GCSE Combined Science Notes

GCSE COMBINED SCIENCE (9–1)

Complete Revision Notes
Pearson Edexcel 1SC0 Higher & Foundation




Biology — Chemistry — Physics

, How to Use These Notes

These notes cover the full Pearson Edexcel GCSE (9–1) Combined Science specification (1SC0,
Issue 6, 2024). All 18 mandatory core practicals are included.

Colour Code Key

■ Blue boxes — Key concepts
■ Gold boxes — Definitions and exam tips
■ Purple boxes — Key equations
■ Grey boxes — All 18 Core Practicals

6 papers, each 1h 10min, 60 marks. Calculators allowed. Papers 1–2: Biology —
Papers 3–4: Chemistry — Papers 5–6: Physics
Foundation: grades 1–1 to 5–5 — Higher: grades 4–4 to 9–9
AO1 (40%): knowledge AO2 (40%): application AO3 (20%): analysis

, GCSE Combined Science (9–1) — Edexcel 1SC0 Complete Revision Notes



Contents

BIOLOGY (Papers 1 & 2) 3

1 Biology Topic 1 – Key Concepts in Biology (Papers 1 & 2) 3
1.1 Cell Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.2 Microscopy and Scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.3 Enzymes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
1.4 Transport Across Cell Membranes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

2 Biology Topic 2 – Cells and Control (Paper 1) 4

3 Biology Topic 3 – Genetics (Paper 1) 5

4 Biology Topic 4 – Natural Selection and Genetic Modification (Paper 1) 5

5 Biology Topic 5 – Health, Disease and Medicines (Paper 1) 5

6 Biology Topic 6 – Plant Structures and Functions (Paper 2) 6

7 Biology Topic 7 – Animal Coordination and Homeostasis (Paper 2) 6

8 Biology Topic 8 – Exchange and Transport in Animals (Paper 2) 6

9 Biology Topic 9 – Ecosystems and Material Cycles (Paper 2) 7

CHEMISTRY (Papers 3 & 4) 8

1 Chemistry Topic 1 – Key Concepts in Chemistry (Papers 3 & 4) 8
1.1 Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.2 Bonding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
1.3 Quantitative Chemistry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

2 Chemistry Topic 2 – States of Matter and Mixtures (Paper 3) 9

3 Chemistry Topic 3 – Chemical Change (Paper 3) 9
3.1 Acids, Bases and Salts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3.2 Electrolysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

4 Chemistry Topic 4 – Extracting Metals and Equilibria (Paper 3) 10

5 Chemistry Topic 6 – Groups in the Periodic Table (Paper 4) 10

6 Chemistry Topic 7 – Rates of Reaction and Energy Changes (Paper 4) 10

7 Chemistry Topic 8 – Fuels and Earth Science (Paper 4) 11

PHYSICS (Papers 5 & 6) 12

1 Physics Topic 1 – Key Concepts of Physics (Papers 5 & 6) 12

2 Physics Topic 2 – Motion and Forces (Paper 5) 12

3 Physics Topic 3 – Conservation of Energy (Paper 5) 13

4 Physics Topic 4 – Waves (Paper 5) 13



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