3SGEN

NCEA Level 3 General Science

Course Description

Head of Faculty - Kaihautuu: Miss M. Ashford.

Through a range of science investigations students will develop their self-management and ability to communicate with others. Students will develop critical thinking skills as they link observations to theory. Students will explore the use of a range of scientific symbols and vocabulary.

This course will allow students to learn aspects of Biology, Chemistry and Earth and Space Science.

Students will develop understanding of spectroscopy and use spectra to identify different organic compounds. Students will use microscopes to carry out a biology investigation. Students will learn about human evolution and the development of biological features and culture. Students will learn about changes in the ocean and the impact this has on society and ocean chemistry.

This course provides a pathway for students who wish to continue a broad science learning. This course is not suitable for students wishing to progress into an engineering or medical pathway.


Course Overview

Term 1
Students will begin the year by conducting a practical investigation using microscopy techniques. Students will be using invertebrates to determine the impact of agricultural fertilisers on aquatic organisms. Their findings will be presented in an investigative report.

Term 2
Students will investigate the impacts the climate change has on ocean acidification. Students will analyse the impact from a socio-scientific perspective, as well as a chemistry one. Submission of a written report will be used to assess against two Achievement Standards (ESS 3.2 and CHEM 3.3).

Term 3
Students will learn about chemical spectra and apply these concepts to identifying unknown compounds.
Students will then prepare the external standard (BIO 3.6), which looks at human evolution. Students will become familiar with human ancestors, biological development, cultural development, and the migration of human populations around the world. This standard will be assessed externally in November.

Term 4
Preparation for the external examination.

Recommended Prior Learning

It is recommended that students have studied a science subject at NCEA Level 2.

A personal device is highly recommended to support learning.

Credit Information

You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.

This course is eligible for subject endorsement.

This course is approved for University Entrance.

Total Credits Available: 18 credits.
Externally Assessed Credits: 4 credits.
Internally Assessed Credits: 14 credits.

Assessment
Description
Level
Internal or
External
Credits
L1 Literacy Credits
UE Literacy Credits
Numeracy Credits
A.S. 91388 v2
NZQA Info
Chemistry 3.2 - Demonstrate understanding of spectroscopic data in chemistry
3
3
3
3
Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 3
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91389 v2
NZQA Info
Chemistry 3.3 - Demonstrate understanding of chemical processes in the world around us
3
3
3
3
Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 3
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 3r,3w *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91411 v2
NZQA Info
Earth and Space Science 3.2 - Investigate a socio-scientific issue in an Earth and Space Science context
Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 4r *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91601 v2
NZQA Info
Biology 3.1 - Carry out a practical investigation in a biological context, with guidance
4
4
4
Level: 3
Internal or External: Internal
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 0 *
Numeracy Credits: 0
A.S. 91606 v2
NZQA Info
Biology 3.6 - Demonstrate understanding of trends in human evolution
Level: 3
Internal or External: External
Credits: 4
Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
University Entrance Literacy Credits: 4r,4w *
Numeracy Credits: 0
Credit Summary
Total Credits: 18
Total Level 1 Literacy Credits: 0
Total University Entrance Literacy Credits: 11
Total Numeracy Credits: 0

Approved subject for University Entrance

Number of credits that can be used for overall endorsement: 18

Only students engaged in learning and achievement derived from Te Marautanga o Aotearoa are eligible to be awarded these subjects as part of the requirement for 14 credits in each of three subjects.