may be used in the examinations.

Chemistry - foundation content, the same paper as pupils studying Double Science

The paper is assessed through a 2-hour written examination paper set and marked by Pearson. • The total number of marks is 110. • A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions. • A calculator may be used in the examinations.

Physics - foundation content, the same paper as pupils studying Double Science

The paper is assessed through a 2-hour written examination paper set and marked by Pearson. • The total number of marks is 110. • A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions. • A calculator may be used in the examinations.