Edexcel GCSE Combined Science specification checklist
All 112 spec points of 1SC0 that our notes cover, topic by topic. Rate each one red, amber or green as you revise, and follow the link to the note when you need it.
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (1SC0) specification checklist · clockitwithsci.com
The numbers are Edexcel's own spec references for 1SC0. Higher tier: only on the Higher tier papers. Foundation students can skip it. Teachers: you are welcome to print this checklist and share it with your classes.
Biology Paper 11 hour 10 minutes · 60 marks
1Key concepts in biology
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.1 | Animal and plant cells; Bacterial cells | |||
| 1.2 | Specialised cells |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3 | Changes in microscope technology | |||
| 1.4 | Number, size and scale: estimations | |||
| 1.5 | Units: milli, micro, nano and pico | |||
| 1.6 | Core practical: using a microscope |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.7 | How enzymes work | |||
| 1.8 | Denaturing enzymes | |||
| 1.9 | Temperature, substrate concentration and pH | |||
| 1.10 | Core practical: the effect of pH on enzyme activity | |||
| 1.11 | Rate calculations for enzyme activity |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.12 | The importance of enzymes |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.15 | Diffusion; Osmosis; Active transport | |||
| 1.16 | Core practical: osmosis in potatoes | |||
| 1.17 | Percentage gain and loss of mass |
2Cells and control
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | The cell cycle and mitosis | |||
| 2.2 | Why mitosis is important | |||
| 2.3 | What mitosis produces | |||
| 2.4 | Cancer |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 | Growth in animals and plants | |||
| 2.6 | Cell differentiation | |||
| 2.7 | Percentile charts | |||
| 2.8 | Stem cells and meristems | |||
| 2.9 | Stem cells in medicine |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.13 | Receptors and the nervous pathway; Neurone structure; Synapses; Investigating reaction times | |||
| 2.14 | Reflex arcs; Investigating reaction times |
3Genetics
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3 | Meiosis |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.4 | The structure of DNA | |||
| 3.5 | The genome and genes | |||
| 3.6 | Extracting DNA from fruit |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.12 | Alleles and inherited differences | |||
| 3.13 | Key genetic terms | |||
| 3.14 | Monohybrid inheritance | |||
| 3.15 | Sex determination | |||
| 3.16 | Calculating and analysing outcomes |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.19 | Features controlled by multiple genes | |||
| 3.20 | Causes of variation | |||
| 3.21 | The Human Genome Project | |||
| 3.22 | Mutations and genetic variation | |||
| 3.23 | Mutations and genetic variation |
4Natural selection and genetic modification
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.2 | Evolution by natural selection | |||
| 4.3 | Resistant organisms and antibiotic resistance |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.4 | Fossil evidence for human evolution | |||
| 4.5 | Stone tools | |||
| 4.7 | Five kingdoms and three domains |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.8 | Selective breeding |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.10 | What is genetic engineering? | |||
| 4.11 | The main stages of genetic engineering Higher tier |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.14 | Evaluating genetic engineering and selective breeding |
5Health, disease and the development of medicines
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | What is health? | |||
| 5.2 | Communicable and non-communicable diseases | |||
| 5.3 | How one disease can lead to another |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.4 | What is a pathogen? | |||
| 5.5 | Common infections | |||
| 5.6 | How pathogens spread and how to control them | |||
| 5.8 | Sexually transmitted infections |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.12 | Physical barriers and chemical defences | |||
| 5.13 | The specific immune system | |||
| 5.14 | Immunisation |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.16 | Antibiotics | |||
| 5.20 | Developing new medicines |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.23 | Causes of non-communicable diseases | |||
| 5.24 | Lifestyle factors and non-communicable diseases | |||
| 5.25 | Treating cardiovascular disease |
Biology Paper 21 hour 10 minutes · 60 marks
6Plant structures and their functions
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | Photosynthetic organisms as producers | |||
| 6.2 | The photosynthesis reaction | |||
| 6.3 | Limiting factors | |||
| 6.4 | Interactions between limiting factors Higher tier | |||
| 6.5 | Core practical: light intensity and photosynthesis | |||
| 6.6 | Light intensity, distance and the inverse square law Higher tier |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.7 | Root hair cells | |||
| 6.8 | Xylem and phloem | |||
| 6.9 | Transpiration and stomata | |||
| 6.10 | Translocation |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6.12 | Factors affecting water uptake | |||
| 6.13 | Rate calculations for transpiration |
7Animal coordination, control and homeostasis
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | The endocrine system | |||
| 7.2 | Adrenalin and fight or flight Higher tier | |||
| 7.3 | Thyroxine and negative feedback Higher tier |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.4 | The menstrual cycle | |||
| 7.5 | How four hormones control the cycle Higher tier | |||
| 7.6 | Hormonal contraception | |||
| 7.7 | Evaluating hormonal and barrier methods | |||
| 7.8 | Assisted reproductive technology Higher tier |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.9 | Maintaining a constant internal environment |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.13 | Insulin and blood glucose | |||
| 7.14 | Glucagon Higher tier | |||
| 7.15 | Type 1 diabetes | |||
| 7.16 | Type 2 diabetes | |||
| 7.17 | Body mass, BMI and type 2 diabetes |
8Exchange and transport in animals
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.1 | The need to transport substances | |||
| 8.2 | Exchange surfaces, transport systems and surface area : volume ratio | |||
| 8.3 | Alveoli and gas exchange |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.6 | The structure and function of blood | |||
| 8.7 | The structure and function of blood vessels |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.8 | The heart and circulatory system | |||
| 8.12 | Heart rate, stroke volume and cardiac output |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.9 | Cellular respiration | |||
| 8.10 | Comparing aerobic and anaerobic respiration | |||
| 8.11 | Core practical: the rate of respiration in living organisms |
9Ecosystems and material cycles
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.1 | Levels of organisation | |||
| 9.2 | Abiotic and biotic factors | |||
| 9.3 | Interdependence | |||
| 9.4 | Parasitism and mutualism |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.5 | Core practical: quadrats and belt transects | |||
| 9.6 | Estimating the number of organisms |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.9 | Fish farming; Non-indigenous species; Eutrophication | |||
| 9.10 | Benefits of maintaining biodiversity |
| Spec | What to know (the note) | Not yet | Nearly | Confident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.12 | Cycling of materials | |||
| 9.13 | The carbon cycle | |||
| 9.14 | The water cycle and potable water | |||
| 9.15 | The nitrogen cycle |
Ticks are not saved, so print the checklist to keep track. Look up any word you are unsure of in the glossary, and when a topic is green, try it on past papers.