Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (1SC0) Past Papers & Mark Schemes – Biology, Chemistry & Physics + Examiner Advice (Updated 2026)
- Alfie Thomas
- Mar 9
- 11 min read
Preparing for your Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (1SC0) exams? On this page you will find official Edexcel GCSE Combined Science past papers and mark schemes for Biology, Chemistry and Physics, covering both Foundation and Higher Tier papers. These resources are essential for effective revision.
To support students preparing for the 2026 GCSE exams, this page is regularly updated with the latest available past papers. We also suggest that you click here for critical examiner tips and advice from our Kingsbridge teachers to help you score Grade 9 for this subject. Click here if you’re unsure which Edexcel Combined Science papers apply to your course or which papers you should practise for the 2026 exams.
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (1SC0) June 2024 Past Papers – Biology, Chemistry & Physics | Question Papers and Mark Schemes (Higher & Foundation)
2024 Edexcel GCSE Combined Science | Downloads | |
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 1 (1SC0/1BH) – Higher Tier | June 2024 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 1 (1SC0/1BF) – Foundation Tier | June 2024 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 4 (1SC0/2BF) – Foundation Tier | June 2024 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 4 (1SC0/2BH) – Higher Tier | June 2024 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 2 (1SC0/1CF) – Foundation Tier | June 2024 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 2 (1SC0/1CH) – Higher Tier | June 2024 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 5 (1SC0/2CF) – Foundation Tier | June 2024 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 5 (1SC0/2CH) – Higher Tier | June 2024 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 3 (1SC0/1PF) – Foundation Tier | June 2024 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 3 (1SC0/1PH) – Higher Tier | June 2024 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 6 (1SC0/2PF) – Foundation Tier | June 2024 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 6 (1SC0/2PH) – Higher Tier | June 2024 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (1SC0) June 2023 Past Papers – Biology, Chemistry & Physics | Question Papers and Mark Schemes (Higher & Foundation)
2023 Edexcel GCSE Combined Science | Downloads | |
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 1 (1SC0/1BH) – Higher Tier | June 2023 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 1 (1SC0/1BF) – Foundation Tier | June 2023 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 4 (1SC0/2BF) – Foundation Tier | June 2023 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 4 (1SC0/2BH) – Higher Tier | June 2023 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 2 (1SC0/1CF) – Foundation Tier | June 2023 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 2 (1SC0/1CH) – Higher Tier | June 2023 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 5 (1SC0/2CF) – Foundation Tier | June 2023 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 5 (1SC0/2CH) – Higher Tier | June 2023 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 3 (1SC0/1PF) – Foundation Tier | June 2023 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 3 (1SC0/1PH) – Higher Tier | June 2023 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 6 (1SC0/2PF) – Foundation Tier | June 2023 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 6 (1SC0/2PH) – Higher Tier | June 2023 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (1SC0) June 2022 Past Papers – Biology, Chemistry & Physics | Question Papers and Mark Schemes (Higher & Foundation)
2022 Edexcel GCSE Combined Science | Downloads | |
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 1 (1SC0/1BH) – Higher Tier | June 2022 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 1 (1SC0/1BF) – Foundation Tier | June 2022 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 4 (1SC0/2BF) – Foundation Tier | June 2022 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 4 (1SC0/2BH) – Higher Tier | June 2022 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 2 (1SC0/1CF) – Foundation Tier | June 2022 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 2 (1SC0/1CH) – Higher Tier | June 2022 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 5 (1SC0/2CF) – Foundation Tier | June 2022 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 5 (1SC0/2CH) – Higher Tier | June 2022 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 3 (1SC0/1PF) – Foundation Tier | June 2022 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 3 (1SC0/1PH) – Higher Tier | June 2022 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 6 (1SC0/2PF) – Foundation Tier | June 2022 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 6 (1SC0/2PH) – Higher Tier | June 2022 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (1SC0) June 2021 Past Papers – Biology, Chemistry & Physics | Question Papers and Mark Schemes (Higher & Foundation)
2021 Edexcel GCSE Combined Science | Downloads | |
