AQA GCSE Combined Science Foundation Cheat Sheet 2026

ExpertMinds Editorial·24 March 2026·10 min read

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AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy gives you two GCSEs (Biology + Chemistry + Physics, each graded separately but together). Foundation tier covers grades 1–5. There are six papers: two Biology, two Chemistry, two Physics. Required practicals appear in all six papers — you must be able to describe methods, identify variables, and analyse results.

Key fact:6 papers × 70 marks × 1h 15min each. Required practicals: 21 across the three sciences. Equations provided in the exam: yes — a sheet of equations is given. You must know which equation to use and how to rearrange it.

Biology — Key Concepts

Topic	What to know
Cell biology	Animal vs plant vs bacterial cell features; prokaryote vs eukaryote; microscopy (magnification = image size ÷ actual size); diffusion, osmosis, active transport
Organisation	Digestive system enzymes (amylase → starch; protease → proteins; lipase → lipids); heart chambers (right → lungs, left → body); coronary arteries; blood components
Infection and response	Bacteria vs virus (can antibiotics treat viruses? No); immune response — white blood cells (phagocytosis, antibodies, memory cells); vaccination
Bioenergetics	Photosynthesis: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ (light energy); aerobic respiration: C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy; anaerobic respiration (lactic acid in animals; ethanol + CO₂ in yeast)
Homeostasis	Blood glucose regulation: insulin lowers, glucagon raises; thermoregulation (vasodilation/vasoconstriction); kidney — urea, water, and ion balance
Inheritance	DNA → gene → allele; dominant vs recessive; Punnett squares; sex determination (XX = female, XY = male); mutations
Ecology	Food chains → food webs → pyramids of biomass; interdependence; sampling (quadrats, transects); human impacts on biodiversity

Chemistry — Key Concepts

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Questions graded, hints, and explained.

Topic	What to know
Atomic structure	Protons (nucleus, +1), neutrons (nucleus, 0), electrons (shells, −1); atomic number = protons; mass number = protons + neutrons; isotopes = same protons, different neutrons
Periodic table	Groups (columns) = same number of outer electrons; periods (rows) = number of electron shells; metals left, non-metals right; Group 1 = alkali metals; Group 7 = halogens; Group 0 = noble gases
Bonding	Ionic: metal + non-metal; transfer electrons; forms giant lattice; high mp. Covalent: non-metal + non-metal; share electrons; low mp (simple molecular). Metallic: positive ions in sea of delocalised electrons
Quantitative chemistry	Relative atomic mass (Ar); relative formula mass (Mr); mole = Ar or Mr in grams; concentration = moles ÷ volume (dm³)
Chemical changes	Acids + metals → salt + hydrogen; acids + bases → salt + water; pH scale 0–14; electrolysis — positive electrode (anode) attracts negative ions; negative electrode (cathode) attracts positive ions
Energy changes	Exothermic: energy released → temperature rises (combustion, neutralisation); endothermic: energy absorbed → temperature falls (thermal decomposition, citric acid + sodium bicarbonate)
Rates of reaction	Factors: temperature, concentration, surface area, catalyst; collision theory — more frequent, more energetic collisions = faster rate
Organic chemistry	Alkanes (CₙH₂ₙ₊₂) — saturated; alkenes (CₙH₂ₙ) — unsaturated, test with bromine water (decolourises); crude oil → fractional distillation
Earth and atmosphere	Carbon cycle; greenhouse gases (CO₂, methane, water vapour); composition of atmosphere (~78% N₂, ~21% O₂)

Practice Combined Science questions

Required practical questions appear in every paper. Practice method descriptions and data analysis to secure those marks.

Physics — Key Equations

Equation	Variables	Topic
v = u + at	v=final velocity, u=initial, a=acceleration, t=time	Motion
s = ½(u + v)t	s=displacement	Motion (uniform acceleration)
v² = u² + 2as		Motion
F = ma	F=force (N), m=mass (kg), a=acceleration (m/s²)	Forces
W = mg	W=weight (N), g=gravitational field strength	Forces
p = mv	p=momentum, m=mass, v=velocity	Momentum
KE = ½mv²	KE=kinetic energy (J)	Energy
GPE = mgh	GPE=gravitational potential energy (J), h=height	Energy
P = IV = I²R = V²/R	P=power, I=current, V=voltage, R=resistance	Electricity
V = IR	Ohm's Law	Electricity
Q = It	Q=charge (C), I=current (A), t=time (s)	Electricity
wave speed = frequency × wavelength	v = fλ	Waves

Required Practicals — Method Essentials

Biology: microscopy (prepare a slide; calculate magnification); osmosis in plant tissue (potato cylinders in salt solutions); effect of light/CO₂ on photosynthesis rate (pondweed/bubbles)
Chemistry: titration (fill burette; note rough titre; repeat for concordant results within 0.1 cm³); electrolysis of solutions; chromatography (Rf = distance moved by spot ÷ distance moved by solvent)
Physics: I-V characteristics (vary resistance; plot current vs voltage); specific heat capacity (measure temperature rise; E = mcΔT); waves in a ripple tank or slinky
Variables: Independent (what you change), Dependent (what you measure), Control (what you keep the same). State all three in any practical question.

