For T levels there is industry specific information you will need to know to prepare you for your assessments and work placement, but you will cover that content with us when you join us on the course in September.
For both courses though there are fundamental aspects of science that will underpin the core B element on your course that require a good knowledge of topics areas that you will have studied for GCSE. To make sure you have a solid understanding of these topics and make the best start on your T level qualification we would like you to spend time over the summer reviewing your knowledge of key topic areas. We will give you a baseline test in September consisting of high-level GCSE exam questions in Biology, Chemistry & Physics to test your understanding. The areas you should cover are:
Cells & Tissues
Cell division (mitosis/meiosis)
Enzymes
Atomic structure
Rates of reaction
Ionic & Covalent Bonding
Electricity
Waves
GCSE Biology (Single Science) - BBC Bitesize
GCSE Chemistry (Single Science) - BBC Bitesize
GCSE Physics (Single Science) - BBC Bitesize
A-level biology is an interesting and challenging course. When you find out how the world works and everything fits together to allow life to exist, it’s amazing. To make the most of the course it is important to get a head start with some of the knowledge and skills you will need while studying the course. To help with this we ask that you read and answer as many of the questions as you can on the worksheets:
OCR - questions
OCR - answers
Submit your work as a pdf or photo to margarita.beltran@cambridgeast.org.uk before Monday 4th of September 2023.
Amazon is also currently providing the CGP ‘Head Start to A-Level Biology’ kindle book free. We recommend using it. Find the link to the Biology A level and other Head start books here.
At the beginning of A-level Biology in September we require all students to sit a baseline assessment. This will be a 45 minute exam paper, containing high-level GCSE exam questions. It is a chance for you to demonstrate that you have the skills necessary to study A-level Biology. You will need to:
Students who are not deemed to have performed well by getting a 6 or above will be asked to meet with Biology subject teachers during Biology surgery for extra support. You will also be asked to complete a resit after further revision. You should revise the following topics using some of the resources below:
Use the following link for BBC bitesize
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/examspecs/zpgcbk7
And Seneca Learning ‘Biology AQA GCSE Higher’
Welcome to A-Level chemistry at CAST. Chemistry is a demanding and challenging but rewarding A level which is why your commitment and hard work is necessary. It is important that you carry out independent learning regularly, in your own time and read around the subject so that you can further develop your skills in chemistry. To ensure you are well prepared before you start the course there are several tasks that we would like you to complete.
Tasks: The resources have been carefully selected to help ensure a smooth transition to A-Level chemistry. Try to complete these tasks over the summer break. Mark Schemes have been attached for the RSC sheets.
This task focuses on Key Terms and definitions and revisits investigative skills. It revises Quantitative Chemistry as Maths skills are important in achieving success in A level Chemistry.
Task 1 This task focuses on Key Terms and definitions and revisits investigative skills. It revises Quantitative Chemistry as Maths skills are important in achieving success in A level Chemistry.
Task 2 and Task 3 These sheets have been taken from resources produced by the Royal Society of Chemistry. They have been designed to develop and extend skills such as GCSE chemistry competencies and practical skill knowledg
answers to Task 2
answers to Task 3
Finally, try to review the topics covered at GCSE.
Welcome to Computer Science at CAST. Computer Science is a complex, demanding and interesting course. You will develop your computational thinking skills, focusing on decomposition and algorithmic design. All students are expected to study independently, this includes programming, mathematics, and supporting theory.
Task 1: review all of the topics you have covered when studying GCSE computer science. You will find material for OCR GCSE Computer Science here.
Task 2: to get started watch the following videos which cover different programming paradigms and principles: video 1 & video 2 some of the concepts are complex and may need additional study to completely understand. If you want to do any extra reading on object orientation, go to the Issac Computer Science website.
In readiness for September, please ensure you have your OWN copy of A Handmaid’s Tale and have read it. (Unlike GCSE, we do NOT read whole texts in class – you are expected to arrive having read it so it can be further explored in lesson time.)
For the linguistic side of the course, please research and define the following terms:
Prescriptivism and Descriptivism. Then produce your own thoughts in a 600 -1000 word essay response to the following debate question: Is technology (e.g. email, text, social media etc) leading to a poorer form of the English language becoming accepted? Give examples of language in everyday use to support your comments.
Welcome to Environmental Science, we are really pleased that you have chosen the course. As a subject Environmental Science has never been more important, it is impacting on almost every aspect of our lives and this impact will only increase over the coming years. There is a huge amount of accessible and diverse literature regularly published on the subject and it is important to keep up to date with this as it helps you to understand the breadth of the field.
Exams in Environmental Science include essay writing questions. We are aware that you have missed your exams this year and to support you as you move into A Levels would like you to start developing your exam technique by asking you to complete an essay, this will help us to establish what support you may require in this area when you start with us.
