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WJEC GCSE Science: Double Award (Wales): complete guide to the units, topics and exams

A complete guide to WJEC GCSE Science Double Award for Wales. Covers the six written units (Biology 1 and 2, Chemistry 1 and 2, Physics 1 and 2), the practical assessment, the Foundation and Higher tiers, the maths and practical demand, and how to study each module for the top grades.

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WJEC GCSE Science (Double Award) is the combined science qualification taken in Wales. It is worth two GCSEs and covers biology, chemistry and physics together. This page is the index: below is a map of the six written units, how the exams and practical assessment are structured, the tiers, and how to study, with a direct link to every module.

The seven units

The content is organised into six written units plus a practical assessment. Each written unit is a paper of 1 hour 15 minutes worth 15%, and Unit 7 is a practical assessment worth 10%.

Unit 1 - Biology 1: cells, respiration, digestion, circulation, plants and ecosystems.
Unit 2 - Chemistry 1: the nature of substances, atomic structure and the Periodic Table, water, the changing Earth, rates of reaction and limestone.
Unit 3 - Physics 1: electric circuits, generating electricity, using energy, domestic electricity and waves.
Unit 4 - Biology 2: classification, cell division, DNA and inheritance, variation and evolution, response and regulation, and disease.
Unit 5 - Chemistry 2: bonding and structure, acids and salts, metals and extraction, energy changes, organic chemistry and industrial processes.
Unit 6 - Physics 2: distance, speed and acceleration, forces, energy, space, radioactivity and kinetic theory.

The study modules

We group the unit content into focused modules, each with an overview guide, a quiz and a set of specification-level answer pages.

Biology 1 (Unit 1): Cells and respiration, Digestion and circulation and Plants and ecosystems.
Chemistry 1 (Unit 2): Substances and atomic structure, The Earth and its resources and Rates and limestone.
Physics 1 (Unit 3): Electricity and the grid, Energy resources and efficiency and Waves.
Biology 2 (Unit 4): Cells, genetics and evolution, Response and regulation and Microorganisms and disease.
Chemistry 2 (Unit 5): Bonding and properties, Acids, metals and energy and Organic and industrial chemistry.
Physics 2 (Unit 6): Forces and motion, Space and radioactivity and Kinetic theory.
Skills: Practical and enquiry skills for the Unit 7 assessment and practical questions in the written papers.

Exam structure

WJEC GCSE Science (Double Award) is assessed by six written papers and a practical assessment.

Units 1 to 6 are each a written paper of 1 hour 15 minutes, worth 15%. Units 1 and 4 are biology, Units 2 and 5 are chemistry, and Units 3 and 6 are physics.
Unit 7 is a practical assessment worth 10%, assessing planning, carrying out, analysing and evaluating an experiment.

Each written paper mixes short-answer and structured questions with extended-response and data-response questions, and practical-style questions appear throughout.

Foundation and Higher tiers

The written units are tiered. You normally sit the papers at one tier.

Foundation tier targets the lower grade range and covers the core content of all the topics.
Higher tier targets the higher grade range and adds the harder calculations and more demanding ideas.

The tier you enter caps the maximum grade available, so plan with your teacher which tier matches your target grade.

How to study WJEC Science Double Award

Work from the specification. Each content statement is a checklist; questions are written from them.
Learn definitions and equations. Mark schemes reward precise wording and recalled equations.
Drill the maths. Magnification, percentage change, relative atomic mass, balancing, rates and the physics equations must be automatic.
Master the practical methods. Standard methods and data analysis recur in the written papers and Unit 7.
Practise extended-response questions. They reward a logical, well-linked argument and the right WJEC command word response.

Syllabus, module by module

Each module has specification-level answer pages with worked exam questions and cross-links, plus an overview guide and quiz. Browse the full set at /wjec-gcse/combined-science/syllabus.

For the official specification

WJEC publishes the full specification, past papers and mark schemes at wjec.co.uk. Always revise from the current specification and WJEC's own past papers, because question style is board-specific.

Combined Science guides

In-depth written guides with paired practice quizzes.

See all →

Combined Science practice quizzes

Multiple-choice drills with worked answer explanations. Your scores stay on this device.

The WJEC-GCSE system, explained

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Common questions about Combined Science

What is WJEC GCSE Science (Double Award)?

WJEC GCSE Science (Double Award) is a science qualification for learners in Wales that is worth two GCSEs and covers biology, chemistry and physics together. It is graded on a double scale (A*A* to GG). The content is the shared core of the separate WJEC GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics, taught to a slightly lighter depth, so the most advanced separate-science-only topics are not included.

How is WJEC GCSE Science Double Award structured?

The qualification has seven units. There are six written units: Unit 1 Biology 1, Unit 2 Chemistry 1, Unit 3 Physics 1, Unit 4 Biology 2, Unit 5 Chemistry 2 and Unit 6 Physics 2. Each written unit is a paper of 1 hour 15 minutes worth 15 percent of the qualification. Unit 7 is a practical assessment worth 10 percent.

What are the exam papers?

There are six written papers, one for each unit, each lasting 1 hour 15 minutes and worth 15 percent. They are tiered (Foundation targets the lower grades, Higher the higher grades). Unit 7 is an untiered practical assessment, carried out in your centre and marked by WJEC, worth 10 percent. The written papers mix short-answer, structured, data-response and extended-writing questions, some set in a practical context.

How is Double Award different from the separate sciences?

Double Award covers biology, chemistry and physics in less total depth than the three separate GCSEs and is worth two GCSEs rather than three. The shared core content is the same, but some separate-science-only topics (such as monoclonal antibodies, instrumental analysis, momentum, seismic waves and red shift) are not on the Double Award specification. Always revise from the WJEC Science (Double Award) specification and its past papers.

How much maths and practical work is in the course?

Mathematical skills are assessed across all six units: expect magnification and percentage change in biology, relative atomic mass, balancing equations and rate calculations in chemistry, and equations such as work, energy, power and speed in physics. The Unit 7 practical assessment is worth 10 percent and tests planning, carrying out, analysing and evaluating an experiment, and practical-style questions also appear in the written papers.

How should I structure my revision?

Work module by module against the specification, because questions are written from the content statements. Learn definitions, formulae and equations precisely, drill the calculations until they are automatic, and rehearse the required practical methods. Use WJEC Science (Double Award) past papers to practise structured and extended-response questions, watching for command words such as Describe, Explain, Calculate, Suggest and Evaluate.