General Science - Chemistry and Biology
- Learning Area:
- Science
- Year(s):
- 2021 - 2022
- Approx Cost:
- SCIPAD workbook of approximately $15. Education perfect can be purchased as additional online support tool for students.
- Technology Requirements:
- A laptop is essential for this course
- Entry Recommendations:
Students should have enjoyed Year 10 Science and have an interest in general science. Students intending to take Year 12 science are advised to take this general science course alongside a more specific course such as 11BIO, 11CHE, 11PHY, 11SCB, 11AMS, 11FSC or 11AHS.
- Course Outline:
Students will complete the following units:
Investigate selected chemical reactions (one internal NCEA assessment)
Students will investigate the following concepts:
Aspects of atomic structure including ion formation
Specific chemical reactions including exchange, decomposition, combination and displacement
How to predict and observe selected chemical reactions
How to write balanced chemical equation.
Discuss aspects of genetic variation and inheritance
Students will learning and investigate the following concepts:
What is variation and why is it important to living organisms
How variation is stored in cells and how is it transferred between generations
Mendelian genetics including monohybrid crosses and test crosses
- Where Does It Lead:
This course taken alongside the semester course, 11SCia -physics, provides students with an understanding of some general aspects of Science at level 6 of the New Zealand Curriculum and provides a solid platform for entry into most Year 12 Sciences. Students who are looking at careers in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields are recommended to consider taking more than two semesters of science such as 11BIO, 11CHE, 11PHY, 11AHS, 11SCB, 11AMS or 11FSC. For NCEA Level 2 Speciality Sciences, a total of 8 Science credits are recommended with 4 credits of those being at least Merit level in the specialty subject area.
- For further information see:
- Mr Tolhoek
In Year 9 students start the first year of their two year junior programme. Year 9 consists of two semesters (half year-long) with a combination of compulsory courses and option courses chosen by the students.
In Year 9 students will take 12 semester (half-year) courses that include:
a) Compulsory Courses - 2 semesters of Health & PE, Mathematics, Science, and one Semester of English and Social Studies. (the reverse happens in Year 10, the second year of the junior programme).
b) Option Courses - Four semesters of option courses (note: students choose 5 option courses in Year 10, the second year of the junior programme).
Year 10 students study five compulsory courses (English, Mathematics, Health & Physical Education, Science and Social Sciences) and six semester (half year) options (see individual course details). You can choose to do one semester course from a subject area eg: Drama - Part 1 or take two semester courses from a subject area, which is equivalent to a whole year course eg: Drama Part - 1 and Drama - Part 2. Pathways for all course at all levels are summarised on the Course Planning Chart.
A few Year 10 semester two courses require you to complete semester one first, before doing semester two.
Students won't be gaining Level 1 NCEA in Year 11. There will be up to one internal NCEA assessment per semester course, giving students the opportunity to gain approximately 45 credits but not the 80 needed for Level 1 NCEA. Some assessments maybe at Level 2 NCEA. These internal assessments will expose students to the way different subject areas assess NCEA in preparation for Year 12 and the completion of Level 2 NCEA.
Year 12 students study six year-long courses (see individual course details and Course Planning Chart). There are no compulsory courses, however, English and Mathematics are strongly recommended.
Students have the option of studying five courses. In such cases, students will be placed in the Independent Learning Project (ILP001) course, in addition to their five courses, so that they can be mentored and have their progress monitored.
Year 13 students study five year-long courses (see individual course details and Course Planning Chart) and have an Independent Study (IST). A sixth course can be selected in place of IST. Students have the option of studying four courses. In such cases, students will be placed in the Independent Learning Project (ILP001) course, in addition to their four courses, so that they can be mentored and have their progress monitored.
For students that are intending to gain University Entrance it is strongly recommended that they select at least four University Entrance approved courses. Refer to individual course details to check if a course is a University Entrance approved subject
Year 13 (IST) is independent, unsupervised learning that can take place at school or at home. Students are responsible for managing their work during this time.