Applied Sciences

Course summary

Applied Science is an Applied General qualification for students who want to continue their science education. The course allows students to progress onto science courses in higher education and jobs in this sector without achieving an A-level qualification in a science subject. In addition to organisation skills and analytical skills developed in preparation for exams, students will develop skills including how to plan investigations, collect, analyse, and present data and communicate results which support some of the skills students need to progress to higher education, employment, self-employment or training. The qualification can be taken as part of a diverse programme, leaving progression options fully open. For example, it can be taken alongside Mathematics, Physics, and Design and Technology to progress to engineering-related courses, or Health and Social Care to progress to nursing or midwifery courses. The optional Unit studied is Chemistry, which will support students' application to biomedical science or forensic science courses at university. You will study topics ranging from cells, atomic structure and bonding to waves and communications. • Practical scientific procedures and techniques: You will study practical techniques ranging from titrations, colourimetry, calorimetry and chromatography. • Science investigation skills: You will develop your scientific skills including recording and interpreting data and analysing and evaluating scientific findings. • Applied Science: A unit in which you further develop your theory and practical skills. Applied Science lessons include a mixture of both theory and practical methods. The theory lessons present new knowledge in small chunks with a focus on how to apply your knowledge and incorporate retrieval practice using online tools such as Kahoot and Seneca. For the practical aspects of the course, you will use equipment such as burettes, volumetric flasks and pipettes to make and test your solutions, colourimeters and different types of chromatography to test the purity of solutions and components such as diodes, thermistors and LDRs to make and test electrical circuits. You will also venture outside to collect biological data to apply statistical tests learnt in the classroom to real-life situations.