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.
- Awarding body
- WJEC
- Level
- Level 1 and Level 2
- First taught
- September 2026
- Amount of literacy work
- Medium
- Amount of numeracy work
- High
- Specification
- Open the specification
How this qualification 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 Collecting data
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Collecting reliable primary data
In Unit 3 Task 1 (6 marks) learners work in groups of no more than three to follow a given method and collect reliable data. Across all units SE5 asks them to collect, record and present primary data while improving its quality (page 9).
Numeracy: Collecting data, Strategic competence
Getting pupils ready
- Year 7
- Pupils measure their pulse before and after a minute of star jumps, recording three repeats in a results table with headings and units.
- Year 8
- Pupils plan a results table for a ruler-drop investigation into how distraction affects thinking time, including repeats, before they collect any data.
- Year 9
- In groups of three, pupils follow a given method to investigate enzyme activity at different temperatures, record repeat readings and decide which ones need repeating.
Show the specification wording and the LNF statements
Where it is in the specification: Unit 3, page 33
“practical investigation using a given method including observation, measurement, and the collection of reliable data through hands-on experimentation.”
Progression step 3
I can collect relevant data to answer posed questions.
I can identify, measure or obtain required information to complete the task.
Progression step 4
I can plan how to collect data to test a simple hypotheses.
I can collect both quantitative and qualitative data.
I can identify, measure or obtain required information to complete the task.
Progression step 5
I can collect data in a suitable way according to my hypothesis.
I can identify, measure or obtain required information to complete the task.
Good to know
- Unit 1 includes a pre-release Resource Folder released one month before the examination: '24 marks will be allocated to questions linked to the pre-release material', and candidates receive a clean copy of the folder with the question paper (page 11).
- Unit 3 Task 2 (22 marks) is written alone: 'Learners must work independently in high controlled conditions' (page 33). In Task 1 (6 marks) learners 'may work in groups of no more than three' (page 33).
- Higher tier only mathematics is shown in bold in Appendix D (page 46): standard form, changing the subject of an equation, and determining and interpreting the gradient, slope and intercept of a linear graph. Calculating acceleration from the gradient of a speed-time graph (page 13) and calculating rate from a straight line (page 20) are also higher tier content.
- The uncertainty formula is provided: 'There is a formula to calculate this which you will be given in an exam' (Appendix C, page 44).
- AO3, 'Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific information, processes, techniques and procedures', carries 25% of the qualification (page 35).
- The specification awards no separate marks for spelling, punctuation and grammar and makes no statement about calculator use.
Links with other qualifications
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.