Twenty First Century Science - 2006page 1
Entry level and GCSE Science
Linking Entry level items with GCSE Science
The OCR Entry level specification has been designed to allow the possibility of some candidates being entered, quite late on in the course, for the Foundation tier of an OCR GCSE Science course: either Twenty First Century Science or Gateway Science.
These resources cover all the items. They have been developed by the Twenty First Century Science team and have links with the resources for GCSE Science at Foundation level. The match between the Entry level items and GCSE Science modules is indicated in the OCR specification but is elaborated in the tables which follow.
The skills assessment component of Entry level can also be transferred to GCSE Science in either Twenty First Century Science or Gateway. Further details of skills assessment are given in the OCR specifications for GCSE Science, available to download from
The tables below show that there are links between 25 of the Entry level items and the nine Twenty First Century Science GCSE Science modules (9 biology items, 7 chemistry items and 9 physics items). There can be a free choice when selecting the other Entry level items to cover.Entry level items and Twenty First Century Science GCSE Science modules
Entry level items and GCSE Science modules
B1 You and your genes
Science module / Entry level items / Notes on the entry level contentB1.1 What are genes and how do they affect the way organisms develop / B12 My genes / The item covers cell nuclei, chromosomes and the idea that there is a genetic code.
B1.2 Why can people look like their parents, brothers and sisters but not be identical with them? / B12 My genes / In the item students collect and interpret data on human variation. The find out about the connection between genes and human features.
B1.3 How can and should genetic information be used? How can we use our knowledge of genes to prevent disease? / B12 My genes / The item introduces the idea that some diseases are caused by faulty genes. It also mentions genetic testing of embryos.
B1.4 What are stem cells and why could they be useful in treating some diseases / B10 Green and growing / The entry level item only covers cloning of plants but does include the idea that differences between clones are likely to be due to environmental factors. The GCSE course deals with cloning of animal cells in relation to stem cells.
C1 Air quality
Science module / Entry level items / Notes on the entry level contentC1.1 Which chemicals make up the air and which ones are pollutants? How do I make sense of data about air pollution? / C6 Clean air? / The items covers the composition of the atmosphere. It also shows that burning fuels adds harmful gases to the air.
C1.2 What chemical reactions produce air pollutants? What happens to these pollutants in the atmosphere / C6 Clean air?
C12 Fuels / The item covers the formation of carbon particles and nitrogen oxides when fuels burn.
The items covers the formation of toxic carbon monoxide when fuels burn in too little air.
C1.3 Is air pollution harmful to me or to my environment? / B7 Gasping for breath / In the item students look for patterns in data about asthma. They learn that air pollution can cause asthma.
C1.4 What choices can we make personally, locally, nationally or globally to improve air quality? / C6 Clean air?
C12 Fuels / The item deals with the use of catalytic converters to remove pollutants from car exhaust.
The item compares petrol and diesel engines including a comparison of the extent to which they pollute.
P1 The Earth in the Universe
Science module / Entry level items / Notes on the entry level contentP1.1 What do we know about the Earth and space? / P6 Watch this space!
P8 Deep impacts / This item surveys the solar system and features the Sun, the planets and the Moon
This item deals with asteroids and the possibility of a Near Earth Object colliding with the Earth.
P1.2 How have the Earth’s continents moved and with what consequences? / C8 Restless Earth / The item features the layered structure of the Earth, plate tectonics, earthquakes and volcanoes.
P1.3 What is know about stars and galaxies? / P6 Watch this space! / This item describes the Sun as a star in the Milky Way galaxy. It also mentions that astronomers have discovered planets around other stars.
P1.4 How do scientists develop explanations of the Earth and space? / C8 Restless Earth / The item shows that Wegener’s idea of moving continents was not accepted at first
B2Keeping healthy
Science module / Entry level items / Notes on the entry level contentB2.1 How do our bodies resist infection? / B13 Body wars / This items deals with sources of infection. It also mentions the immune system which fights infection.
B2.2 What are vaccines and how do they work? / B13 Body wars / This item shows that vaccines can make people immune to disease. It shows that people differ in their views of vaccination.
B2.3 What are antibiotics and why can they become less effective? How are new drugs developed and tested? / B13 Body wars / This item deals with antibiotics and the problem of microbes that are resistant to antibiotics.
B2.4 What factors increase the risk of heart disease? / B4 Casualty
B7 Gasping for breath / This item deals with heart and circulation. It covers heart disease and its risk factors.
