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Often praised for their consistency and reliability, all Pearson exam papers follow a ramped structure, ensuring the difficulty drops at the start of each question to guide students in. This allows teachers to help students practise exam technique and give them the confidence to know that if they struggle at the end of a question, they can move on, and it will be easier again. The wording and style of the questions throughout means they are accessible – all students can understand the question, even if they cannot answer them.

For International GCSE (9-1) Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Science (Double Award) we offer a choice of linear or modular assessment. The linear route is where exams are taken at the end of the programme of study. The modular route breaks the journey into units with an exam at the end of each unit. Pearson Edexcel are the only awarding organisation to offer a modular approach for International GCSE and International AS/A level.

Modular International GCSE (9-1) Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Science (Double Award) are available for first teaching from September 2024 and first assessment from May/June 2025.

*The modular assessment route is only available to schools outside of the UK (United Kingdom)

Our subject advisors are on hand to help with any subject-specific queries you may have and are available to support your educators throughout the year. They provide fast, reliable help and aim to answer all emailed questions within 48 hours and resolve 90% of issues phoned in on the first call.

Email TeachingScience@pearson.com or call +44 (0) 344 463 2535

We integrate practical experiments into the specification, so our students do not need to sit a practical paper. This means that beyond mechanically completing a practical, our International Science GCSEs help students reach a holistic understanding, by integrating integrate theory and practice. The skills developed are assessed through questions in written examinations. This approach allows us to cover a broader range of practicals in our specification, and our guide for teachers supports teaching the thinking skills required as well as the practical skills.

For Science, we deliver un-tiered exam papers, and are the only exam board to do so. This means that all students take the same paper, regardless of ability, and have the opportunity to reach their potential across the full 9-1 grade range. All students can be taught together, which allows for easier timetabling and enables teachers the time to consider students’ development as they work through the content before determining whether to enter them for Triple or Double Award.

Our International GCSE qualifications enable successful progression to International A Level. Through our World Class Qualification development process, we have consulted with International Advanced Level and GCE A Level teachers as well as higher education professors to validate the appropriateness of the qualification, including its content, skills development and assessment structure. There is progression of content and Assessment Objectives from International GCSE to International A Level. In addition, the question styles we use (a mixture including multiple-choice, short answer questions, calculations and extended open-response questions) prepare students for more advanced questions at International A Level.

The specification provides consistent guidance and detail so teachers have clarity on what they need to teach and to what depth. For example, in the Biology specification: l 2.7 identify the chemical elements present in carbohydrates, proteins and lipids (fats and oils) means students only need to be able to identify the chemical elements but not describe or explain them. l 2.10 understand the role of enzymes as biological catalysts in metabolic reactions means they will need to be able to describe and explain the role of enzymes as biological catalysts.