At a glance
- Cambridge single
- Combined Science 0653
- Cambridge double
- Co-ordinated Sciences 0654 / 0973
- Edexcel double
- Science (Double Award) 4SD0
- Edexcel single
- Science (Single Award) 4SS0, June only
- Double award grades
- Two grades, e.g. AA or 9-8
Which combined science course is which
| Course | Code | Worth | Grade scale | Tiers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science | 0653 | One IGCSE | A* to G | Core and Extended |
| Cambridge IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award) | 0654 | Two IGCSEs | A*A* to GG | Core and Extended |
| Cambridge IGCSE (9-1) Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award) | 0973 | Two IGCSEs | 9-9 to 1-1 | Core and Extended |
| Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Science (Double Award) | 4SD0 | Two International GCSEs | 9-9 to 1-1 | None |
| Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Science (Single Award) | 4SS0 | One International GCSE | 9 to 1 | None |
Cambridge Core candidates are capped at C (CC on 0654, 5-5 on 0973). Cambridge 0653 and 0654 syllabuses cover 2025 to 2027 exams; the 2028 to 2029 versions have no significant changes.
Cambridge 0653 and 0654 / 0973: assessment
Core candidates take Papers 1, 3 and 5 or 6; Extended candidates take Papers 2, 4 and 5 or 6.
| Paper | 0653 length and marks | 0654 / 0973 length and marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Papers 1 and 2 Multiple Choice | 45 minutes, 40 marks | 45 minutes, 40 marks | 30% |
| Papers 3 and 4 Theory | 1 hour 15 minutes, 80 marks | 2 hours, 120 marks | 50% |
| Paper 5 Practical Test | 1 hour 15 minutes, 40 marks | 2 hours, 60 marks | 20% |
| Paper 6 Alternative to Practical | 1 hour, 40 marks | 1 hour 30 minutes, 60 marks | 20% |
Pearson Edexcel Science Double Award 4SD0 and Single Award 4SS0: assessment
No tiers, calculators allowed, practical skills assessed in the written papers.
| Paper | Length | Marks | Weighting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4SD0 Biology Paper 1 | 2 hours | 110 | 33.3% |
| 4SD0 Chemistry Paper 1 | 2 hours | 110 | 33.3% |
| 4SD0 Physics Paper 1 | 2 hours | 110 | 33.3% |
| 4SS0 Biology, Chemistry and Physics papers (one each) | 1 hour 10 minutes each | 60 each | 33.3% each |
The 4SD0 papers are the same Paper 1s sat by separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics students. Pearson also offers a modular Double Award (six units of 1 hour 10 minutes, first examined June 2025). 4SD0 runs in June and November; 4SS0 in June only.
Does a double award limit A Level choices?
Usually not. Most sixth forms accept a good double award grade for A Level sciences, because the content is a large subset of the separate sciences. The gap is real, though: separate-science students cover extra topics (the bold content on Edexcel, the extra breadth on Cambridge) and practise longer papers. A student moving from double award to A Level Chemistry or Physics benefits from bridging the missing topics over the summer. Check the entry requirements of the sixth form or school your child is aiming for.
Single award courses (Cambridge 0653, Edexcel 4SS0) are a narrower foundation. They suit students who will not take sciences further, and many sixth forms ask for more for A Level sciences.
What makes combined science hard, and how lessons help
The challenge is switching. A student moves from a genetics question to a mole calculation to a circuit in one sitting, and weak spots in one science drag down the whole grade. On Edexcel 4SD0 each science is a separate 2 hour paper, so a weak physics paper costs a third of the result. Most students have one science that lags, and that is where a tutor's time goes first.
A tutor who teaches your child's course starts with a short diagnostic across all three sciences, then plans lessons around the weakest. Lessons use the shared whiteboard for calculations and diagrams, with past-paper questions marked against the official schemes. For Cambridge students, the tutor gives an independent read on Core or Extended entry from your child's actual answers. In the final months, lessons rotate through timed questions from all three sciences to build the switching stamina the exam needs.
Common questions
Is a double award worth the same as two separate sciences?
It counts as two IGCSE grades. It covers less content than taking all three separate sciences, which give three grades, but it is widely accepted for sixth-form entry.
My child's school uses Co-ordinated Sciences. Which pages should we revise from?
Use the Cambridge 0654 (or 0973) syllabus and past papers. The separate science past papers help with individual topics, but the paper lengths and mark totals are different.
Why does Edexcel Single Award only run in June?
Pearson offers 4SS0 in the June series only. If your child needs a November sitting, ask the school or exam centre what is available.
Can my child do A Level Physics after combined science?
Often yes, with a good grade, but expect to bridge some topics before Year 12. Check the sixth form's entry requirements.
How much do science lessons cost?
$15 a lesson, one rate for every subject. Choose a weekly plan of 1 to 5 sixty-minute lessons, billed monthly. The first lesson is a free trial.
Sources
Dates and figures on this page come from these official and published sources. Always confirm deadlines on the official page before acting on them.
- Cambridge IGCSE Combined Science 0653 syllabus for 2025 to 2027
- Cambridge IGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award) 0654 syllabus for 2025 to 2027
- Cambridge IGCSE (9-1) Co-ordinated Sciences (Double Award) 0973 syllabus for 2025 to 2027
- Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Science (Double Award) 4SD0 specification
- Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Science (Single Award) 4SS0 specification