GCSE Science Required Practicals: How to Master Them for the Exam
For GCSE Science, it isn’t enough to just learn theory. You’re also expected to know the required practicals , the experiments listed by your exam board that can come up in exams. These practicals account for a significant number of marks, yet many students neglect them and lose easy points.
The good news is that you don’t need lab access at home to revise them effectively. With the right approach, you can master every practical and secure the marks examiners are looking for.
Why Required Practicals Matter
Each exam board (AQA, Edexcel, OCR) sets a list of required practicals for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. These practicals test:
Your understanding of scientific methods.
How to identify variables (independent, dependent, control).
Your ability to analyse results and evaluate experiments.
Even if you’ve carried them out in school, examiners expect you to recall methods and apply them to unfamiliar scenarios.
GCSE Biology Required Practicals
Common Biology required practicals include:
Microscopy: Preparing a slide and using a microscope to view cells.
Food Tests: Using Benedict’s, iodine, and biuret to test for sugars, starch, and protein.
Enzyme Activity: Measuring how pH or temperature affects enzyme reaction rates.
Photosynthesis: Investigating the effect of light intensity on the rate of photosynthesis.
Tips for success:
Be precise: State equipment, method, and variables clearly.
Use scientific terms like “control variable” and “dependent variable.”
Know how to draw results tables and graphs.
GCSE Chemistry Required Practicals
Key Chemistry practicals include:
Titrations: Determining the concentration of a solution using a burette.
Chromatography: Separating mixtures and calculating Rf values.
Electrolysis: Investigating electrolysis of aqueous solutions.
Rates of Reaction: Measuring how concentration or surface area affects reaction speed.
Tips for success:
Practise calculations (e.g., concentration, Rf values).
Memorise safety precautions for handling acids, alkalis, and gases.
Always show working in quantitative questions.
GCSE Physics Required Practicals
Typical Physics practicals include:
Specific Heat Capacity: Measuring how much energy is needed to change a substance’s temperature.
Resistance in Circuits: Testing how length or components affect resistance.
Force and Extension: Investigating Hooke’s Law with a spring.
Wave Properties: Using a ripple tank or light box to study wave behaviour.
Tips for success:
Be confident with formulas (e.g., F = k × e, V = I × R).
Always include units in your answers.
Use diagrams where possible - examiners like clear visual explanations.
How to Revise Required Practicals
Use your specification checklist: Make sure you know every required practical.
Summarise each practical: Write a one-page revision sheet covering aim, method, variables, results, and risks.
Test yourself: Try past paper questions on practicals, they come up regularly.
Explain it out loud: Teach a parent or friend the method. If you can explain it, you understand it.
Common Exam Traps
Mixing up independent and dependent variables.
Forgetting safety precautions.
Not describing improvements for reliability (e.g., repeat readings, averaging results).
Leaving graphs unlabelled.
Avoiding these mistakes alone can mean the difference between a Grade 5 and Grade 7.
Why Tutoring Helps with Practicals
Many students find practicals confusing because they only get to do them once in class. At AK Education, we:
Break down practicals into step-by-step methods.
Provide practice questions linked to each experiment.
Train students to write examiner-style answers.
This ensures practicals become an opportunity to gain easy marks instead of a source of stress.
Final Words of Advice
GCSE Science required practicals are not optional extras, they are a guaranteed part of the exam. By revising them carefully, you can secure marks that many students throw away.
Focus on methods, variables, and evaluation points. Combine this with consistent practice, and practical questions will become your strongest area.
