Data sheets and formulae lists are not included with the question papers for this specification.

Information of this kind should not be provided to candidates for use during examinations.

The subject content of all GCSEs must require candidates to make effective use of ICT and provide, where appropriate, assessment opportunities for ICT. In science in the wider world ICT plays a crucial role, and teaching and learning in the GCSE Sciences should reflect this.

• Use the internet (and other primary and secondary sources) to find information or data

• Use sensors and dataloggers to capture data in practical work

• Use spreadsheets or databases for data analysis, for modelling or to
explore patterns

• Use electronic resources e.g. software simulations, video clips

• The credibility of the evidence is increased if a balanced account of the data is used rather than a selection from it which supports a particular pre-determined stance.
• Evidence must be scrutinised for any potential bias of the experimenter, such as funding sources or allegiances.
• Evidence can be accorded undue weight, or dismissed too lightly, simply because of its political significance. If the consequences of the evidence might provoke public or political disquiet, the evidence may be downplayed.
• The status of the experimenter may influence the weight placed on evidence; for instance, academic or professional status, experience and authority. It is more likely that the advice of an eminent scientist will be sought to help provide a solution to a problem than that of a scientist with less experience.
• Scientific knowledge gained through investigations can be the basis for technological developments.
• Scientific and technological developments offer different opportunities for exploitation to different groups of people.
• The uses of science and technology developments can raise ethical, social, economic and environmental issues.
• Decisions are made by individuals and by society on issues relating to science and technology. evidence

• Science can help us in many ways but it cannot supply all the answers. We are still finding out about things and developing our scientific knowledge. There are some questions that we cannot answer, maybe because we do not have enough reliable and valid evidence. For example, it is generally accepted that the extra carbon dioxide in the air (from burning fossil fuels) is linked to global warming, but some scientists think there is not sufficient evidence and that there are other factors involved.

• There are some questions that science cannot answer at all. These tend to be questions where beliefs and opinions are important or where we cannot collect reliable and valid scientific evidence. For example, science may be able to answer questions that start .How can we ... such as .How can we clone babies?. but questions starting .Should we ... such as .Should we clone babies? are for society to answer.