CCEA GCSE · Analysis & Prediction

2025 CCEA GCSE Science Double Award 1370 Past Paper: Analysis & Answers

A balanced and standard assessment covering GCSE Double Award Science Unit C1 (Chemistry) and Unit P1 (Physics) Higher Tier. The papers emphasize fundamental recall, standard procedural calculations, 6-mark QWC extended writing tasks, and multi-step problem solving across both disciplines.

Updated: 31 Aug 2026

Analysis Sample paper

Difficulty 3.2/5

Total marks

140

Duration

120 mins

Most tested

Forces, Moments & Hooke's Law

Paper breakdown

Unit C1: Chemistry (Higher Tier) [GDW22]: 70 marks · 60 minsUnit P1: Physics (Higher Tier) [GDW32]: 70 marks · 60 mins

Top chapters

Force · 20 marksAcids, bases and salts · 17 marksAtomic and nuclear physics · 16 marksThe Periodic Table · 13 marksChemical analysis · 12 marks

Executive Summary & Exam Verdict

This Double Award Science combined assessment (Unit C1 Chemistry and Unit P1 Physics Higher Tier) offers an accessible yet rigorous examination of core physical science principles. The paper adheres closely to CCEA specifications, balancing recall, application, and multi-step numerical calculation. Across the 140 marks, candidates with secure procedural techniques and disciplined equation layouts are well placed to secure top grades.

Where the Marks Are Won

Quantitative Mastery: In Chemistry, Quantitative chemistry (mole calculations and mass percent) rewards rigorous step-by-step working. In Physics, multi-step kinematics (\(a = \frac{v-u}{t}\) combined with \(F=ma\) and subtracting bike mass) and density calculations with unit conversions are high-tariff scoring zones.
Extended 6-Mark QWC Tasks: Both papers include structured 6-mark extended-response questions (Group 1 sodium reactions in C1 and personal power determination in P1) where structured bullet points ensure Band A/B marks.
Core Chemical Concepts: Periodic Table trends, flame tests, atomic structure, and bonding (dot-and-cross diagrams and intermolecular force explanations) make up substantial core mark blocks.

Common Pitfalls & Examiner Traps

Unit Penalties and Stated Units: Failure to provide explicit units when requested (e.g., \(\text{Ncm}\) in moments or \(\text{g/cm}^3\) in density) or failing to round to the requested precision (e.g., 1 decimal place).
Mass vs. Weight Confusion: In Physics pressure problems (\(P = \frac{F}{A}\)), candidates frequently substitute mass directly instead of calculating weight (\(W = mg\)), or forget to subtract dead mass (e.g. measuring cylinder or bicycle).
Bonding Explanation Lapses: Confusing covalent molecular structures with giant lattices, or incorrectly claiming covalent bonds break during the melting/boiling of simple molecules rather than weak intermolecular (van der Waals) forces.

Strategic Advice & Future Topic Forecast

Master standard definitions word-for-word (e.g., pure substance, isotope, diatomic molecule, half-life). For numerical questions, always state the equation first, substitute clearly, and double-check final unit and rounding requirements. Given the rotation in CCEA Double Award papers, expect upcoming series to increase emphasis on nanoparticles, solubility curves, nuclear fission/fusion reactor mechanics, and gravitational potential to kinetic energy conservation.

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Charts

Marks by chapter

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Question type mix

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Short Answer / Identification36 marks · 22 questions
Structured Calculation44 marks · 10 questions
Definitions & Explanations34 marks · 14 questions
Extended Response (QWC 6-Mark)12 marks · 2 questions
Diagrams & Equations14 marks · 5 questions

Mark accessibility

Estimate which marks were basic, mid-level, or high-difficulty.

80%within easy or medium reach

easy: 48 marksmedium: 64 markshard: 28 marks

Difficulty trend

Compare difficulty across recent years.

Command word frequency

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Skill weighting

Shows the skill mix this paper tested most heavily.

Study ROI

Bigger bubbles recur more often; higher bubbles carry more marks, helping you rank revision priorities.

