Specification points
Edexcel International GCSE (9–1) Science (Double Award) 4SD0
500 points in 3 topics, with Edexcel's codes and titles.
Grade boundaries·Edexcel command words
Codes and titles are read by a script from Edexcel's published specification and have not been checked by a person. What each point covers is in the specification itself: Edexcel’s specification.
B Biology content
- B-1 The nature and variety of living organisms
- B-1a Characteristics of living organisms
- B-1.1 Characteristics shared by living organisms
- B-1b Variety of living organisms
- B-1.2 Features of eukaryotic organisms
- B-1.3 Features of prokaryotic organisms
- B-1.4 Pathogens
- B-2 Structure and functions in living organisms
- B-2a Level of organisation
- B-2.1 Levels of organisation in organisms
- B-2b Cell structure
- B-2.2 Cell structures
- B-2.3 Functions of cell structures
- B-2.4 Plant and animal cells compared
- B-2c Biological molecules
- B-2.7 Elements in carbohydrates, proteins and lipids
- B-2.8 Structure of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids
- B-2.9 Practical: food tests
- B-2.10 Enzymes as biological catalysts
- B-2.11 Effect of temperature on enzymes
- B-2.12 Practical: temperature and enzyme activity
- B-2.13 Effect of pH on enzymes
- B-2d Movement of substances into and out of cells
- B-2.15 Diffusion, osmosis and active transport
- B-2.16 Factors affecting movement into and out of cells
- B-2.17 Practical: diffusion and osmosis
- B-2e Nutrition
- B-2.18 Photosynthesis and energy conversion
- B-2.19 Equations for photosynthesis
- B-2.20 Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis
- B-2.21 Leaf structure and photosynthesis
- B-2.22 Mineral ions for plant growth
- B-2.23 Practical: requirements of photosynthesis
- B-2.24 A balanced diet
- B-2.25 Sources and functions of dietary components
- B-2.26 Energy requirements and activity, age and pregnancy
- B-2.27 The human alimentary canal
- B-2.28 Peristalsis
- B-2.29 Digestive enzymes
- B-2.30 Production and storage of bile
- B-2.31 Role of bile
- B-2.32 Absorption in the small intestine
- B-2f Respiration
- B-2.34 Respiration and ATP
- B-2.35 ATP as the energy source for cells
- B-2.36 Aerobic and anaerobic respiration compared
- B-2.37 Equations for aerobic respiration
- B-2.38 Word equations for anaerobic respiration
- B-2.39 Practical: respiration in germinating seeds
- B-2g Gas exchange
- B-2.46 Structure of the thorax
- B-2.47 Intercostal muscles, diaphragm and ventilation
- B-2.48 Adaptations of alveoli for gas exchange
- B-2.49 Effects of smoking
- B-2.50 Practical: breathing and exercise
- B-2h Transport
- B-2.51 Diffusion in unicellular organisms
- B-2.52 Need for transport systems in multicellular organisms
- B-2.53 Phloem and translocation
- B-2.54 Xylem and transport of water
- B-2.59 Composition of blood
- B-2.60 Role of plasma
- B-2.61 Adaptations of red blood cells
- B-2.62 Immune response of white blood cells
- B-2.65 Structure and function of the heart
- B-2.66 Heart rate, exercise and adrenaline
- B-2.67 Risk factors for coronary heart disease
- B-2.68 Structure and function of arteries, veins and capillaries
- B-2.69 Structure of the circulatory system
- B-2i Excretion
- B-2.70 Waste gases lost from leaves
- B-2.71 Excretory organs and products in humans
- B-2j Co-ordination and response
- B-2.80 Responding to environmental change
- B-2.81 Homeostasis
