NCEA Level 1 Science General
Course Description
Head of Faculty - Kaihautuu: Ms M. Vale.
This course aims to provide students with a solid foundation of fundamental biological, physical, geological, and material world concepts to prepare them for further science study. In 2025 students will investigate and solve problems relating to physical energy concepts - mechanical energy, thermal energy, and electrical energy. Students will learn what the different methods of scientific investigation are, and see how these approaches were used by scientists to discover many of the key scientific theories we have today. This topic will cover important concepts in chemistry and biology.
Students who intend to study senior biology, chemistry, or physics senior science courses should take this course. This course also provides fundamental scientific literacy to students that will not be pursuing senior science.
Students will be assessed by:
- Two internal assessments: a research-based assessment, and an investigation-based assessment. Each internal assessment is worth 5 credits.
- One external assessment: this topic will have an end of topic test, a practice exam, and a final exam in November. The external assessment is worth 5 credits.
- There are 15 credits overall available in the L1 NCEA science course.
Course Overview
Term 1
In term 1 we will be doing an internal assessment that looks at a local scientific issue. This will include learning about the key scientific concepts behind that issue, and other non-scientific perspectives that need to be considered when making decisions about how to best overcome this issue. Students will write a report based on the research they have done into this issue.
Term 2
This term we will do an internal assessment that looks at the different ways that scientists gain information about the world that we live in. These different scientific approaches will be linked to key learning about chemistry and biology. Students will conduct a range of scientific investigations and then discuss why each different approach is important to add to the understanding on how to answer an overarching question.
Term 3
In term 3 we will finish off our investigative internal assessment. Following this we will learn about physics concepts related to energy: thermal energy, mechanical energy, and electrical energy. How these systems work, and the equations involved in physics calculations.
Term 4
Term 4 will be used to revise for the external assessment prior to the NCEA exams, which start in November.
Pathway
Credit Information
You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.
External
NZQA Info
Science 1.1 - Demonstrate understanding of a science-informed response to a local issue
NZQA Info
Science 1.2 - Demonstrate understanding of the use of a range of scientific investigative approaches in a context
NZQA Info
Physics, Earth and Space Science 1.4 - Demonstrate understanding of a physical system using energy concepts
Pathway Tags
Air Force Officer, Biomedical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer, Civil Engineer, Miner/Quarry Worker, Electrician, Data Analyst, Geologist, Geophysicist, Paramedic, Midwife, Community Karitane, Dietitian, Veterinarian, Medical Radiation Technologist, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Speech-Language Therapist, Agricultural/Horticultural Scientist, Marine Biologist, Clinical Physiologist, Podiatrist, Psychiatrist, Environmental Scientist, Forestry Scientist, Radiation Oncologist, Registered Nurse, Anaesthetist, Pathologist, Surgeon, Dentist, General Practitioner, Gynaecologist/Obstetrician,