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Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (1SC0): papers, topics and grade boundaries

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Edexcel GCSE Combined Science papers at a glance

PaperPaper codeTopicsLengthMarksShare of grade
Paper 1: Biology 11SC0/1BF or 1BH1 Key concepts; 2 Cells and control; 3 Genetics; 4 Natural selection and genetic modification; 5 Health, disease and medicines1 hour 10 minutes6016.67%
Paper 2: Biology 21SC0/2BF or 2BH1 Key concepts; 6 Plant structures; 7 Animal coordination, control and homeostasis; 8 Exchange and transport in animals; 9 Ecosystems and material cycles1 hour 10 minutes6016.67%
Paper 3: Chemistry 11SC0/1CF or 1CH1 Key concepts; 2 States of matter and mixtures; 3 Chemical changes; 4 Extracting metals and equilibria1 hour 10 minutes6016.67%
Paper 4: Chemistry 21SC0/2CF or 2CH1 Key concepts; 6 Groups in the periodic table; 7 Rates of reaction and energy changes; 8 Fuels and Earth science1 hour 10 minutes6016.67%
Paper 5: Physics 11SC0/1PF or 1PH1 Key concepts; 2 Motion and forces; 3 Conservation of energy; 4 Waves; 5 Light and the electromagnetic spectrum; 6 Radioactivity1 hour 10 minutes6016.67%
Paper 6: Physics 21SC0/2PF or 2PH1 Key concepts; 8 Energy, forces doing work; 9 Forces and effects; 10 Electricity and circuits; 12 Magnetism, motor effect; 13 Induction; 14 Particle model; 15 Forces and matter1 hour 10 minutes6016.67%

The specification is the Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Combined Science (issue 6, March 2024). Every paper mixes multiple-choice questions, short answers, calculations and extended open-response questions, and calculators may be used. You take all six papers at the same tier in the same May/June series. The content includes 18 mandatory core practicals.

Worked examples in Edexcel style

Physics: density

A metal block has a mass of 270 g and a volume of 100 cm³. Density is mass divided by volume:

\rho=\frac{270}{100}=2.7\ \text{g/cm}^3

Chemistry: moles of a gas

How many moles are in 4.4 g of carbon dioxide, CO₂? With Aᵣ C = 12 and O = 16, the Mᵣ is 44:

n=\frac{4.4}{44}=0.10\ \text{mol}

Biology: percentage

A child eats a 250 g meal that contains 35 g of protein. The percentage of the meal that is protein is:

\frac{35}{250}\times100=14\%

Practise charge, current and energy in our Electricity course, then press Mark to check your answer in the course:

Calculate current, charge, energy or voltage with Q = It and E = QV.

Press Mark to have your answer marked in the Electricity course.

Edexcel GCSE Combined Science grade boundaries

These are Pearson's raw boundaries for the whole qualification, out of 360, from its GCSE (9-1) grade boundaries document for June 2026. Pearson prints the Foundation and Higher rows across two lines, and the table below joins them by grade pair. Where a tier does not award a grade pair, the cell says n/a.

GradeHigher, June 2026Foundation, June 2026
9-9282n/a
9-8266n/a
8-8251n/a
8-7236n/a
7-7221n/a
7-6202n/a
6-6183n/a
6-5164n/a
5-5145231
5-4126212
4-4108194
4-399168
3-3n/a142
3-2n/a116
2-2n/a91
2-1n/a66
1-1n/a41

How Edexcel Combined Science differs from AQA

Pearson sets six papers of 1 hour 10 minutes and 60 marks, 360 marks in all. AQA Combined Science: Trilogy sets six papers of 1 hour 15 minutes and 70 marks, 420 in all, and lists 21 required practicals against Edexcel's 18. Both use double grades. See theAQA GCSE Combined Science guide.

Use the daily paper as a short timed mock

Uni-Sine publishes a free daily paper on theGCSE Combined Science HigherandGCSE Combined Science Foundationtracks. Each is a short timed paper of 8 questions worth 25 to 35 marks, mixing the three sciences. It is not a full Edexcel paper and it is not written by Pearson.

Common mistakes in Edexcel GCSE Combined Science

  • Skipping a science. Each is a third of the marks.
  • Missing units in calculations.

Exam answers

The answers and a worked mark scheme come with today's paper once it is marked. We do not publish official or past paper answers. Every question on the daily paper is our own.

Common questions

What is the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science code?
The qualification code is 1SC0.
How many papers is Edexcel GCSE Combined Science?
Six: two each in biology, chemistry and physics, each 1 hour 10 minutes and 60 marks.
What is a double grade?
Combined Science counts as two GCSEs, so you get a pair of grades such as 5-5, from 1-1 to 9-9.
What were the Edexcel Combined Science grade boundaries in June 2026?
Out of 360, Higher 4-4 needed 108 and 5-5 needed 145. Foundation 5-5 needed 231 and 4-4 needed 194.

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UK · GCSEEdexcel GCSE Combined Science grade boundaries 2026Edexcel GCSE Combined Science June 2026 boundaries: Higher 4-4 was 108, Foundation 4-4 was 194, out of 360, with 2025 and 2024.