- B-2.82 Stimulus, receptor and effector
- B-2.83 Plant responses to stimuli
- B-2.84 Geotropism and phototropism
- B-2.85 Auxin and phototropism
- B-2.86 Nervous and hormonal communication compared
- B-2.87 The central nervous system
- B-2.88 Nerve impulses and rapid responses
- B-2.89 Neurotransmitters and synapses
- B-2.90 The reflex arc
- B-2.91 Structure and function of the eye
- B-2.92 Focusing and response to light intensity
- B-2.93 Skin and temperature regulation
- B-2.94 Adrenaline, insulin, testosterone, progesterone and oestrogen
- B-3 Reproduction and inheritance
- B-3a Reproduction
- B-3.1 Sexual and asexual reproduction compared
- B-3.2 Fertilisation and development of the embryo
- B-3.3 Insect- and wind-pollinated flowers
- B-3.4 Pollen tube growth, seeds and fruit
- B-3.5 Practical: conditions for germination
- B-3.6 Food reserves in germinating seeds
- B-3.7 Asexual reproduction in plants
- B-3.8 Male and female reproductive systems
- B-3.9 Oestrogen and progesterone in the menstrual cycle
- B-3.11 Role of the placenta
- B-3.12 Protection of the embryo by amniotic fluid
- B-3.13 Hormones and secondary sexual characteristics
- B-3b Inheritance
- B-3.14 Genomes and genes
- B-3.15 Chromosomes and genes in the nucleus
- B-3.19 Alleles
- B-3.20 Genetic terms: dominant, recessive, genotype, phenotype
- B-3.22 Polygenic inheritance
- B-3.23 Monohybrid inheritance and genetic diagrams
- B-3.24 Family pedigrees
- B-3.25 Probabilities in monohybrid crosses
- B-3.26 Sex chromosomes
- B-3.27 Sex determination at fertilisation
- B-3.28 Mitosis
- B-3.29 Uses of mitosis
- B-3.30 Meiosis and haploid gametes
- B-3.31 Random fertilisation and variation
- B-3.32 Diploid and haploid chromosome numbers in humans
- B-3.33 Genetic and environmental variation
- B-3.34 Mutation
- B-3.38 Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection
- B-3.39 Antibiotic resistance in bacteria
- B-4 Ecology and the environment
- B-4a The organism in the environment
- B-4.1 Population, community, habitat and ecosystem
- B-4.2 Practical: population size using quadrats
- B-4.5 Abiotic and biotic factors and populations
- B-4b Feeding relationships
- B-4.6 Trophic levels
- B-4.7 Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids
- B-4.8 Transfer of substances and energy in food chains
- B-4.9 Energy transfer between trophic levels
- B-4c Cycles within ecosystems
- B-4.10 The carbon cycle
- B-4d Human influences on the environment
- B-4.12 Air pollution by sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide
- B-4.13 Greenhouse gases
- B-4.14 Human activities and greenhouse gases
- B-4.15 Enhanced greenhouse effect and global warming
- B-4.16 Water pollution by sewage
- B-4.17 Eutrophication
- B-5 Use of biological resources
- B-5a Food production
- B-5.1 Glasshouses and polythene tunnels
- B-5.2 Carbon dioxide, temperature and crop yield
- B-5.3 Fertilisers and crop yield
- B-5.4 Pest control: pesticides and biological control
- B-5.5 Yeast in food production
- B-5.6 Practical: anaerobic respiration in yeast
- B-5.7 Bacteria in yoghurt production
- B-5.8 Industrial fermenters
- B-5b Selective breeding
- B-5.10 Selective breeding of plants
- B-5.11 Selective breeding of animals
- B-5c Genetic modification (genetic engineering)
- B-5.12 Restriction enzymes and ligase
- B-5.13 Vectors and recombinant DNA
- B-5.14 Insulin from genetically modified bacteria
