How to revise for GCSE Combined Science and get a grade 9

18th June 2025 by Anita Naik

For students heading into Year 10 and 11 this autumn, the next set of GCSEs loom. If you're looking for a grade 9 in Combined Science, here's what you need to know.

Grade 9 is the highest grade, awarded to the top 3-7% of students, but it's attainable with the right effort and strategies. It not only requires sifting through a large amount of content but also gaining a strong understanding of all three sciences (Biology, Chemistry, and Physics).

This means consistently putting in effort to learn, revise, and practice exam techniques from the start of the academic year. Here's what you need to know.

Why GCSE Combined Science is challenging & what a Grade 9 requires

There are four reasons why Combined Science is challenging:

1. The breadth of content. Combining Biology, Chemistry, and Physics into a single course that requires mastery of all topics equally, albeit with less depth than Triple Science.

2. The maths element. A significant percentage of marks involves calculations, which require strong maths skills.

3. Application of knowledge. Unlike some GCSEs, this is not just about recall. You need to apply your knowledge and make links in your answers.

4. Grade boundaries. Grade 9 often requires a score of ~75-80%, meaning even small mistakes can significantly drop your marks.

How to study for GCSE Combined Science grade 9

Balance Biology, Chemistry & Physics revision:

As with any subject, there will always be one area you feel stronger about than others. As a result, your brain will want you to focus on that, as struggling with subjects you don't like triggers discomfort, so your mind avoids these to reduce stress. You have to override this and do equal amounts of work in all three areas to achieve a grade 9.

Key tip: Familiarise yourself with the exam specification provided by your examining board so you know exactly what to cover.

Always recap after lessons:

Many Grade 9 science students use the technique of recapping after lessons to consolidate their knowledge. This then gives them less recall work to do at revision and more time to spend on practising questions and past papers.

Key tip: After recapping, ask yourself, 'What was the core concept?' Summarise the lesson's core component in one sentence and link it to a previous topic, e.g., "This connects to mitochondria in cells!"

Give the examiners what they want:

Answering in a format the examiner wants means you need to demonstrate a strong understanding of the core scientific concepts, apply your knowledge in your answers and use appropriate scientific terminology and structure. This means spending time reviewing how questions are worded on all the papers and devising ideal answers that take into account all the above.

Key tip: The more you do this, the better your answering technique will be in exams.

Use active recall and flashcards:

Active recall with flashcards is one of the most effective revision techniques for achieving a Grade 9 in GCSE Combined Science, as it forces your brain to retrieve and apply knowledge, which is precisely what examiners require.

Additionally, unlike passive rereading or note-taking, active recall requires your brain to retrieve information, thereby strengthening neural pathways. This is critical for Combined Science, where you need to retain a large variety of concepts. Better still, flashcards expose gaps in knowledge immediately—if you can't recall an answer, you know you have to focus on it.

Key tip: GCSE exams don't test recognition—they demand quick, accurate recall under time pressure. Flashcards train you to "think like an examiner".

Practice questions, not past papers:

Start with practice questions rather than past papers. Once you have learned a topic, practice exam questions, record your marks and look at what went wrong. The more familiar you get with where you are losing marks, the more you will understand what the examiner wants. Do this enough, and answering in the way the examiner wants will be second nature to you.

Key tip: For AQA/Edexcel students, practise "describe"/"explain"/"compare" questions separately, as each requires a different approach.

Watch past paper walk-throughs on YouTube:

YouTube walkthroughs of Combined Science GCSE past papers are very helpful for revision and exam preparation. They offer a way to approach questions, understand mark schemes, and identify areas where you may need more revision.

Key tip: The quality and usefulness of StudyTubers vary, so choose videos from reliable sources such as GCSE Science Past Paper Walkthroughs https://www.youtube.com/@gcsesciencepastpaperwalkth6151

Don't forget to revise the information about practicals:

For GCSE Combined Science, you need to know the required practicals and how to apply practical skills in scientific investigations. Specifically, they need to be familiar with the apparatus, techniques, and procedures for each practical, as well as how to record, analyse, and evaluate results.

Key tip: Understand the science behind each step. Don't just memorise procedures. Focus on why each step matters.