Grade 8 - Combined Sciences

Students study units in Chemistry, Physics and Biology. In all sciences, students will cover a range of topics and continue to develop their core scientific skills through a variety of labs, activities, and homework.

Grade 8 Biology

The Biology component of the Combined Science course constitutes one-third of the Grade 8 science program. It follows on directly from the Grade 7 Science course. Its goal is to reinforce the biology concepts which were introduced in Grades 6 and 7, and to provide a conceptual bridge to the IGCSE Combined Sciences course that students study in Grades 9 and 10.

Useful files in Biology include:

Grade 8 Chemistry

Grade 8 Combined Science starts the year in Chemistry and then rotates to Biology and then Physics. (Specialist teachers in specialist labs).

Semester 1 Chemistry classes place a heavy emphasis on Core Scientific skills and General Studentship. This is the training of students in skills such as coming equipped, following instructions, using mathematical skills in the scientific context, developing a rigorous and professional approach to their studies and establishing the expectations that will run throughout the Combined Science course. 

In Semester 2, the rotation is repeated in the same order but with a short period of consolidation and review of the year’s material just prior to the summer examination. The Chemistry studied in Semester 2 is more demanding in terms of theoretical content. Students will become more familiar with writing balanced chemical equations. They will find out how to use chemical equations to solve problems, often related to their practical experiences.

Grade 8 Physics

Grade 8 Combined Science starts the year in Chemistry and then rotates to Biology and then Physics, with specialist teachers in specialist labs. Semester 1 Physics classes place a heavy emphasis on Core Scientific lab skills and General Studentship. These skills are developed during the study of electrical circuits and the physical quantities that are used to describe such circuits. Students will use a variety of measurement devices, organize collected data into professional scientific data tables, plot data on a scientific graph, and use their graphs to answer research questions.

In Semester 2, the rotation is repeated in the same order but with a short period of consolidation and review of the year’s material just prior to the summer examination. The Physics studied in Semester 2 is centered around Mechanics. Students will learn how to describe an object’s movement by its speed, velocity, and acceleration. They will learn how forces affect motion, including those forces associated with free fall and air resistance. Students will also investigate the turning effect of forces and apply the Principle of Moments to solve problems and describe everyday phenomena.