---
title: "Science education in England"
chunk: 5/14
source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_education_in_England"
category: "reference"
tags: "science, encyclopedia"
date_saved: "2026-05-05T04:21:10.973540+00:00"
instance: "kb-cron"
---

==== 11+ CEs (Common Entrance Examination) ====
This exam is run by the Independent Schools Examinations Board and is taken by prep school pupils wishing to be admitted into senior schools (although not all senior schools admit 11-year-olds). Some state school pupils in KS2 use the exam to make the transition into an independent (senior) school. The syllabus for the 11+ CE science exam is based on the National Curriculum for KS2 science; one paper for science (one hour) is taken. In addition to the examinable syllabus for the 11+ CE, there is also prep-KS3 science material for the pupil to cover; this prep-KS3 science material is not examinable but is required as preparation for KS3 science study in senior school if admitted.

=== The ‘traditional’ three sciences for KS3 and KS4 ===
The National Curriculum for KS3–4 science differs from KS1–2, not just in its complexity, but unlike the latter, the science curriculum is divided into three explicit parts: biology, chemistry, and physics. Typically, in a state secondary school, each science will have a dedicated teacher who is a specialist in the subject, but it is not unusual for a school or college to recruit a teacher that can deliver two or even all three sciences (depending on the breadth of knowledge of the teacher and staff resources of the school). Recall that for many, if not most, entrants to state secondary schools, KS3 will be the first stage at which they get regular science education. Below is a broad summary of the curriculum of each part at KS3/4 level, simplified for the purposes of this article into  KS3/4 core areas.

==== Biology ====
Defined in the National Curriculum as:

... the science of living organisms (including animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms) and their interactions with each other and the environment.
The content for KS3/4 biology in the National Curriculum can be divided into the following core areas:

Cell biology and organisation
Organ systems of animals and plants
Biochemistry
Health, diseases, and medicines
Bioenergetics
Ecosystem
Genetics and inheritance
Variation and evolution

==== Chemistry ====
Defined in the National Curriculum as:

... the science of the composition, structure, properties and reactions of matter, understood in terms of atoms, atomic particles and the way they are arranged and link together.
The content for KS3/4 chemistry in the National Curriculum can be divided into the following core areas:

Atoms and the particulate nature of matter
The periodic table and periodicity
Properties of matter
Chemical reactions and changes
Chemical analyses
Chemical energetics
Uses of matter (natural and synthetic)
Earth and atmosphere

==== Physics ====
Defined in the National Curriculum as:

... the science of the fundamental concepts of field, force, radiation and particle structures, which are inter-linked to form unified models of the behaviour of the material universe.
The content for KS3/4 physics in the National Curriculum can be divided into the following core areas:

Energy and thermodynamics
Physical nature of matter
Particle model of matter
Atomic structure and radioactivity
Electricity, magnetism and electromagnetism
Mechanics
Waves and optics
Space physics and astrophysics
The above 'KS3/4 core areas' will form the bases of outlining science education at levels higher than KS4 later on in the article.

=== KS3 (including SATs, 13+ CEs, and teacher assessments) ===
Key stage 3 (KS3) covers years 7, 8 and 9 of compulsory school education in the National Curriculum. Pupils are typically in the age range 11–14.

==== SATs and teacher assessments ====
Between the early 1990s and late 2000s (‘late noughties’), state school pupils had to take statutory SAT exams at the end of KS3 science (just like KS2) although teacher assessments were also allowed. The KS3 SAT science exam consisted of two papers (one hour each). The scores from both papers were combined to give a final score. This score would then be converted into a numerical level, which would in turn be converted into an expectation level. The conversion scale for the levels at KS3 SAT is shown below.

The conversion of the raw score from the two papers to a numerical level depended on the ‘tier’ taken by the student. For science KS3 SATs, two tiers were available: lower tier and higher tier. Levels 3–6 were available at the lower tier while levels 5–7 were available at the higher tier. The conversion scale for each tier's scores are shown below.

Level 8 (exceptional) was not available to science KS3 SATs (not even at the higher tier); it was available to mathematics, but only at the highest tier (levels 6–8) out of four tiers that were available to mathematics KS3 SATs. Science KS3 SATs were discontinued in 2010 and replaced by teacher assessments (just like science KS2 SATs). Despite the discontinuation of statutory science KS3 SATs, the past papers are still used by schools today.

==== 13+ CEs (Common Entrance Examination) ====
Like the 11+ CEs, the 13+ CEs are taken by prep school pupils wishing to be admitted to independent senior schools; some senior schools only admit from the age of 13. The examination provides an opportunity for some KS3 state school pupils to make the transition into an independent school. The syllabus for the 13+ CE science exam(s) is based on the National Curriculum for KS3 science, although not all of the KS3 science content is examinable in the CE, but the parts left out are recommended for teaching in year 9. For the exam, the candidate can take either the simpler one paper in science (one hour) comprising biology, chemistry and physics parts, or three higher (and harder) papers (forty minutes each)—one in biology, one in chemistry, and one in physics. In addition, individual senior schools may have exams for entry into other years; for example, 14+, 16+ (for post-16 or ‘KS5’ study); details of which they give on their websites.