- B-5.15 Genetically modified plants and food production
- B-5.16 Transgenic organisms
C Chemistry content
- C-1 Principles of chemistry
- C-1a States of matter
- C-1.1 The three states of matter
- C-1.2 Changes of state
- C-1.3 Diffusion and dilution experiments
- C-1.4 Solvent, solute, solution and saturated solution
- C-1b Elements, compounds and mixtures
- C-1.8 Classifying substances as elements, compounds or mixtures
- C-1.9 Melting and boiling points of pure substances and mixtures
- C-1.10 Techniques for separating mixtures
- C-1.11 Chromatograms and the composition of mixtures
- C-1.12 Rf values
- C-1.13 Practical: paper chromatography
- C-1c Atomic structure
- C-1.14 Atoms and molecules
- C-1.15 Structure of the atom
- C-1.16 Atomic number, mass number, isotopes and relative atomic mass
- C-1.17 Calculating relative atomic mass from isotopic abundances
- C-1d The Periodic Table
- C-1.18 Arrangement of the Periodic Table
- C-1.19 Electronic configurations of the first 20 elements
- C-1.20 Classifying elements as metals or non-metals
- C-1.21 Metals and non-metals in the Periodic Table
- C-1.22 Electronic configuration and position in the Periodic Table
- C-1.23 Similar chemical properties within a group
- C-1.24 Unreactivity of the noble gases
- C-1e Chemical formulae, equations and calculations
- C-1.25 Word and balanced chemical equations
- C-1.26 Relative formula mass
- C-1.27 The mole
- C-1.28 Calculations with amount of substance
- C-1.29 Reacting masses
- C-1.30 Percentage yield
- C-1.31 Finding formulae experimentally
- C-1.32 Empirical and molecular formulae
- C-1.33 Calculating empirical and molecular formulae
- C-1.36 Practical: formula of a metal oxide
- C-1f Ionic bonding
- C-1.37 Formation of ions
- C-1.38 Charges of common ions
- C-1.39 Formulae of ionic compounds
- C-1.40 Dot-and-cross diagrams for ionic compounds
- C-1.41 Ionic bonding as electrostatic attraction
- C-1.42 Melting and boiling points of giant ionic lattices
- C-1.43 Electrical conductivity of ionic compounds
- C-1g Covalent bonding
- C-1.44 Covalent bonds
- C-1.45 Covalent bonding and electrostatic attraction
- C-1.46 Dot-and-cross diagrams for covalent molecules
- C-1.47 Properties of simple molecular substances
- C-1.48 Relative molecular mass and boiling points
- C-1.49 Properties of giant covalent structures
- C-1.50 Diamond, graphite and C60 fullerene
- C-1.51 Electrical conductivity of covalent compounds
- C-2 Inorganic chemistry
- C-2a Group 1 (alkali metals) – lithium, sodium and potassium
- C-2.1 Group 1 metals as a family
- C-2.2 Trend in reactivity in Group 1
- C-2.3 Predicting properties of alkali metals
- C-2b Group 7 (halogens) – chlorine, bromine and iodine
- C-2.5 Properties of the halogens
- C-2.6 Predicting properties of halogens
- C-2.7 Halogen displacement reactions
- C-2c Gases in the atmosphere
- C-2.9 Composition of dry air
- C-2.10 Percentage of oxygen in air
- C-2.11 Combustion of elements in oxygen
- C-2.12 Thermal decomposition of metal carbonates
- C-2.13 Carbon dioxide and climate change
- C-2.14 Practical: percentage of oxygen in air
- C-2d Reactivity series
- C-2.15 Reactivity series: water and dilute acids
- C-2.16 Reactivity series: displacement reactions
- C-2.17 Order of reactivity of metals
- C-2.18 Conditions for rusting
- C-2.19 Preventing rusting
- C-2.20 Oxidation, reduction and redox