We look forward to meeting you at the CAST induction day in June and working with you in September.
General reading
Environmental science is rapidly evolving field and is often in the news, therefore scanning broadsheet newspapers, news websites and science magazines for relevant articles and reading these is a very good way of getting a good feel for the field.
The website https://www.scientificamerican.com/sustainability/ is particularly good.
Areas to particularly focus on are:
Conservation
Climate change
Pollution
Sustainability
Renewable energy
Agriculture
There are many other areas that are also interesting and help to give a wider perspective.
The following programmes reads and podcasts are also very good:
Wildlife and conservation - David Attenborough box sets on BBC iPlayer
Sustainability (Electric cars)
Podcasts
Sustainable manufacturing https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b00k9hn9
Coral reef damage https://www.ted.com/talks/jeremy_jackson_how_we_wrecked_the_ocean?language=en
Rainforest restoration https://www.ted.com/talks/willie_smits_how_to_restore_a_rainforest?language=en
Climate change https://www.ted.com/talks/al_gore_new_thinking_on_the_climate_crisis?language=en
Specific task for completion
Please complete the below task and bring it in at the start of the autumn term.
Use the following scaffold to help you plan:
Paragraph 1
Introduction
Following paragraphs (4 or 5 paragraphs)
In each paragraph choose a specific aspect of your topic and address the following point with regards to that topic.
Final paragraph
Summary and conclusions
Summarise what you think the main issues are
Evaluate the trends (is the situation going to get better/worse (why?))
What does the future hold?
What are the main conclusions?
Welcome to Geography A level. Our exam board is AQA. AQA | Geography | AS and A-level | Geography
Wider reading:
Tim Marshall: 1. Prisoners of Geography 2. The Power of Geography 3. The Future of Geography
George Monbiot: Regenesis
Hans Rosling: Factfulness:Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World
On the trail of Roald Dahl in Great Missenden | The Independent | The Independent
Wider listening:
Costing the Earth https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006r4wn
Wider viewing:
Kiss the Ground Watch Kiss the Ground | Netflix
Before the Flood Leonardo Di caprio Watch Before the Flood | Prime Video (amazon.co.uk)
Earth, Power of the Planet. Dr Iain Stewart. Available on DVD Earth : The Power of the Planet - Complete BBC Series [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Iain Stewart, Iain Stewart: DVD & Blu-ray
Detroit 2017 Directed by Kathryn Bigelow
Research:
What is the Exmoor Mires Project? Why is it necessary? Create a PowerPoint to show what you have found out.
Exmoor - Exmoor Mires Partnership (exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk)
Human Geography Bridging Pack: Changing Places
The idea behind this bridging pack is to use the time that you have between now and September to get ahead for your A Level Geography course. You will be studying 3 modules for the Human paper. This Bridging pack covers some of the Changing Places topics.
Please click above for the link to the Changing Places Bridging Pack
Human Geography Bridging Pack 2: Global Systems and Global Governance
The idea behind this bridging pack is to use the time that you have between now and September to get ahead for your A Level Geography course. You will be studying 3 modules for the Human paper. This pack covers the Global Systems and Global Governance module.
Please click above for the link to the Global Systems and Global Governance
Welcome to all considering studying maths with us in September. The following bridging guide from the exam board (OCR) will provide you with a set of pre-requisite topic notes and student questions to go through.
https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/373371-bridging-the-gap-between-gcse-and-as-a-level-mathematics-a-student-guide.docx
For further work you may wish to look at some of the activities available on Isaac Physics, a great site which include much, often overlooked support for maths
https://isaacphysics.org/pages/maths_practice?stage=all
Further Maths
See above
In preparation for the course there is nothing specific you need to prepare although you might like to have a look around the following web site – don't worry there is more information on the web site you will ever need to know.
Designing Buildings
The following sites will provide further insight to wider aspects beyond the specification.
The British Psychological Society (BPS) http://www.bps.org.uk/
Research Digest https://digest.bps.org.uk/ - You can subscribe to receive this fortnightly by e-mail (free of charge) and each brief article is linked to the relevant A level specifications.
BBC www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/allinthemind.shtml - All in the Mind BBC R4 regular psychology programme
Before you start A level psychology in September, please complete the free online course provided by the Open University – link below.
You will receive a downloadable statement of participation. Either print it and bring to your first lesson or email (a photo of it also fine) to: laura.atkin@cambridgeAST.org.uk
I look forward to seeing you in September.
Starting with psychology - OpenLearn - Open University
Fundamental to success in A-level physics is a solid grounding and knowledge of mathematical procedures,
The link below will take you to an Isaac Physics GCSE to A-level Physics transition web page.
Boards for Lessons — Isaac Physics
The page will look like this:
When you visit the webpage and clink on View you will be able to work through the questions, get help and immediately get feedback on your answers.
Module settings have been updated.