LNF Cymru Literacy and numeracy for Wales

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GCSE Integrated Science

Integrated Science (Single Award) asks learners to read a pre-release Resource Folder worth a third of the Unit 1 paper, judge how reliable health and climate information is, write balanced evaluations, and write up a scientific enquiry alone under high control using precise scientific terms. Its numeracy load is heavy: Appendix D lists units, percentages, significant figures, substituting into equations, plotting graphs and, at higher tier, standard form, rearranging equations and gradients, all applied to energy costs, efficiency, density, motion and practical data. The single biggest thing Key Stage 3 should build is routine, confident handling of practical data: measuring with units, calculating means and values from equations, and plotting and explaining graphs.

First taught
September 2026
Amount of literacy work
Medium
Amount of numeracy work
High
Specification
Open the WJEC specification (PDF)
How this GCSE is assessed
  • Unit 1: Living on Earth: Written examination (tiered), 1 hour 30 minutes, 72 marks, includes pre-release Resource Folder, 45%
  • Unit 2: Science in a Changing World: Written examination (tiered), 1 hour 30 minutes, 72 marks, 45%
  • Unit 3: Scientific Enquiry: One enquiry from a choice of two: practical task (1 hour) and written task (1 hour), 28 marks, externally marked by WJEC, 10%

Skills that use Logical reasoning

  1. Calculating the cost of electricity and payback time

    Assessed: In the exam

    Learners calculate the cost of using appliances, including electric vehicles, with units used (kWh) = power (kW) x time (hours) and cost = units used x cost per unit, then use data to find payback times.

    Numeracy: Financial literacy, Calculation, Strategic competence, Conceptual understanding, Logical reasoning

    Getting pupils ready

    Year 7
    Pupils read the power rating on classroom appliances and work out which one costs most to run for an hour, given a price per kWh.
    Year 8
    Pupils calculate the weekly cost of running a kettle, a games console and a phone charger at home, using kWh = kW x hours and a current price per unit.
    Year 9
    Pupils compare the yearly running costs of a petrol car and an electric car from given data and work out how many years the electric car takes to pay back its extra cost.
    Show the specification wording and the LNF statements

    Where it is in the specification: Unit 1, Section 1.3.1b, page 22

    “use data to determine the payback time of electrical appliances, including electric vehicles.”
    Progression step 3

    • I can manage money, compare costs from different retailers and determine what can be bought within a given budget.

    • I can make comparisons between prices and understand which is best value for money.

    • I can multiply numbers and decimals by a multiple of 10, e.g. 15 x 30, 1.4cm x 20.

    Progression step 4

    • I can appreciate the basic principles of budgeting, saving (including understanding compound interest) and borrowing.

    • I can use efficient methods for multiplication and division of whole numbers and decimals, including decimals such as 0.6 or 0.06.

    • I can prioritise and organise the relevant steps needed to complete the task or reach a solution.

    Progression step 5

    • I can prioritise and organise the relevant steps needed to complete the task or reach a solution.

    • I can interpret answers within the context of the problem and consider whether answers, including calculator, analogue and digital displays, are sensible.

    • I can justify my procedures, predictions and conjectures.

  2. Analysing data, anomalies and uncertainty

    Assessed: In the exam and in coursework (NEA)

    Learners find means, identify anomalies, patterns and trends, and comment on uncertainty and on random and systematic error (Appendix C). The formula for uncertainty is given in the examination (page 44).

    Numeracy: Interpreting data, Logical reasoning

    Getting pupils ready

    Year 7
    Pupils calculate the mean of three repeat heart rate readings, circle any anomaly and write one sentence on what the results show.
    Year 8
    Pupils compare class ruler-drop results, find the range and any outliers, and explain whether the pattern supports their prediction.
    Year 9
    Pupils pool class results from a pondweed photosynthesis practical, calculate means and the uncertainty for each light level, and judge how far the data support the conclusion.
    Show the specification wording and the LNF statements

    Where it is in the specification: Appendix B, Scientific Enquiry Skills Framework, page 43

    “interpret primary and secondary data, including identifying patterns and trends, make inferences and draw conclusions”
    Progression step 3

    • I can draw conclusions from data and recognise that some conclusions may be misleading or uncertain.

    • I can use mean to interpret a simple data set.

    • I can justify my procedures and predictions.

    Progression step 4

    • I can use mean, median, mode and range to compare data (continuous and discrete), and can choose the most appropriate average.

    • I can explore trends and extreme values (outliers) for data sets.

    • I can examine results critically, select and justify choice of statistics, recognising the limitations of any assumptions and their effect on the conclusions drawn.

    Progression step 5

    • I can interpret mathematical information; drawing inferences from graphs, diagrams and data, including discussion on limitations of data.

    • I can draw conclusions from data and recognise that some conclusions may be misleading or uncertain.

    • I can construct and develop a mathematical argument.

Good to know

Links with other GCSEs

The Appendix D mathematics overlaps closely with GCSE Mathematics and Numeracy, and the carbon footprint, air quality and energy cost work overlaps with Geography.

Source: WJEC GCSE Integrated Science (Single Award) specification, teaching from 2026, for award from 2028, © WJEC CBAC Ltd 2025.