Applied Science

Why choose Applied Science?

The Cambridge Advanced National in Applied Science (Extended Certificate) is for students aged 16-19 years old. It will develop knowledge, understanding and skills that will help prepare you for progression to undergraduate study and are relevant to the applied sciences sector. You might be interested in this qualification if you want to apply what you learn to practical, real-life contexts, such as:

• Researching the fundamentals of science.
• Planning and performing laboratory investigations.
• Researching and undertaking an ecological survey report.
• Conducting a forensic crime scene investigation and evidence analysis.
• Testing unknown organic and inorganic compounds.

The qualification will also help you develop independence and confidence in using skills that are relevant to the sector and that prepare you for progressing to university courses where independent study skills are needed. You will develop the following transferable skills that can be used in both higher education and other life and work situations:

• Communicating effectively with individuals or groups.
• Researching topic areas and recording research sources, then using them to interpret findings and present evidence.
• Presenting information, this will involve managing time and identifying aims, purpose, resources, methods.
• Problem solving when matching and analysing data.

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What will I learn in Applied Science and how will it be assessed?

The qualification is made up of 40% examined content and 60% non examined assessment (NEA) content. This approach supports you to develop both theoretical knowledge and understanding and the skills needed to apply it in a range of contexts, helping you to develop a broad and relevant set of skills and experiences.

In the examined units, you will study key knowledge and understanding relevant to Applied Science. In the non examined assessment (NEA) units, you will demonstrate knowledge and skills you learn by completing applied and practical assignments. More information about the knowledge and skills you will develop is below. The qualification has three mandatory units and four optional units. These are the mandatory units – you must take all these units:

F180: Fundamentals of science

This unit is assessed by an exam. In this unit you will learn about the key topics that are important in biology, chemistry and physics and you will study two key practicals for each of those components to be assessed as part of section D of the exam.

Topics include:

Section A (Biology)

1. Topic Area 1 - Cell structure and microscopy
2. Topic Area 2 - Bioenergetics
3. Topic Area 3 - Structure and function of biological molecules
4. Topic Area 4 - Biodiversity and ecosystems

Section B (Chemistry)

1. Topic Area 1 - Atomic Structure and the Periodic Table
2. Topic Area 2 - Quantitative Chemistry
3. Topic Area 3 - Structure and Bonding
4. Topic Area 4 - Rates of reactions and enthalpy changes

Section C (Physics)

1. Topic Area 1 - Electricity
2. Topic Area 2 - Motion
3. Topic Area 3 - Medical physics

Section D (Practicals)

F181: Science in society

This unit is assessed by an exam. In this unit you will learn about the skills scientists use and the roles they perform in an international scientific community. You will examine different types of scientific data and learn how scientists use them to draw conclusions that can contribute to scientific advancement.

Topics include:

1. Topic Area 1 - What scientists do
2. Topic Area 2 - Handling scientific data
3. Topic Area 3 - Scientific developments
4. Topic Area 4 - Communicating science

F182: Investigating science

This unit is assessed by an assignment. In this unit you will learn about the role of a research scientist in industry by learning how to conduct your own scientific investigation. You will develop the skills to research, plan and risk assess your investigation before safely undertaking the practical tasks.

Topics include:

1. Topic Area 1 - Planning a scientific investigation
2. Topic Area 2 - Performing a scientific investigation
3. Topic Area 3 - Analysing and communicating results
4. Topic Area 4 - Evaluating a scientific investigation

These are optional units – you must take two of these units:

F183: Analytical techniques in chemistry

This unit is assessed by an assignment. In this unit you will learn how to plan and perform practical investigations to separate substances and purify them.

Topics include:

1. Topic Area 1 - Techniques to categorise and separate chemical substances
2. Topic Area 2 - Quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques to quantify and identify substances
3. Topic Area 3 - The principles of spectroscopic techniques and interpreting spectra for chemical substances

F184: Environmental studies

This unit is assessed by an assignment. In this unit, you will learn to use primary and secondary data to study ecosystems. You will develop the skills to carry out in situ fieldwork investigations to survey an area using different sampling techniques.