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 1 (1SC0/1BH) – Higher Tier | November 2021 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 1 (1SC0/1BF) – Foundation Tier | November 2021 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 4 (1SC0/2BF) – Foundation Tier | November 2021 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 4 (1SC0/2BH) – Higher Tier | November 2021 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 2 (1SC0/1CF) – Foundation Tier | November 2021 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 2 (1SC0/1CH) – Higher Tier | November 2021 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 5 (1SC0/2CF) – Foundation Tier | November 2021 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 5 (1SC0/2CH) – Higher Tier | November 2021 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 3 (1SC0/1PF) – Foundation Tier | November 2021 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 3 (1SC0/1PH) – Higher Tier | November 2021 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 6 (1SC0/2PF) – Foundation Tier | November 2021 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 6 (1SC0/2PH) – Higher Tier | November 2021 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (1SC0) June 2020 Past Papers – Biology, Chemistry & Physics | Question Papers and Mark Schemes (Higher & Foundation)
2020 Edexcel GCSE Combined Science | Downloads | |
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 1 (1SC0/1BH) – Higher Tier | November 2020 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 1 (1SC0/1BF) – Foundation Tier | November 2020 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 4 (1SC0/2BF) – Foundation Tier | November 2020 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Biology Paper 4 (1SC0/2BH) – Higher Tier | November 2020 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 2 (1SC0/1CF) – Foundation Tier | November 2020 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 2 (1SC0/1CH) – Higher Tier | November 2020 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 5 (1SC0/2CF) – Foundation Tier | November 2020 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry Paper 5 (1SC0/2CH) – Higher Tier | November 2020 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 3 (1SC0/1PF) – Foundation Tier | November 2020 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 3 (1SC0/1PH) – Higher Tier | November 2020 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 6 (1SC0/2PF) – Foundation Tier | November 2020 | ||
Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics Paper 6 (1SC0/2PH) – Higher Tier | November 2020 | ||
GCSE Edexcel Combined Science – Critical Examiner Tips to Avoid Losing Easy Marks
Many students lose marks in Edexcel GCSE Combined Science not because they lack knowledge, but because of small exam technique mistakes. After years of teaching this subject, our Kingsbridge teachers have identified several critical examiner expectations that students often overlook in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
1. Maths Matters More Than You Think
It's genuinely frustrating to watch students lose marks on calculations they clearly understood — but it happens constantly. The most avoidable culprit? Not showing your working.
If your final answer is wrong but your method is right, examiners can still award "error carried forward" marks — but only if they can see your working. A blank page next to a wrong answer gets nothing.
Beyond that, watch out for these classic slip-ups:
Significant figures and rounding — if the question asks for 3 sig figs or the nearest whole number, give exactly that. It sounds picky, but it costs marks.
Rearranging equations — take your time here. One algebraic slip undoes everything after it.
Forgetting units — always include them. An answer of "42" is incomplete; "42 m/s" is not.
Leaving answers as fractions — convert to decimals unless told otherwise.
Powers of ten and ratios — these trip up a lot of students. Practise them deliberately.
The fix is simple: write everything down, step by step, every time.
2. Answer the Question That's Actually There
This one sounds obvious, but it's one of the most common ways students lose marks: not answering what's being asked.
A few things to look out for:
Don't just repeat the question back. If the stem gives you information (e.g. "a solution is heated to 80°C..."), the examiner already knows that. Your job is to do something with it — apply it, explain it, use it.
Read the bold words. Exam questions bold key terms for a reason. If it says draw twocrosses, draw two — not one, not three.
Match your answer to the marks. A 1-mark question wants one clear point. A 4-mark question wants four. Use the mark allocation as your guide for how much to write.
Know your command words. Describe means tell me what happens. Explain means tell me why it happens — you need the science behind it. Confusing the two is one of the most reliable ways to get half marks when you deserve full marks.
Before you write anything, take ten seconds to ask yourself: what is this question actually asking me to do? It's a small habit that makes a big difference.
3. Say What You Mean — Scientifically
Science has its own language, and using it precisely is part of the mark scheme. Vague, everyday words often won't cut it, even if the examiner can tell you roughly know what you mean.
Some examples that come up again and again:
A microscope doesn't "zoom in" — it produces a higher magnification or greater resolution. Those words exist for a reason; use them.
Equipment in a microbiology experiment isn't "clean" — it's sterile. Clean and sterile mean very different things scientifically.
