Science
Subject Overview
Science essentially deals with knowledge and understanding of our world. The study of science is concerned with the understanding of a body of scientific knowledge and the development of scientific skills through practical activities. It contributes to the development of logical thinking and reasoning, and skills of observation, measurement, interpretation, numeracy, problem solving and decision making.
Junior Certificate Science provides a suitable preparation (but is not a requirement) for the study of one or more science subjects at senior cycle.
Content
The science syllabus contains the three main areas:
- Biology
1A Human Biology – food, digestion and associated body systems
1B Human Biology – the skeletal/muscular system, the senses and human reproduction
1C Animals, plants and micro-organisms - Chemistry
2A Classification of substances
2B Air, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water
2C Atomic structure, reactions and compounds - Physics
3A Force and energy
3B Heat, light and sound
3C Magnetism, electricity and electronics
Both Ordinary level and Higher level students must study all three sections.
Assessment
There are two assessment components: coursework (35% of the marks) and an examination paper (65% of the marks). The coursework is common to both Ordinary level and Higher level. There are separate examination papers for each level.