Topics include:

1. Topic Area 1: Ecosystems and biodiversity
2. Topic Area 2: Impact of human activity and natural events
3. Topic Area 3: Waste management
4. Topic Area 4: Environmental management and conservation
5. Topic Area 5: Fieldwork

F185: Forensic biology

This unit is assessed by an assignment. In this unit you will learn how to perform investigations of the macro- and ultrastructure of cells and tissues from fresh and prepared material, using optical microscope techniques and electron micrographs.

Topics include:

1. Topic Area 1: Forensic biology disciplines and evidence
2. Topic Area 2: Cells, Tissues and Organs in Forensic Biology
3. Topic Area 3: Investigation and Evidence Collection
4. Topic Area 4: Analytical Techniques and Evidence Interpretation

F186: Medical physics

This unit is assessed by an assignment. In this unit you will learn about the different diagnosis techniques and therapies used in medicine.

Topics include:

1. Topic Area 1: Application of non-ionising diagnosis techniques
2. Topic Area 2: Application of ionising diagnosis techniques
3. Topic Area 3: Application of ionising therapy techniques
4. Topic Area 4: Application of non-ionising therapy techniques
5. Topic Area 5: Planning for diagnosis and therapy

ASSESSMENT

Unit F180: Fundamentals of science (mandatory)

1 hour 30 minute written exam

70 marks (70 UMS)

Set and marked externally

A scientific calculator and a ruler are required in this exam

A range of question types will be used in this assessment including:

• Forced choice/controlled response questions.
• Short answer, closed response questions (with or without diagrams).
• Short answer with calculation/working.
• Extended constructed response with points-based mark scheme.

Unit F181: Science in society (mandatory)

1 hour 15 minute written exam

50 marks (50 UMS) Set and marked externally.

A scientific calculator and a ruler are required in this exam.

The exam has two sections:

Section A (pre-release based) has a range of 23-27 marks. Questions in Section A are specifically based on the pre-release material and can come from anywhere in the unit content of F181.

Section B (not pre-release based) has a range of 23-27 marks. Questions in Section B are not based on the pre-release material and can come from anywhere in the unit content of F181.

The combined total of Section A and Section B will be 50 marks.

A range of question types will be used in this assessment including:

• Forced choice/controlled response.
• Short answer, closed response questions (with or without diagrams).
• Extended constructed response with points-based mark.
• Extended constructed response with levels of response mark scheme.

Unit F182: Investigating science (mandatory)

• OCR set assignments
• Centre-assessed and moderated by OCR.
• This set assignment has 5 practical tasks.

Unit F183: Analytical techniques in chemistry (optional)

• OCR set assignments
• Centre-assessed and moderated by OCR.
• This set assignment has 5 practical tasks.

Unit F184: Environmental studies (optional)

• OCR set assignments
• Centre-assessed and moderated by OCR.
• This set assignment has 5 practical tasks.

Unit F185: Forensic biology (optional)

• OCR set assignments
• Centre-assessed and moderated by OCR.
• This set assignment has 4 practical tasks.

Unit F186: Medical physics (optional)

• OCR set assignments
• Centre-assessed and moderated by OCR.
• This set assignment has 4 practical tasks.

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How will I learn?

You will learn through opportunities to:

• Take part in practical investigations
• Discuss your work in pairs and groups
• Make presentations to the class
• Through the use of online platforms & digital resources
• Work independently on written tasks
• Carry out research and work on projects

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Related Degrees

Both the subject-specific knowledge, understanding and skills, and broader transferable skills developed through this qualification, will help you progress to further study in related areas such as:

• Biomedical Science
• Allied Health and Nursing
• Life Sciences
• Forensic Science

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Related Careers

• Laboratory Technician
• Science Research Assistant
• Quality Control/Assurance
• Environmental Technician
• Healthcare Science Assistant
• Pharmacy Technician
• Radiography or Physiotherapy Assistant.
• Biomedical Scientist
• Environmental Scientist/Officer
• Ecological/Conservation Technician
• Water Quality Analyst
• Chemical Process Operator
• Materials Technician
• Forensic Laboratory Assistant
• Scientific Data Analyst
• Science Writer/Communicator
• Sales Representative for science suppliers

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