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AQA GCSE Combined Science revision notes

Concise notes per spec point, written in plain English with worked examples. AI-generated, admin-verified.

  1. B1.1Cell structure: eukaryotes, prokaryotes, animal/plant cells, specialisation, differentiation, microscopy
  2. B1.2Cell division: chromosomes, mitosis, the cell cycle, stem cells and their uses
  3. B1.3Transport in cells: diffusion, osmosis, active transport and surface area to volume
  4. B2.1Principles of organisation: cells, tissues, organs and organ systems
  5. B2.2Animal tissues, organs and systems: digestion, enzymes, heart, blood vessels, blood, heart disease and lifestyle risk factors
  6. B2.3Plant tissues, organs and systems: leaf structure, transpiration and translocation
  7. B3.1Communicable diseases: viral, bacterial, fungal and protist pathogens; defence systems; vaccination, antibiotics and drug development
  8. B4.1Photosynthesis: equation, rate-limiting factors and uses of glucose
  9. B4.2Respiration: aerobic and anaerobic respiration, response to exercise and metabolism
  10. B5.1Homeostasis: regulating internal conditions for cell function
  11. B5.2The human nervous system: receptors, neurones, the CNS and reflex arcs
  12. B5.3Hormonal coordination: endocrine system, blood glucose control, reproductive hormones, contraception, IVF and feedback
  13. B6.1Reproduction: sexual vs asexual, meiosis, DNA and the genome, genetic crosses, inherited disorders, sex determination
  14. B6.2Variation and evolution: mutations, natural selection, selective breeding and genetic engineering
  15. B6.3Development of understanding genetics and evolution: fossils, extinction and antibiotic-resistant bacteria
  16. B6.4Classification of living organisms: Linnaean and three-domain systems, evolutionary trees
  17. B7.1Adaptations, interdependence and competition: communities, abiotic and biotic factors, adaptations
  18. B7.2Organisation of an ecosystem: levels of organisation, food chains, sampling, the carbon and water cycles
  19. B7.3Biodiversity and human impact: waste management, land use, deforestation, global warming and conservation
  20. C1.1Simple model of the atom: elements, compounds, mixtures, separation techniques and atomic structure
  21. C1.2The periodic table: arrangement, development, metals/non-metals, Groups 0, 1 and 7
  22. C10.1Using the Earth’s resources and obtaining potable water: sustainable use, potable water, waste-water treatment and alternative metal extraction
  23. C10.2Life cycle assessment and recycling: LCAs and reducing the use of resources
  24. C2.1Chemical bonds: ionic, covalent and metallic bonding
  25. C2.2How bonding and structure relate to properties: states of matter, ionic compounds, small molecules, polymers, giant covalent and metallic structures
  26. C2.3Structure and bonding of carbon: diamond, graphite, graphene and fullerenes
  27. C3.1Chemical measurements, conservation of mass and balanced equations: relative formula mass and uncertainty
  28. C3.2Use of amount of substance: moles, masses in equations, limiting reactants, concentration of solutionsHigher
  29. C4.1Reactivity of metals: metal oxides, the reactivity series, extraction of metals and oxidation/reduction
  30. C4.2Reactions of acids: with metals, neutralisation, soluble salts, the pH scale, strong and weak acids
  31. C4.3Electrolysis: process, molten and aqueous electrolytes, extracting metals and electrode half equations
  32. C5.1Exothermic and endothermic reactions: energy transfer, reaction profiles and bond-energy calculations
  33. C6.1Rate of reaction: calculating rates, factors affecting rate, collision theory, activation energy and catalysts
  34. C6.2Reversible reactions and dynamic equilibrium: Le Chatelier’s principle and the effect of changing conditions
  35. C7.1Carbon compounds as fuels and feedstock: crude oil, alkanes, fractional distillation, properties of hydrocarbons, cracking and alkenes
  36. C8.1Purity, formulations and chromatography: pure substances, formulations and Rf values
  37. C8.2Identification of common gases: tests for hydrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and chlorine
  38. C9.1Composition and evolution of the Earth’s atmosphere: early atmosphere, oxygen rise and carbon dioxide fall
  39. C9.2Carbon dioxide and methane as greenhouse gases: greenhouse effect, human impact, global climate change and carbon footprint
  40. C9.3Common atmospheric pollutants and their sources: pollutants from fuels and their effects
  41. P1.1Energy changes in a system: stores, kinetic, elastic and gravitational potential energy, specific heat capacity and power
  42. P1.2Conservation and dissipation of energy: energy transfers, thermal conductivity and efficiency
  43. P1.3National and global energy resources: renewable and non-renewable sources and environmental impact
  44. P2.1Current, potential difference and resistance: circuit symbols, charge, Ohm’s law and IV characteristics of resistors
  45. P2.2Series and parallel circuits: rules for current, potential difference and total resistance
  46. P2.3Domestic uses and safety: ac/dc supplies, mains electricity and the three-core cable
  47. P2.4Energy transfers: electrical power, energy in everyday appliances and the National Grid
  48. P3.1Changes of state and the particle model: density of materials and physical state changes
  49. P3.2Internal energy and energy transfers: specific heat capacity and specific latent heat
  50. P3.3Particle model and pressure: motion of particles in gases and gas pressure
  51. P4.1Atoms and isotopes: atomic structure, mass and atomic numbers and the development of the model of the atom
  52. P4.2Atoms and nuclear radiation: alpha/beta/gamma decay, nuclear equations, half-lives and contamination vs irradiation
  53. P5.1Forces and their interactions: scalar/vector quantities, contact and non-contact forces, gravity and resultant forces
  54. P5.2Work done and energy transfer: the W = Fs equation and conversion to thermal energy by friction
  55. P5.3Forces and elasticity: elastic deformation, Hooke’s law and elastic potential energy
  56. P5.4Forces and motion: distance, displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration, Newton’s laws and stopping distance
  57. P5.5Momentum: definition and conservation of momentum in collisionsHigher
  58. P6.1Waves in air, fluids and solids: transverse and longitudinal waves and the wave-speed equation
  59. P6.2Electromagnetic waves: types, properties, hazards and applications across the spectrum
  60. P7.1Permanent and induced magnetism, magnetic forces and fields: poles, magnetic fields and the Earth’s field
  61. P7.2The motor effect: electromagnetism, Fleming’s left-hand rule, F = BIl and electric motors