Get your child exam-ready for OCR GCSE Combined Science.
Live, one-to-one online sessions with a specialist tutor, matched to your child's exact OCR syllabus and target grade. Book a trial in minutes.
OCR GCSE Combined Science: what parents should know.
OCR GCSE Combined Science covers Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in one double-award qualification. Understanding how it's assessed helps families plan revision and tutoring support well in advance of the exam series.
OCR GCSE Combined Science is a double-award qualification covering Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Students earn two GCSEs, making it a strong foundation for A-Level sciences or vocational pathways without taking three separate subjects.
OCR Combined Science is graded on a double scale from 1-1 to 9-9, with separate marks for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics components. Exams and required practicals both contribute, so technique and practical understanding both matter in the final mark scheme.
OCR GCSE Combined Science exams are sat in the summer exam series, typically at the end of Year 11. Most students begin focused preparation in Year 10, giving tutors time to build solid foundations across all three science disciplines before the final session.
A group class can't do this.
Lessons built around the gaps
Your child's tutor identifies exactly which Biology, Chemistry, or Physics topics are holding their grade back and focuses every session on closing those gaps first.
Real OCR past-paper technique
Tutors work through timed OCR past papers and mark schemes so your child learns precisely how examiners award marks across all six science papers.
Parents kept in the loop
After every lesson, parents receive a detailed session report covering what was covered, how the student performed, and what homework has been set for next time.
A double award covering Biology, Chemistry, and Physics.
OCR GCSE Combined Science is a double-award qualification set by Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations (OCR). It is designed for students aged 14 to 16 who want broad coverage of all three sciences without sitting separate single-science GCSEs.
Assessment is split across six exam papers, two for each science discipline. Students receive a double grade from 1-1 to 9-9, reflecting their combined performance. Required practicals are assessed within the written papers through application questions rather than separate coursework marks.
Every Tuitional session follows the OCR Combined Science syllabus code exactly, so your child's tutor covers the same specification their school uses, with nothing drifting from the real papers they will sit.
What a one-to-one OCR Combined Science lesson actually looks like.
Every session follows a four-phase structure: a quick diagnostic recap, targeted teaching, past-paper practice, and a closing review with homework set. Your child always knows what's coming next.
Book a trial lessonA typical 60-minute session
- 0-5 min
Recap and quick diagnostic
The tutor opens with two or three short questions from the previous session to check what has stuck and identify any remaining gaps before moving forward.
Example: Quick recall questions on the structure of DNA from the previous Biology lesson before moving into new Chemistry content.
- 5-25 min
Teach the target topic
The tutor explains the new concept clearly, using annotated diagrams, worked examples, and real exam-style language so your child builds both understanding and vocabulary.
Example: Teaching ionic bonding (OCR Chemistry, Topic C4) with annotated dot-and-cross diagrams and common command-word explanations.
- 25-50 min
Apply it to OCR past-paper questions
Your child attempts real OCR past-paper questions under timed conditions while the tutor guides mark-scheme reading, so they understand exactly how to gain every available mark.
Example: Working through OCR Gateway Science Paper 4 (Chemistry) six-mark extended response questions and matching answers to the mark scheme descriptors.
- 50-60 min
Review, set homework, report
The tutor summarises what was covered, highlights one key improvement point, and sets a focused homework task to consolidate learning before the next session.
Example: Setting an OCR required practical recall sheet on the light intensity experiment (Biology, Topic B4) for independent review.
After the lesson
Parents receive a written session report covering topics taught, performance notes, and homework set. The session recording is saved to the platform so your child can revisit explanations at any time.
Four simple steps.
Tell us the goal
Share your child's year group, OCR syllabus, and target grade.
Get matched
We pair your child with a specialist OCR Combined Science tutor.
Trial lesson
Attend a trial session with no commitment required.
Start weekly sessions
Book ongoing lessons at times that suit your family.
The double-award qualification that keeps all science pathways open.
OCR GCSE Combined Science is set by the OCR exam board and assessed across six written papers covering Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Students receive a double grade on the 1-1 to 9-9 scale, giving universities and sixth forms a clear picture of science ability.
The qualification suits students who want strong science credentials without committing to three separate GCSEs. A grade of 6-6 or above is widely accepted as entry for A-Level sciences, keeping university and medical pathways firmly in reach.
Why families across the GCC trust Tuitional for GCSE Science.
My daughter was really struggling with the Chemistry papers and losing confidence fast. Her Tuitional tutor broke down each topic so clearly and walked her through OCR mark schemes step by step. She went from a 4 to a 7 by the end of the year. I honestly couldn't believe the difference.
Booking was simple and the tutor was matched to our son's exact OCR syllabus within a day. We get a session report after every lesson, which as a parent gives real peace of mind that things are on track.
I never really understood the required practicals section until my Tuitional tutor explained how OCR actually tests them through the written papers. My confidence in the exam room is completely different now.
We started tutoring in January and by the mock exams in March my son had jumped two grades in Biology and one in Chemistry. The flexible evening slots made it easy to fit around his school schedule.
OCR GCSE Combined Science tutoring: your questions, answered.
The things parents and students ask us most, in plain language.
?What does OCR GCSE Combined Science cover?+
OCR GCSE Combined Science covers Biology, Chemistry, and Physics across six written exam papers, two per science. Topics include cell biology, atomic structure, forces, and more. Required practicals are assessed through questions in the written papers rather than as separate coursework.
?How is OCR Combined Science different from Triple Science?+
OCR Combined Science gives students two GCSEs covering all three sciences in a single award. Triple Science gives three separate GCSEs, each examined in greater depth. Combined Science suits most students; Triple Science is usually recommended for those planning to study sciences at A-Level.
?Can a tutor help with the required practicals section?+
Yes. OCR tests required practical knowledge through written exam questions, not a separate mark. Tuitional tutors cover the methods, results, and analysis for each required practical and practise the specific question styles that appear in OCR papers.
?How many OCR Combined Science papers does my child sit?+
Students sit six papers in total: two Biology, two Chemistry, and two Physics. Each pair of papers covers different topics from the OCR specification, so thorough preparation across all three sciences is essential for a strong double-grade outcome.
?How quickly can my child be matched to an OCR Science tutor?+
Most families are matched within one working day. Tuitional's matching engine selects from 230+ Combined Science tutors based on your child's exact syllabus, year group, and available time slots, so the first session can usually be booked within days of enquiring.
?How much does OCR GCSE Combined Science tutoring cost?+
Tuitional's GCSE tutoring rates are listed on the tutoring packages page, where you can also see session and package options. There is no lock-in, and you can cancel at any time. Visit the packages page for current pricing details.
Book your child's first OCR Combined Science lesson today.
A specialist tutor, matched to your child's exact OCR syllabus, is ready to help. Book a trial lesson in minutes and see the difference one-to-one teaching makes.
- Live, one-to-one video sessions with an OCR specialist
- Matched to your exact syllabus and target grade
- Flexible scheduling to fit your family's week
- Session recordings kept so nothing is ever missed