Full pathway
KS3 Science, stage by stage
Eight stages in order, ending with biology, chemistry and physics foundations written towards the AQA GCSE specifications.
0%
Science
Your progress
0 of 30 lessons finished · 0 of 41 objectives secure
3 films120 marked checksExit quiz every lesson
Stages 5 to 7 are KS3 lessons written to lead into AQA Biology 8461, Chemistry 8462 and Physics 8463. They are foundations for those courses, not the GCSE courses themselves.
Stage 1
Working scientifically: enquiry, data and conclusions
Working scientifically: variables, measurement, graphs and conclusions you can defend.
- Planning a fair test: variables and methodSelect, plan and carry out the most appropriate types of scientific enquiry to test predictions, including identifying independent, dependent and control variables4 marked checks28 min
- Measurement, repeats and reliabilityMake and record observations and measurements using a range of methods, and evaluate the reliability of methods4 marked checks28 min
- Presenting data and drawing conclusionsInterpret observations and data, including identifying patterns and using observations to draw conclusions4 marked checks28 min
- Measuring well: repeats, anomalies and reliabilityMake and record observations and measurements using a range of methods, and evaluate the reliability of methods4 marked checks25 min
- Turning results into tables and graphs that arguePresent observations using appropriate methods, including tables and graphs, and communicate ideas using scientific terminology4 marked checks25 min
Stage 2
Living systems: breathing, digestion and energy
Living systems — breathing, digestion and how organisms get their energy.
- Breathing and gas exchangeUnderstand the structure and functions of the gas exchange system and the effects of exercise, asthma and smoking4 marked checks30 min
- Digestion, enzymes and the gutUnderstand the tissues and organs of the human digestive system, including the role of enzymes and the importance of bacteria in the gut4 marked checks30 min
- Human reproduction and the menstrual cycleUnderstand reproduction in humans, including the structure and function of the male and female reproductive systems and the menstrual cycle4 marked checks28 min
- Photosynthesis and the leafUnderstand the reactants in, and products of, photosynthesis, and a word summary for photosynthesis4 marked checks30 min
- Aerobic and anaerobic respirationUnderstand aerobic and anaerobic respiration in living organisms, including the breakdown of organic molecules to enable all the other chemical processes necessary for life4 marked checks28 min
Stage 3
Substances, mixtures and reactions
Substances, mixtures and reactions, with the particle model doing the explaining.
- Atoms, elements and compoundsUnderstand atoms, elements and compounds, and the use of chemical symbols and formulae4 marked checks28 min
- Pure substances and separating mixturesUnderstand the concept of a pure substance and how mixtures can be separated through filtration, distillation and chromatography4 marked checks30 min
- Diffusion, solutions and solubilityUnderstand diffusion in terms of the particle model, and the concepts of solutions, solvents, solutes and solubility4 marked checks28 min
- Chemical reactions and equationsUnderstand chemical reactions as the rearrangement of atoms, represented by word and symbol equations4 marked checks30 min
- Acids, alkalis and neutralisationUnderstand reactions of acids with alkalis to produce a salt plus water, and use the pH scale for measuring acidity4 marked checks30 min
Stage 4
Energy, pressure and waves
Energy, pressure and waves — the physics Year 9 will build on.
- Energy transfers, power and fuelsUnderstand energy changes and transfers, including comparing power ratings and energy values of fuels and foods4 marked checks30 min
- Conservation of energy and calculationsUnderstand energy as a quantity that can be quantified and calculated, and the total energy has the same value before and after a change4 marked checks30 min
- Fuels and energy resourcesUnderstand fuels and energy resources, including renewable and non-renewable resources4 marked checks28 min
- Pressure on surfaces and in fluidsUnderstand pressure in fluids and atmospheric pressure, and pressure on surfaces4 marked checks28 min
Stage 5
Biology foundations for GCSE (AQA 8461)
Biology foundations written towards AQA 8461: transport, exchange and bioenergetics.
- Diffusion, osmosis and why surfaces are foldedUnderstand diffusion in terms of the particle model, and the concepts of solutions, solvents, solutes and solubilityFilm4 marked checks30 min
- Photosynthesis and respiration as an energy pairUnderstand the reactants in, and products of, photosynthesis, and a word summary for photosynthesisFilm4 marked checks30 min
Stage 6
Chemistry foundations for GCSE (AQA 8462)
Chemistry foundations written towards AQA 8462: formulae, equations and reactivity.
- Atoms, elements, compounds and formulaeUnderstand atoms, elements and compounds, and the use of chemical symbols and formulae4 marked checks30 min
- Balancing equations and the reactivity seriesUnderstand chemical reactions as the rearrangement of atoms, represented by word and symbol equations4 marked checks30 min
Stage 7
Physics foundations for GCSE (AQA 8463)
Physics foundations written towards AQA 8463: energy stores, forces and motion graphs.
- Energy stores, transfers and efficiencyUnderstand energy as a quantity that can be quantified and calculated, and the total energy has the same value before and after a change4 marked checks30 min
- Forces, resultants and motion graphsUnderstand forces as pushes or pulls arising from the interaction between two objects, and balanced and unbalanced forcesFilm4 marked checks30 min
Stage 8
Year 9 Science: inheritance, energetics, climate, magnetism and space
Year 9: inheritance, energetics, climate, magnetism and space.
- Heredity: passing information onUnderstand heredity as the process by which genetic information is transmitted from one generation to the next4 marked checks30 min
- Exothermic, endothermic and the reactivity seriesUnderstand exothermic and endothermic chemical reactions and the reactivity series of metals4 marked checks30 min
- The carbon cycle and climate changeUnderstand the carbon cycle and the production of carbon dioxide by human activity and the impact on climate4 marked checks30 min
- Magnetic fields and electromagnetsUnderstand magnetic fields, including Earth's magnetism, compasses and the magnetic effect of a current4 marked checks30 min
- Seasons, day length and distances in spaceUnderstand the seasons and the Earth's tilt, day length at different times of year, and the light year as a unit of astronomical distance4 marked checks30 min
Where this leads
Into GCSE science
Every lesson above reports into the same 41-objective science grid. When you are ready, the GCSE specification pages carry the exam-style practice papers.