Page 5 - Science Coursebook

Introduction

Welcome to the third stage of your Cambridge Secondary 1 Science course!
This book covers the third year, Stage 9, of the Cambridge Secondary 1 Science
curriculum. At the end of the year, your teacher may ask you to take a test called a
Progression Test. You may also take a test called Checkpoint. This book will help you
to learn how to be a good scientist, and to do well in the tests.

The main areas of science
The book is divided into three main sections, each one dealing with one of three main
areas of science. These are:

Biology – the study of living organisms

Chemistry – the study of the substances
from which the Earth and the rest of the
Universe are made

Physics – the study of the nature and
properties of matter, energy and forces.

There are no sharp dividing lines between these three branches of science.
You will find many overlaps between them.

Learning to be a scientist
During your course so far, you have learnt a lot of facts and information. You have
also been learning to think like a scientist. You have learnt how to observe carefully,
and how to do experiments to try to find out answers to questions. You have learnt

how to record results, and how to use them to make a conclusion.
This book will help you to continue to improve these skills. When you see this
symbol SE , it means that the task will help you to develop your scientifi c enquiry
skills.

Using your knowledge

It’s important to learn facts and scientific ideas as you go through your science course.

But it is just as important to be able to use these facts and ideas.
When you see this symbol A+I , it means that you are being asked to use your

knowledge to work out an answer. You will have to think hard to find the answer for
yourself, using the science that you have learnt. (A+I stands for Applications and
Implications.)

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