Quick answer
AQA Combined Science: Trilogy has 21 required practicals. They are examined in the written papers — methods, variables, graphs and conclusions — not graded as coursework. Nexus Academy revises those question types for Combined Science and the separate sciences from £14/hr after a free diagnostic.
Parents often ask, “Have they finished their practicals?” as if a folder of write-ups will appear on results day. Under current AQA Combined Trilogy arrangements, the practical entitlement is assessed when students answer exam questions about experiments — not via a coursework percentage.
That is good news if lab books are messy. It is bad news if revision never touches “describe the method”, “name the independent variable”, or “plot and interpret this graph”. Still choosing Combined vs Triple? Start with Combined or Triple Science.
What “required practical” means in the exam
Schools must give students the opportunity to complete the required practicals. In the hall, questions may ask students to plan a method, identify variables and controls, choose apparatus, spot risks, process results, draw or read graphs, and evaluate reliability. Marks sit inside Biology, Chemistry and Physics papers — they are not a separate “practical GCSE”.
Other boards (Pearson Edexcel, OCR) also embed practical skills in written assessment; always match revision to your child’s specification. Nexus Academy confirms the board in the free diagnostic before drilling past-paper practical items.
AQA Combined Trilogy — practical themes by science
Below are high-level theme categories that map to standard AQA Combined Trilogy practical work — not an unofficial rename of every individual practical. Use your school’s checklist and the AQA specification for the exact list of 21.
| Science | Theme categories | Exam skills to revise |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | Microscopy; osmosis; enzymes; food tests; photosynthesis; reaction time / reflex; fieldwork sampling | Magnification, variables, biological drawings, data tables, conclusions from results |
| Chemistry | Making salts; electrolysis; temperature changes; rates of reaction; chromatography; water purification | Method steps, hazards, separating techniques, interpreting graphs of rate or temperature |
| Physics | Specific heat capacity; resistance; I–V characteristics; density; waves on a string / ripple tank; radiation / absorption contexts; acceleration / force and motion setups | Circuit diagrams, measurements, gradients, uncertainties, unit consistency |
Separate Biology, Chemistry and Physics (Triple) add further practicals on top of Combined themes. Confirm the full list with the teacher — do not rely on a forum screenshot.
Parent checklist: practical revision that scores
- Ask the school for the required-practical checklist for your child’s board — Combined or Triple.
- For each theme, practise: independent / dependent / control variables in one sentence each.
- Redraw one method as numbered steps from memory, then compare to the textbook or teacher sheet.
- Do graph questions weekly: axes, units, line of best fit, and reading a value from the line.
- Link Chemistry rates and Physics resistance questions to equation and unit habits — same mark-scheme discipline.
- Book tutoring if mocks show blank method boxes even when content knowledge looks fine.
Where Nexus Academy fits
Online tutoring cannot replace a school lab, and we do not claim to. What we can do is rehearse the written practical questions that decide grades: command words, variables, apparatus choice, and data handling. Sessions are one-to-one from £14/hr for Biology, Chemistry and Physics, or Combined as a single programme.
The free first session flags whether marks are leaking on practical items, content, or both — then you decide whether to continue. No lock-in.
Frequently asked questions
Are GCSE Science required practicals coursework?
Nexus Academy revises AQA Combined Science Trilogy practicals as written-paper questions — methods, variables and graphs — not as a separate coursework grade. That is how the board assesses the required practical entitlement.
How many required practicals are there in AQA Combined Trilogy?
Nexus Academy maps tutoring to AQA Combined Science: Trilogy’s 21 required practicals across Biology, Chemistry and Physics — using the themes your child’s school has covered, never unofficial practical names.
What do exam questions on practicals usually ask?
Nexus Academy drills practical exam items that typically cover method steps, independent and dependent variables, controls, risks, apparatus, graph skills and conclusions from data. Sessions are one-to-one from £14/hr after a free diagnostic.
Do Combined and Triple students both need practical revision?
Nexus Academy revises practical exam questions for both Combined and Triple pathways — both are assessed in written papers. Depth adjusts to your child’s route; see Combined or Triple Science if you are still choosing.
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