CCEA GCSE Science Double Award: complete guide to the Biology, Chemistry and Physics units and the exams
A complete guide to CCEA GCSE Science Double Award (code 1370), worth two GCSEs. Covers the six written units B1, B2, C1, C2, P1 and P2, the Practical Skills unit, the Foundation and Higher tiers, how the exams are structured and marked, and how to study each topic for top grades.
CCEA GCSE Science Double Award (specification code 1370) is set and marked by CCEA in Northern Ireland and is worth two GCSEs. It covers the core of Biology, Chemistry and Physics across six written units plus a Practical Skills unit, sat at either Foundation or Higher tier. This page is the index: below is a map of the study modules, the exam structure, the tiers, and how to study each one.
The Double Award units and study modules
CCEA organises the content into seven units. We group the specification into seven study modules that follow the CCEA units, and each module has an overview guide and a focused answer page for every examinable topic.
- B1 Cells, Living Processes and Biodiversity
- Cells and microscopy, photosynthesis, nutrition, enzymes and digestion, respiration, coordination, and ecology. Start with the B1 overview.
- B2 Body Systems, Genetics, Microorganisms and Health
- Transport in plants and animals, the circulatory system, genetics and inheritance, variation and evolution, and microorganisms and health. Start with the B2 overview.
- C1 Structures, Trends, Reactions and Analysis
- Atomic structure, the Periodic Table, bonding, the mole, acids and salts, and tests for ions and gases. Start with the C1 overview.
- C2 Rates, Organic Chemistry and Calculations
- Metals and redox, electrolysis, rates and energy, equilibrium, crude oil and organic chemistry, and calculations. Start with the C2 overview.
- P1 Motion, Energy, Density and Radioactivity
- Motion and forces, energy and power, density and pressure, kinetic theory, and radioactivity and nuclear physics. Start with the P1 overview.
- P2 Waves, Electricity, Magnetism and Space
- Waves and the electromagnetic spectrum, electricity and circuits, mains electricity, magnetism and electromagnetism, and space physics. Start with the P2 overview.
- Practical Skills
- The prescribed practicals and the skills examined in the Practical Skills unit. Start with the Practical Skills overview.
Exam structure
CCEA GCSE Science Double Award is assessed by six written units and one Practical Skills unit, all sat at the same tier, and it is worth two GCSE grades.
- B1, B2, C1, C2, P1 and P2 are written papers, each externally marked, using structured short-answer, data and calculation, and longer questions.
- Unit 7 Practical Skills assesses practical work through prescribed practicals and a practical task rather than a written exam.
Foundation and Higher tiers are available; you sit all units at the same tier, and a calculator is allowed in the written papers.
How to study it
Treat each unit as a checklist of specification statements and learn them precisely, because CCEA questions come straight from the wording. Carry the big ideas through every subject - structure fits function in Biology, bonding explains properties in Chemistry, and energy is conserved in Physics. Drill the calculations, rehearse each process as an ordered sequence, prepare the practicals, and finish each module with its quiz before moving on to past papers.
Combined Science guides
In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.
- CCEA GCSE Double Award Science: B1 Cells, Living Processes and Biodiversity overview
An overview of Biology Unit B1 (Cells, Living Processes and Biodiversity) of CCEA GCSE Double Award Science, mapping cells and microscopy, photosynthesis, nutrition, enzymes and digestion, respiration, coordination and ecology, and how they are examined on the B1 paper.
7 min readRead → - CCEA GCSE Double Award Science: B2 Body Systems, Genetics, Microorganisms and Health overview
An overview of Biology Unit B2 (Body Systems, Genetics, Microorganisms and Health) of CCEA GCSE Double Award Science, mapping osmosis and plant transport, the circulatory system, DNA and genetics, cell division, inheritance, variation and evolution, and microorganisms and health.
7 min readRead → - CCEA GCSE Double Award Science: C1 Structures, Trends, Reactions and Analysis overview
An overview of Chemistry Unit C1 (Structures, Trends, Chemical Reactions, Quantitative Chemistry and Analysis) of CCEA GCSE Double Award Science, mapping atomic structure, the Periodic Table, bonding, the mole, acids and salts, and tests for ions and gases.
7 min readRead → - CCEA GCSE Double Award Science: C2 Further Reactions, Rates, Organic Chemistry and Calculations overview
An overview of Chemistry Unit C2 (Further Chemical Reactions, Rates and Equilibrium, Calculations and Organic Chemistry) of CCEA GCSE Double Award Science, mapping metals and redox, electrolysis, rates and energy, equilibrium, crude oil and organic chemistry, and calculations.
7 min readRead → - CCEA GCSE Double Award Science: P1 Motion, Force, Energy, Density, Kinetic Theory and Radioactivity overview
An overview of Physics Unit P1 (Motion, Force, Energy, Density, Kinetic Theory and Radioactivity) of CCEA GCSE Double Award Science, mapping motion and forces, momentum, energy and power, density and kinetic theory, and radioactivity and nuclear physics.
7 min readRead → - CCEA GCSE Double Award Science: P2 Waves, Light, Electricity, Magnetism, Electromagnetism and Space overview
An overview of Physics Unit P2 (Waves, Light, Electricity, Magnetism, Electromagnetism and Space) of CCEA GCSE Double Award Science, mapping waves and the electromagnetic spectrum, light, electricity and circuits, mains electricity, magnetism and electromagnetism, and space physics.
7 min readRead → - CCEA GCSE Double Award Science: Practical Skills unit overview
An overview of the Practical Skills unit of CCEA GCSE Double Award Science, mapping the prescribed practicals across Biology, Chemistry and Physics, the working-scientifically skills assessed, and how the unit is examined.
6 min readRead →
Combined Science practice quizzes
Multiple-choice drills with worked answer explanations. Your scores stay on this device.
- CCEA GCSE Double Award Science B1 Cells, Living Processes and Biodiversity quiz16 questionsStart →
- CCEA GCSE Double Award Science B2 Body Systems, Genetics, Microorganisms and Health quiz16 questionsStart →
- CCEA GCSE Double Award Science C1 Structures, Trends, Reactions and Analysis quiz16 questionsStart →
- CCEA GCSE Double Award Science C2 Further Reactions, Rates, Organic Chemistry and Calculations quiz16 questionsStart →
- CCEA GCSE Double Award Science P1 Motion, Force, Energy, Density, Kinetic Theory and Radioactivity quiz16 questionsStart →
- CCEA GCSE Double Award Science P2 Waves, Light, Electricity, Magnetism, Electromagnetism and Space quiz16 questionsStart →
- CCEA GCSE Double Award Science Practical Skills unit quiz12 questionsStart →
The CCEA-GCSE system, explained
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