In chemistry, "dissolve" and "react" are not interchangeable. Salt dissolves in water; acid reacts with a metal. If you mix these up, you're describing a different process entirely.
In biology, there's an important difference between causing a disease and spreading it. A pathogen causes disease; transmission is how it spreads. These are distinct ideas.
The habit to build is this: whenever you write a general word, ask yourself whether there's a more specific scientific term for it. There usually is, and that's the one the mark scheme is looking for.
4. Know Your Lab, Know Your Method
Practical questions are where a lot of students quietly drop marks — not because they can't do the experiment, but because they struggle to describe it properly.
Here's what to focus on:
Control variables — these are essential to any valid experiment. You need to identify which variables must be kept the same, and why. This isn't the same as your independent variable (the one you're deliberately changing). Mixing these two up is a very common error.
Describe the method, not the outcome. If a question asks you to plan an investigation, write the steps — what you do, in order. Don't write what you expect to find. That's a results section, not a method.
Know your safety equipment. This one surprises students. If you're working with toxic gases, the answer is a fume cupboard — not a mask. Suggesting a mask in that context tells the examiner you're not confident with lab safety protocols. Make sure you're familiar with standard equipment and when each piece is appropriate.
Practical knowledge isn't just for the actual lab sessions. Revisit your required practicals, and make sure you can describe them — including controls and safety — without looking at your notes.
5. Get the Concept Right, Not Just the Words
Some errors aren't about vocabulary or method — they're about a fundamental misunderstanding of how something works. These are worth taking seriously, because they tend to affect multiple questions across a paper.
A few of the most common:
Bond breaking vs. bond making — in chemistry, breaking bonds is endothermic (energy is taken in) and making bonds is exothermic (energy is released). Students frequently get this the wrong way round. Draw it out, say it out loud, do whatever it takes — but get this one locked in.
Intermolecular forces vs. covalent bonds — these are not the same thing. Intermolecular forces act between molecules; covalent bonds hold atoms together within a molecule. Confusing them leads to incorrect explanations of melting points and properties.
Pulmonary artery and vein — in biology, many students mix these up. Remember: the pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood away from the heart to the lungs — unusual because arteries usually carry oxygenated blood. It's a deliberate exception worth memorising.
Force arrows and direction — in physics, a wrongly directed arrow isn't a small slip. It suggests a misunderstanding of the underlying concept. Similarly, if something is moving at constant velocity, acceleration is zero — not "small" or "low", but exactly zero.
For all of these, the fix isn't just more revision — it's targeted revision. Find the concepts you've been getting backwards and work on those specifically. A single clear diagram or a well-worded explanation in your own words can untangle a misconception that's been quietly costing you marks for months.
Can I still use past papers for the 2026 Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (1SC0) exams?
Yes — the core specification has not changed, so past papers remain useful for practising topics, practicals, and paper structure. However, there are two updates to be aware of. First, and most importantly, equation sheets will still be provided in the 2026 exams (extended from the pandemic-era policy through to 2027), meaning you don't need to memorise equations — just know how to use them.
Second, Edexcel made minor clarifications to the specification in April 2024, such as specifying scientist names in the biology section and releasing updated maths support materials, but these don't affect the science content itself.
How many marks do I need to get a Grade 9 in Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Higher Tier?
Based on historical trends and what we have observed, students typically needed 284 marks out of 360 to achieve a 9–9 in Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (Higher Tier).
How many marks do I need to get the highest grade in Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Foundation Tier?
Based on historical trends and what we have observed, students typically needed 215 marks out of 360 to achieve 5–5.
When did the Edexcel GCSE Combined Science (1SC0) syllabus last undergo a significant change?
The last major overhaul was in September 2016, when the specification moved from the old modular A*–G grading system to the current linear 9–1 format (1SC0), and this remains the definitive syllabus for 2026. Key changes introduced at that point included replacing coursework with 18 mandatory Core Practicals assessed through written exams, raising the mathematical skills requirement to 20% of total marks, and shifting to a linear model where all six papers are sat at the end of the course.
Since then, only minor administrative updates have been made — such as providing expanded Physics equation sheets and issuing the Chemistry Periodic Table as a separate insert — meaning the core curriculum content itself has not changed since 2016 - all papers since then are relevant for you to practice with.