- C-2.21 Practical: reactions of dilute acids with metals
- C-2e Acids, alkalis and titrations
- C-2.28 Indicators for acids and alkalis
- C-2.29 The pH scale
- C-2.30 Universal indicator
- C-2.31 Hydrogen and hydroxide ions in acids and alkalis
- C-2.32 Neutralisation
- C-2f Acids, bases and salt preparations
- C-2.34 Solubility rules for ionic compounds
- C-2.35 Acids and bases as proton transfer
- C-2.36 Proton donors and acceptors
- C-2.37 Reactions of acids forming salts
- C-2.38 Bases and alkalis
- C-2.39 Preparing a soluble salt from an insoluble reactant
- C-2.42 Practical: preparing copper(II) sulfate crystals
- C-2g Chemical tests
- C-2.44 Tests for gases
- C-2.45 Flame tests
- C-2.46 Flame test colours
- C-2.47 Tests for cations
- C-2.48 Tests for anions
- C-2.49 Test for water
- C-2.50 Testing the purity of water
- C-3 Physical chemistry
- C-3a Energetics
- C-3.1 Exothermic and endothermic reactions
- C-3.2 Simple calorimetry experiments
- C-3.3 Heat energy change: Q = mcΔT
- C-3.4 Molar enthalpy change
- C-3.8 Practical: temperature changes in reactions
- C-3b Rates of reaction
- C-3.9 Experiments on rates of reaction
- C-3.10 Factors affecting the rate of reaction
- C-3.11 Collision theory and rate of reaction
- C-3.12 Catalysts
- C-3.13 How catalysts work
- C-3.15 Practical: marble chips and hydrochloric acid
- C-3.16 Practical: catalysts for decomposing hydrogen peroxide
- C-3c Reversible reactions and equilibria
- C-3.17 Reversible reactions
- C-3.18 Examples of reversible reactions
- C-4 Organic chemistry
- C-4a Introduction
- C-4.1 Hydrocarbons
- C-4.2 Representing organic molecules
- C-4.3 Homologous series, functional groups and isomerism
- C-4.4 IUPAC naming of organic compounds
- C-4.5 Structural and displayed formulae from molecular formulae
- C-4.6 Substitution, addition and combustion reactions
- C-4b Crude oil
- C-4.7 Crude oil as a mixture of hydrocarbons
- C-4.8 Fractional distillation of crude oil
- C-4.9 Fractions of crude oil and their uses
- C-4.10 Trends in properties of crude oil fractions
- C-4.11 Fuels
- C-4.12 Complete and incomplete combustion
- C-4.13 Carbon monoxide poisoning
- C-4.14 Oxides of nitrogen from car engines
- C-4.15 Sulfur dioxide from fuel impurities
- C-4.16 Acid rain
- C-4.17 Catalytic cracking
- C-4.18 Why cracking is necessary
- C-4c Alkanes
- C-4.19 General formula of alkanes
- C-4.20 Alkanes as saturated hydrocarbons
- C-4.21 Formulae and names of alkanes
- C-4.22 Reactions of alkanes with halogens
- C-4d Alkenes
- C-4.23 The alkene functional group
- C-4.24 General formula of alkenes
- C-4.25 Alkenes as unsaturated hydrocarbons
- C-4.26 Formulae and names of alkenes
- C-4.27 Reactions of alkenes with bromine
- C-4.28 Bromine water test for alkenes
- C-4e Synthetic polymers
- C-4.44 Addition polymers and monomers
- C-4.45 Repeat units of addition polymers
- C-4.46 Monomers from repeat units
- C-4.47 Problems disposing of addition polymers
P Physics content
- P-1 Forces and motion
- P-1a Units
- P-1.1 Units for forces and motion
- P-1b Movement and position
- P-1.3 Distance–time graphs
- P-1.4 Average speed, distance and time
- P-1.5 Practical: motion of everyday objects
- P-1.6 Acceleration, change in velocity and time
- P-1.7 Velocity–time graphs
- P-1.8 Acceleration from a velocity–time graph gradient
- P-1.9 Distance travelled from area under a velocity–time graph
- P-1.10 Final speed, initial speed, acceleration and distance
