GCSE Additional Science Course.

Overview

A distance learning course is the ideal way to gain a Additional Science GCSE. Whether you're looking to go on to further education, improve your job prospects or expand your knowledge, distance learning GCSE Additional Science is a flexible and convenient course, which allows you to comprehensively prepare for the GCSE Additional Science exam through home study. What's more, because the distance learning GCSE Additional Science Course is a fully comprehensive course, no prior knowledge is required.

FORMAT OF COURSE (Modules Overview)
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There are Three modules that make up the GCSE Additional Science.

Biology 2
Chemistry 2
Physics 2

HOME STUDY SUPPORT 
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Effective learning is encouraged through frequent activities and self-assessment questions, and there is guidance for the preparation of coursework.

You will be provided with comprehensive materials designed to provide you with everything required to complete your course of study. You will have your own personal tutor helping you with your course work and with any questions you may have. Plus you can contact a Student Advisors by email or phone for all the practical advice you may need – so we really are with you 100%.

Your tutor will give you various resource sites to visit and there is extra material in the student support portal.

COURSE RESOURCES
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You will also require the following text books for your course:

AQA Science GCSE Additional Science Evaluation Pack: AQA Science: GCSE Additional Science Student Book [Paperback]
Ann Fullick (Author), Patrick Fullick (Author), J Breithaupt (Author), Lawrie Ryan (Editor)

COURSE ASSESSMENT
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For each module there are two or three formal tutor-marked assessments which, when completed, should be sent to your tutor, via e-mail or conventional post. All of the information within the units is written in line with the requirements of the examination board specification and the demands of the examination.

All units are broken down into clear subject topics, and students should spend the amount of time studying for each topic as advised by their course tutor. Each topic module has been written for ease of understanding and topic coverage may be of different length and difficulty depending on the level of detail and information required. You will need to study the modules in the sequence provided.

HOME STUDY ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
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Students planning to take the Additional Science Course will need to either have completed Science GCSE or be studying GCSE Science alongside this course.

This course is openly available to anyone wishing to learn more about Science and would like to take part in a highly rewarding home study course. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and study further, so we try to keep our entry requirements to a minimum.

You have the freedom to start the course at any time and continue your studies at your own pace for a period of up to 24 months from initial registration with full tutor support.

Description

The GCSE Additional Science course is divided into three  comprehensive modules:

Biology 2

What are animals and plants built from?
How do dissolved substances get into and out of cells?
How do plants obtain the food they need to live and grow?
What happens to energy and biomass at each stage in a food chain?
What happens to the waste material produced by plants and animals?
What are enzymes and what are some of their functions?
How do our bodies keep internal conditions constant?
Which human characteristics show a simple pattern of inheritance?

Chemistry 2
 
How do sub-atomic particles help us to understand the structure of substances?
How do structures influence the properties and uses of substances?
How much can we make and how much do we need to use?
How can we control the rates of chemical reactions?
Do chemical reactions always release energy?
How can we use ions in solutions?

Physics 2

How can we describe the way things move?
How do we make things speed up or slow down?
What happens to the movement energy when things speed up or slow down?
What is momentum?
What is static electricity, how can it be used and what is the connection between static electricity and electric currents?
What does the current through an electrical circuit depend on?
What is mains electricity and how can it be used safely?
Why do we need to know the power of electrical appliances?
What happens to radioactive substances when they decay?
What are nuclear fission and nuclear fusion?

The Syllabus

Our Additional Science GCSE course prepares students for AQA GCSE Additional Science syllabus 4463 for exams in 2011 - 12. We have chosen this syllabus as the most suited to distance learning.

Assesment is by is is by three written papers (75%) and coursework (25%).

Practical Skills/Coursework

This Additional Science GCSE course is assessed by two elements:

1.The practical skills assessment (PSA) assesses the student’s ability to work in an organised and safe manner whilst working practically. It can be carried out at any time during the course.

2.The investigative skills assignment (ISA) assesses the student’s ability to undertake a task and collect, process and evaluate data. The ISA can be carried out at any time during the course. Students carry out the ISA set by AQA, they then take a written test under controlled conditions. The test asks questions concerning the data collected during the practical task as well as that provided as part of the test.

Requirements

GSCE Grade C or above in Science or be studying GCSE Science alongside this course.