In this item students interpret data relating to health studies on smoking.
C2Material choices
Science module / Entry level items / Notes on the entry level contentC2.1 What different properties do different materials have? / C5 Fibres and fabrics
C7 Strong stuff
P4 G-force / This item covers the testing of fibres for strength and stretchiness.
This item relates properties to uses for metallic as well as non-metallic materials. It deals with strength and hardness.
In this item students see that a greater force increases the length of a stretchy material
C2.2 Why is crude oil important as a source of new materials such as plastics and fibres? / C5 Fibres and fabrics
C12 Fuels / In this item students distinguish natural and synthetic fibres
This item describes the distillation of crude oil as a source of fuels.
C2.3 Why does it help to know about the molecular structure of materials such as plastics and fibres? / The Entry level course largely excludes explanations in terms of atoms and molecules
C2.4 When buying a product, what else should we consider besides its cost and how well it does its job? How should we manage the wastes that arise from our use of materials? / C11 Rubbish / This item covers different ways of getting rid of waste, the four Rs as well as the use of energy and materials in the birth, life and death of a familiar product.
P2Radiation and life
Science module / Entry level items / Notes on the entry level contentP2.1 What types of electromagnetic radiation are there? What happens when radiation hits an object? / P12 Full spectrum
P13 Medical rays / This item covers selected effects and uses for parts of the electromagnetic spectrum including visible light, infrared, microwaves and radiowaves.
This item features UV radiation, X-rays and gamma rays and their effects on living tissues.
P2.2 Which types of radiation harm living tissue and why? / P12 Full spectrum
P13 Medical rays / This item covers the heating effect of radiation but not chemical effects.
This item covers the harmful effects of UV radiation and the use of sunscreens
P2.3 How does electromagnetic radiation make life on Earth possible? / B8 Creepy crawlies / This items shows that plants need light to grow and that they make their food from carbon dioxide and water.
P2.4 What is the evidence for global warming, why might it be occurring and how serious a threat is it? / Global warming does not feature in the entry level course.
P2.5 What ideas do citizens and scientists have about risk? / P1 Digital age
P13 Medical rays / This item mentions possible risks associated with mobile phones.
This item features risks and benefits of UV and ways to reduce the risks.
B3Life on Earth
Science module / Entry level items / Notes on the entry level contentB3.1 How did life on Earth begin and evolve? / B3 Extinction
B10 Green and growing / This item uses fossils as evidence that life on earth has changed.
B3.2 How have scientists developed explanations of evolution? / B3 Extinction / This item shows that life on Earth has changed because of evolution.
B3.3 How did humans evolve? How are our nervous systems organised? / Human evolution and the nervous system are not covered at Entry level.
B3.4 Why do some species become extinct, and does it matter? What is the importance of biodiversity? / B3 Extinction
B8 Creepy crawlies / This items deals with extinction. This item shows that scientists do not always agree on an explanation.
This items shows how living things in a habitat can depend on each other.
C3Food matters
Science module / Entry level items / Notes on the entry level contentC3.1 What is the difference between intensive and organic farming? / B11 From field to plate / This item features the commercial ‘food chain’. It covers farming with fertilizers and organic farming.
C3.2 Why are chemicals deliberately added to food? / C13 Food chemicals / This item covers food additives : antioxidants, colours and flavours.
C3.3 How can we make sure that our food does not contain chemicals that may be harmful to health? / C13 Food chemicals / The items shows that additives with E numbers have been tested and approved.
C3.4 Why does what we eat affect our health? / B6 Control systems / This item features diabetes and its control.
P3Radioactive materials
Science module / Entry level items / Notes on the entry level contentP3.1 Why are some materials radioactive? / Atomic structure and the nature of the radiation from radioactive materials is not included in Entry level.
P3.2 How can radioactive materials be used and handled safety, including wastes? / P11 Nuclear power / This item shows that radioactive materials are harmful. It describes alpha, beta and gamma radiation.
P3.3 How can electricity be generated? What can be done with nuclear wastes? / P2 Power on!
P7 The burning question
P11 Nuclear power / This item features high-voltage transmission lines to transfer electricity from power stations
This item covers renewable energy sources for generating electricity.
This item deals with power generation using nuclear energy. It also identifies plutonium as a hazardous product of the nuclear industry.
P3.4 What are the health risks from radioactive materials? / P11 Nuclear power / This item identifies risks associated with the nuclear industry.