- P-1c Forces, movement, shape and momentum
- P-1.11 Effects of forces between bodies
- P-1.12 Types of force
- P-1.13 Vector and scalar quantities
- P-1.14 Force as a vector quantity
- P-1.15 Resultant force along a line
- P-1.16 Friction
- P-1.17 Force, mass and acceleration
- P-1.18 Weight, mass and gravitational field strength
- P-1.19 Stopping distance: thinking and braking distance
- P-1.20 Factors affecting vehicle stopping distance
- P-1.21 Forces on falling objects and terminal velocity
- P-1.22 Practical: extension of springs, wires and rubber bands
- P-1.23 Force–extension graphs and Hooke's law
- P-1.24 Elastic behaviour
- P-2 Electricity
- P-2a Units
- P-2.1 Units for electricity
- P-2b Mains electricity
- P-2.2 Electrical safety: insulation, earthing, fuses and circuit breakers
- P-2.3 Heating effect of a current in a resistor
- P-2.4 Power, current and voltage; choosing fuses
- P-2.5 Energy transferred, current, voltage and time
- P-2.6 Alternating and direct current
- P-2c Energy and voltage in circuits
- P-2.7 Choosing series or parallel circuits
- P-2.8 Current in a series circuit
- P-2.9 Current–voltage characteristics of components
- P-2.10 Effect of changing resistance on current
- P-2.11 Light-dependent resistors and thermistors
- P-2.12 Lamps and LEDs as current indicators
- P-2.13 Voltage, current and resistance
- P-2.14 Current as rate of flow of charge
- P-2.15 Charge, current and time
- P-2.16 Current as a flow of electrons in metals
- P-2.17 Conservation of current at a junction
- P-2.18 Voltage across parallel components
- P-2.19 Currents, voltages and resistances in series circuits
- P-2.20 Voltage as energy per unit charge
- P-2.21 Energy transferred, charge and voltage
- P-3 Waves
- P-3a Units
- P-3.1 Units for waves
- P-3b Properties of waves
- P-3.2 Longitudinal and transverse waves
- P-3.3 Amplitude, wavefront, frequency, wavelength and period
- P-3.4 Waves transferring energy and information
- P-3.5 Wave speed, frequency and wavelength
- P-3.6 Frequency and time period
- P-3.7 Using wave relationships in different contexts
- P-3.8 The Doppler effect
- P-3.9 Reflection and refraction of all waves
- P-3c The electromagnetic spectrum
- P-3.10 Light as part of the continuous electromagnetic spectrum
- P-3.11 Order of the electromagnetic spectrum
- P-3.12 Uses of electromagnetic radiations
- P-3.13 Harmful effects of electromagnetic radiations
- P-3d Light and sound
- P-3.14 Light as a transverse wave
- P-3.15 Law of reflection
- P-3.16 Ray diagrams for reflection and refraction
- P-3.17 Practical: refraction of light through blocks and prisms
- P-3.18 Refractive index and Snell's law
- P-3.19 Practical: refractive index of glass
- P-3.20 Total internal reflection in optical fibres and prisms
- P-3.21 Critical angle
- P-3.22 Critical angle and refractive index
- P-3.23 Sound as a longitudinal wave
- P-4 Energy resources and energy transfers
- P-4a Units
- P-4.1 Units for energy
- P-4b Energy transfers
- P-4.2 Energy stores and energy transfers
- P-4.3 Conservation of energy
- P-4.4 Efficiency
- P-4.5 Energy transfers in devices and Sankey diagrams
- P-4.6 Conduction, convection and radiation
- P-4.7 Convection in everyday phenomena
- P-4.8 Emission and absorption of radiation
- P-4.9 Practical: conduction, convection and radiation
- P-4.10 Reducing unwanted energy transfer
- P-4c Work and power
