What does the Energy resources and efficiency module cover?

This module gathers the energy content of Physics 1 in WJEC GCSE Science Double Award. It covers renewable and non-renewable energy resources and how power stations generate electricity, energy stores and transfers, the conservation of energy and wasted energy, calculating efficiency, and the three types of heat transfer with the methods used to reduce energy loss from a house.

Which unit and paper assess this module?

These topics are part of Unit 3 (Physics 1), a written paper of 1 hour 15 minutes worth 15 percent of the Double Award qualification, sat at Foundation or Higher tier. Questions mix recall, evaluation, calculation and explanation.

What maths skills are needed here?

You need to calculate efficiency from useful and total energy and convert it to a percentage, interpret Sankey diagrams, and calculate the payback time of an insulation method. You should also be able to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages of different energy resources.

What kinds of question come up?

Expect questions on the advantages and disadvantages of energy resources, how a power station generates electricity, energy stores and transfers, the conservation of energy, calculating efficiency, the three types of heat transfer, and how insulation reduces energy loss including payback time.

How should I revise this module?

Learn the renewable and non-renewable resources with their pros and cons, and how power stations work. Master the efficiency equation and Sankey diagrams, and the conservation of energy. Learn the three types of heat transfer and how each insulation method reduces a particular loss, including payback time. Use WJEC Double Award past papers and watch the command words.

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WJEC GCSE Science Double Award: Energy resources and efficiency (Unit 3, Physics 1) overview

An overview of the Energy resources and efficiency module in WJEC GCSE Science Double Award (Unit 3, Physics 1), mapping energy resources and power stations, energy transfer and efficiency, and reducing energy loss in the home.

Generated by Claude Opus 4.86 min readDouble Award Unit 3 (Physics 1)Updated 2026-06-15

Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed

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The topics in this module
How this module fits the exam
How to study this module

The Energy resources and efficiency module gathers the energy content of Physics 1 in WJEC GCSE Science Double Award. It explains where our electricity comes from, how energy is transferred and how much is wasted, and how to keep a home warm efficiently. This page maps the module and links to a focused answer page for each part.

The topics in this module

Energy resources and power stations: Renewable and non-renewable resources and how power stations generate electricity. See Energy resources and power stations.
Energy transfer and efficiency: Energy stores and transfers, conservation of energy, wasted energy and calculating efficiency. See Energy transfer and efficiency.
Reducing energy loss in the home: The three types of heat transfer and how insulation reduces energy loss. See Reducing energy loss in the home.

How this module fits the exam

These topics sit in Unit 3 (Physics 1), a written paper of 1 hour 15 minutes worth 15%. Questions mix recall (resources, heat transfer), evaluation (choosing resources), calculation (efficiency, payback) and explanation (insulation).

How to study this module

Learn the resources. Renewable and non-renewable, with the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Know how power stations work. Fuel to steam to turbine to generator.
Master efficiency. The equation, Sankey diagrams, and the conservation of energy.
Learn the heat transfers. Conduction, convection and radiation, and where each applies.
Understand insulation. How each method reduces a loss, and payback time.

Then test yourself with the module quiz.

Sources & how we know this

WJEC GCSE Science (Double Award) specification (from 2016) — WJEC (2016)