IGCSE Coursework

Ms Stamps unofficial guide!

A summary
Coursework is worth 20% of your final grade Your coursework will be assessed on 4 skill areas: C1, C2, C3 and C4 The marks for each criteria go from 0 to 6 (6 is the highest) The maximum mark for a complete piece of coursework is 24. Your 2 best marks for each criteria will be submitted to Cambridge.

Skill C1: Using and organising techniques, apparatus and materials

This skill is basically about your performance and safety when you are doing an experiment. Your teacher will observe how you work. To get a high grade: Use the equipment carefully and safely. Follow the instructions Make changes to the method if needed.

Table taken from CIE (2013) SYLLABUS Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Sciences (Double Award) 0654 For examination in June and November 2015 Page 63

Skill C2: Observing, measuring and recording

Results To get a high grade:

Construct your own results table and graph without teacher help. Draw the most appropriate type of graph for your data.

Table taken from CIE (2013) SYLLABUS Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Sciences (Double Award) 0654 For examination in June and November 2015 Page 64

Skill C3: Handling experimental observations and data

Conclusion and Evaluation To get a high grade:

Process your results without any teacher help. Write about the pattern in your conclusion Identify any anomalous results and suggest reasons for these results.

Table taken from CIE (2013) SYLLABUS Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Sciences (Double Award) 0654 For examination in June and November 2015 Page 64

Skill C4: Planning, carrying out and evaluating investigations

Variables, Method and Evaluation To get a high grade:

Identify all variables correctly and mention various control variables. Write a method before the experiment and modify if you need to. Suggest improvements to your experiment.

Table taken from CIE (2013) SYLLABUS Cambridge IGCSE Coordinated Sciences (Double Award) 0654 For examination in June and November 2015 Page 65

Copying and Plagiarism

Your coursework MUST include a bibliography (even if you just use your notes from class to help) Any copy and pasting will mean that the coursework cannot be used Any work identical to another student cannot be used

Writing a bibliography
You should write every website/book that you look at in the bibliography. The information you have to include is: The name of the person/organisation who wrote it The date it was written The title of the book/website For websites: The date you saw the website. The webstite address. WIKIPEDIA IS NOT ALLOWED

Coursework 1 (Biology)
Investigating osmosis You will be given the following
1M NaCl Solution Potatoes Balance A knife Distilled water Stopwatch

You should make solutions of varying concentrations and find out what happens to the potato in these solutions

Coursework 2 (Physics)
Falling Y You are going to investigate how one factor affects how quickly the Y falls Make sure you include calculations in your results.