- P-4.11 Work done, force and distance
- P-4.12 Work done as energy transferred
- P-4.13 Gravitational potential energy
- P-4.14 Kinetic energy
- P-4.15 Links between GPE, kinetic energy and work
- P-4.16 Power as rate of energy transfer
- P-4.17 Power, work done and time
- P-5 Solids, liquids and gases
- P-5a Units
- P-5.1 Units for solids, liquids and gases
- P-5b Density and pressure
- P-5.3 Density, mass and volume
- P-5.4 Practical: measuring density
- P-5.5 Pressure, force and area
- P-5.6 Pressure acting in all directions in fluids
- P-5.7 Pressure difference in fluids
- P-5c Ideal gas molecules
- P-5.15 Gas molecules, random motion and pressure
- P-5.16 Absolute zero
- P-5.17 The Kelvin scale
- P-5.18 Temperature and speed of gas molecules
- P-5.19 Kelvin temperature and kinetic energy of molecules
- P-5.20 Pressure, volume and temperature of a fixed gas
- P-5.21 Pressure and Kelvin temperature at constant volume
- P-5.22 Pressure and volume at constant temperature
- P-6 Magnetism and electromagnetism
- P-6a Units
- P-6.1 Units for magnetism and electromagnetism
- P-6b Magnetism
- P-6.2 Magnetic attraction and repulsion
- P-6.3 Magnetically hard and soft materials
- P-6.4 Magnetic field lines
- P-6.5 Induced magnetism
- P-6.6 Practical: magnetic field patterns of bar magnets
- P-6.7 Producing a uniform magnetic field
- P-6c Electromagnetism
- P-6.8 Magnetic field around a current-carrying conductor
- P-6.12 Motor effect in motors and loudspeakers
- P-6.13 Left-hand rule
- P-6.14 Factors affecting force on a current-carrying conductor
- P-6d Electromagnetic induction
- P-6.15 Induced voltage and the factors affecting it
- P-6.16 Generating electricity with magnets and coils
- P-7 Radioactivity and particles
- P-7a Units
- P-7.1 Units for radioactivity
- P-7b Radioactivity
- P-7.2 Atomic structure and nuclear notation
- P-7.3 Atomic number, mass number and isotopes
- P-7.4 Alpha, beta and gamma as ionising radiations
- P-7.5 Nature and properties of alpha, beta and gamma
- P-7.6 Practical: penetration of different radiations
- P-7.7 Effects of radiation emission on the nucleus
- P-7.8 Balancing nuclear equations
- P-7.9 Detecting ionising radiation
- P-7.10 Sources of background radiation
- P-7.11 Activity of a radioactive source
- P-7.12 Half-life
- P-7.13 Half-life calculations
- P-7.14 Uses of radioactivity in industry and medicine
- P-7.15 Contamination and irradiation
- P-7.16 Dangers of ionising radiations
- P-7c Fission and fusion
- P-7.17 Nuclear reactions as energy sources
- P-7.18 Fission of uranium-235
- P-7.19 Products of uranium-235 fission
- P-7.20 Chain reactions
- P-7.21 Control rods and moderators
- P-7.22 Shielding around a nuclear reactor
- P-7.23 Nuclear fusion and fission compared
- P-7.24 Nuclear fusion
- P-7.25 Fusion as the energy source of stars
- P-7.26 Conditions needed for nuclear fusion
- P-8 Astrophysics
- P-8a Units
- P-8.1 Units for astrophysics
- P-8b Motion in the universe
- P-8.2 The universe, galaxies and the solar system
- P-8.3 Variation in gravitational field strength
- P-8.4 Gravitational force and orbits
- P-8.5 Orbits of comets, moons and planets
- P-8.6 Orbital speed, radius and time period
- P-8c Stellar evolution
- P-8.7 Classifying stars by colour
- P-8.8 Star colour and temperature
- P-8.9 Evolution of stars similar in mass to the Sun
- P-8.10 Evolution of stars more massive than the Sun