Quantitative Chemistry & Mole Calculations

7 marks · Difficulty 3.4 · recurrence 100%

Newton's Second Law & Kinematics Multi-step

13 marks · Difficulty 3.5 · recurrence 100%

Group 1 & Halogen Properties and Reactions

11 marks · Difficulty 2.2 · recurrence 95%

Radioactivity, Half-life & Nuclear Structure

16 marks · Difficulty 2.5 · recurrence 95%

Hooke's Law & Moments

13 marks · Difficulty 2.6 · recurrence 90%

Acids, Neutralisation & Gas Tests

17 marks · Difficulty 2.4 · recurrence 90%

Time vs marks

Compare marks with suggested time allocation to plan exam pacing.

marksmins

Next-year prediction

Topics worth watching next year, with the reason shown directly below each bar.

Gravitational Potential and Kinetic Energy Transformations90%

Unit P1 usually features a major calculation involving Ep = mgh and Ek = 1/2mv^2 conservation, which was replaced here by power on stairs.

Nanoparticles and Surface Area to Volume Ratio85%

Nanoparticles in Chemistry C1 were not assessed on this paper and frequently rotate into subsequent series as a high-tariff structured question.

Solubility Curves and Saturated Solutions80%

Solubility calculations and interpretation of temperature-solubility graphs are regular C1 features absent in this paper.

Nuclear Fission and Nuclear Fusion Comparisons75%

Only isotopes of hydrogen for fusion were named; reaction mechanism diagrams and comparisons of fission vs fusion are prime targets.

Cumulative marks ladder

The line is your running mark total question by question; dashed lines are the estimated grade cut-offs. See which question the line crosses your target grade at, so you know how far you must answer cleanly and which questions decide a band.

Topic-year heatmap

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Jun 2023

Nov 2023

Jun 2024

Nov 2024

Jun 2025

Nov 2025

Carrying out an experiment

Analysing experimental data

105

Quantitative chemistry (Unit C1 & C2)

Force & Motion (Unit P1)

Bonding & Structures (Unit C1)

Electricity & Magnetism (Unit P2)

Genome, chromosomes, DNA and genetics (Unit B2)

Ecological relationships and energy flow (Unit B1)

Organic chemistry (Unit C2)

Atomic and nuclear physics (Unit P1)

Examiner insights

Official report

Common pitfalls

Omission of units when specifically requested ('Include the unit in your answer') such as Ncm or g/cm3.
Failure to round numerical answers to the stipulated degree of precision (e.g. failing to give density to 1 decimal place).
In multi-step mechanics questions, calculating total combined mass (73 kg) and forgetting to subtract the bicycle's mass (8 kg) to give the cyclist's mass.
Using mass directly instead of weight in pressure calculations (substituting 0.48 instead of finding weight F = 4.8 N).

Misconceptions

Believing that covalent bonds break when molecular covalent substances melt or boil, rather than weak van der Waals / intermolecular forces.
Confusing mass number (A) and atomic number (Z) or which remains identical for isotopes of the same element.
Assuming a weak alkali means a dilute alkali rather than incomplete ionization / partial dissociation in aqueous solution.

Where marks are lost

Incomplete flame test descriptions lacking either nichrome wire, concentrated HCl cleaning, or the blue Bunsen flame.
QWC 6-mark questions losing top bands due to missing specific instrument names (e.g. metre rule, stopwatch) or precise wording of equations.
Dot and cross diagrams missing non-bonding lone pairs on the central nitrogen atom in ammonia.
Half-equation writing where electrons are placed on the wrong side of the arrow or charge balancing is missed.

Estimated grade boundary

Updated: 31 Aug 2026

Source: CCEA

Grade	Mark	Percentage
A*	—	90%
A	—	80%
B	—	70%
C*	—	65%
C	—	60%
D	—	50%
E	—	40%
F	—	30%
G	—	20%

Official grade boundaries published by CCEA.

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Grade	Mark	Percentage
A*	—	90%
A	—	80%
B	—	70%
C*	—	65%
C	—	60%
D	—	50%
E	—	40%
F	—	30%
G	—	20%

Grade	Mark	Percentage
A*	—	90%
A	—	80%
B	—	70%
C*	—	65%
C	—	60%
D	—	50%
E	—	40%
F	—	30%
G	—	20%

Grade	Mark	Percentage
A*	—	90%
A	—	80%
B	—	70%
C*	—	65%
C	—	60%
D	—	50%
E	—	40%
F	—	30%
G	—	20%