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Biology — Key Concepts

Topic	What to know
Cell biology	Animal vs plant vs bacterial cell features; prokaryote vs eukaryote; microscopy (magnification = image size ÷ actual size); diffusion, osmosis, active transport
Organisation	Digestive system enzymes (amylase → starch; protease → proteins; lipase → lipids); heart chambers (right → lungs, left → body); coronary arteries; blood components
Infection and response	Bacteria vs virus (can antibiotics treat viruses? No); immune response — white blood cells (phagocytosis, antibodies, memory cells); vaccination
Bioenergetics	Photosynthesis: 6CO₂ + 6H₂O → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ (light energy); aerobic respiration: C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6O₂ → 6CO₂ + 6H₂O + energy; anaerobic respiration (lactic acid in animals; ethanol + CO₂ in yeast)
Homeostasis	Blood glucose regulation: insulin lowers, glucagon raises; thermoregulation (vasodilation/vasoconstriction); kidney — urea, water, and ion balance
Inheritance	DNA → gene → allele; dominant vs recessive; Punnett squares; sex determination (XX = female, XY = male); mutations
Ecology	Food chains → food webs → pyramids of biomass; interdependence; sampling (quadrats, transects); human impacts on biodiversity

Chemistry — Key Concepts

Practice AQA GCSE questions while you read

Questions graded, hints, and explained.

Topic	What to know
Atomic structure	Protons (nucleus, +1), neutrons (nucleus, 0), electrons (shells, −1); atomic number = protons; mass number = protons + neutrons; isotopes = same protons, different neutrons
Periodic table	Groups (columns) = same number of outer electrons; periods (rows) = number of electron shells; metals left, non-metals right; Group 1 = alkali metals; Group 7 = halogens; Group 0 = noble gases
Bonding	Ionic: metal + non-metal; transfer electrons; forms giant lattice; high mp. Covalent: non-metal + non-metal; share electrons; low mp (simple molecular). Metallic: positive ions in sea of delocalised electrons
Quantitative chemistry	Relative atomic mass (Ar); relative formula mass (Mr); mole = Ar or Mr in grams; concentration = moles ÷ volume (dm³)
Chemical changes	Acids + metals → salt + hydrogen; acids + bases → salt + water; pH scale 0–14; electrolysis — positive electrode (anode) attracts negative ions; negative electrode (cathode) attracts positive ions
Energy changes	Exothermic: energy released → temperature rises (combustion, neutralisation); endothermic: energy absorbed → temperature falls (thermal decomposition, citric acid + sodium bicarbonate)
Rates of reaction	Factors: temperature, concentration, surface area, catalyst; collision theory — more frequent, more energetic collisions = faster rate
Organic chemistry	Alkanes (CₙH₂ₙ₊₂) — saturated; alkenes (CₙH₂ₙ) — unsaturated, test with bromine water (decolourises); crude oil → fractional distillation
Earth and atmosphere	Carbon cycle; greenhouse gases (CO₂, methane, water vapour); composition of atmosphere (~78% N₂, ~21% O₂)

Practice Combined Science questions

Required practical questions appear in every paper. Practice method descriptions and data analysis to secure those marks.

Physics — Key Equations

Equation	Variables	Topic
v = u + at	v=final velocity, u=initial, a=acceleration, t=time	Motion
s = ½(u + v)t	s=displacement	Motion (uniform acceleration)
v² = u² + 2as		Motion
F = ma	F=force (N), m=mass (kg), a=acceleration (m/s²)	Forces
W = mg	W=weight (N), g=gravitational field strength	Forces
p = mv	p=momentum, m=mass, v=velocity	Momentum
KE = ½mv²	KE=kinetic energy (J)	Energy
GPE = mgh	GPE=gravitational potential energy (J), h=height	Energy
P = IV = I²R = V²/R	P=power, I=current, V=voltage, R=resistance	Electricity
V = IR	Ohm's Law	Electricity
Q = It	Q=charge (C), I=current (A), t=time (s)	Electricity
wave speed = frequency × wavelength	v = fλ	Waves

Required Practicals — Method Essentials

Biology: microscopy (prepare a slide; calculate magnification); osmosis in plant tissue (potato cylinders in salt solutions); effect of light/CO₂ on photosynthesis rate (pondweed/bubbles)

Chemistry: titration (fill burette; note rough titre; repeat for concordant results within 0.1 cm³); electrolysis of solutions; chromatography (Rf = distance moved by spot ÷ distance moved by solvent)

Physics: I-V characteristics (vary resistance; plot current vs voltage); specific heat capacity (measure temperature rise; E = mcΔT); waves in a ripple tank or slinky

Variables: Independent (what you change), Dependent (what you measure), Control (what you keep the same). State all three in any practical question.