AQA Spec Coverage Matrix
What SoloCogs covers across AQA GCSE Biology (8461), Chemistry (8462), Physics (8463) and Combined Science: Trilogy (8464), at both Foundation and Higher tier - plus Key Stage 3. For Heads of Department + SLT planning a rollout. Updated 8 July 2026.
Honest note on variance. Cell Biology is publicly live; every other GCSE unit is content-complete in build, gated to closed-beta admins. One unit (C9 Chemistry of the Atmosphere) is still notably thinner than its peers and is flagged below with a Spec-light pill; lift to parity is scheduled before its public launch. Triple / Separate Science content is authored across all three sciences and marked below; a small number of Triple-only sub-units are still under depth verification against the Triple spec ahead of full public launch.
See the product roadmap → · what's shipped, in build, and coming next.
Biology · Combined 8464/B + Separate 8461
Spec 4.1 - 4.7 across Combined and Separate. Both Foundation and Higher tier delivered; Separate (Triple) content authored in parallel across every unit.
| Spec | Topic | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 4.1 | Cell Biology Cell structure, eukaryotes vs prokaryotes, specialised cells, cell division, stem cells, transport (diffusion / osmosis / active transport). AQA RP1 Microscopy · AQA RP2 Osmosis (both as virtual labs) |
Live |
| 4.2 | Organisation Cells → tissues → organs → systems. Digestion + enzymes. Heart, blood, blood vessels, CHD. Lifestyle & non-communicable disease. Plant transport. AQA RP3 Food tests · AQA RP4 Enzyme pH (both as virtual labs) |
In build |
| 4.3 | Infection & Response Pathogens (viral / bacterial / fungal / protist). Human defences. Vaccination. Antibiotics and drug discovery. |
In build |
| 4.4 | Bioenergetics Photosynthesis, limiting factors. Aerobic + anaerobic respiration, response to exercise, metabolism. AQA RP5 Pondweed photosynthesis (virtual lab) |
In build |
| 4.5 | Homeostasis & Response Nervous system + reflex arcs. Endocrine system + hormones. Blood glucose + diabetes. Reproduction + contraception. AQA RP6 Reaction time ruler-drop (virtual lab) |
In build |
| 4.6 | Inheritance, Variation & Evolution Sexual / asexual reproduction + meiosis. DNA + genome. Mendelian inheritance + Punnett squares. Variation, natural selection, selective breeding, genetic engineering, classification. |
In build |
| 4.7 | Ecology Communities, biotic + abiotic factors, adaptations. Carbon + water cycles, decomposition. Biodiversity, human impact, conservation. AQA RP7 Field investigation (quadrat + transect virtual lab) |
In build |
Chemistry · Combined 8464/C + Separate 8462
Spec 5.1 - 5.10 across Combined and Separate. Both Foundation and Higher tier delivered; Separate (Triple) content authored across every unit. Practical labs are virtual where the AQA-required practical exists.
| Spec | Topic | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 5.1 | Atomic Structure & the Periodic Table Atomic structure history, sub-atomic particles, isotopes, ions, electronic structure, periodic table groups + trends. |
In build |
| 5.2 | Bonding, Structure & Properties of Matter Ionic, covalent, metallic bonding. Allotropes of carbon. Nanoparticles. |
In build |
| 5.3 | Quantitative Chemistry Conservation of mass, balanced equations, Mr / Ar, moles (HT only for full mole stoichiometry), concentrations, uncertainty. |
In build |
| 5.4 | Chemical Changes Reactivity series, redox, neutralisation, acids + bases, salts, electrolysis. AQA RP8 Soluble salts · AQA RP9 Electrolysis (both as virtual labs) |
In build |
| 5.5 | Energy Changes Exothermic + endothermic reactions, reaction profiles, bond energies. AQA RP10 Temperature changes (virtual lab) |
In build |
| 5.6 | Rate & Extent of Chemical Change Rate calculations, collision theory, factors affecting rate, catalysts. Reversible reactions + equilibrium. AQA RP11 Rates of reaction (virtual lab) |
In build |
| 5.7 | Organic Chemistry Crude oil, fractional distillation, alkanes, combustion, cracking, alkenes, polymers. Higher-tier and Separate content (alcohols, carboxylic acids, addition polymers, condensation polymers, natural polymers) delivered. |
In build |
| 5.8 | Chemical Analysis Pure substances, formulations, chromatography (Rf values), gas tests. AQA RP12 Chromatography · AQA RP14 Ion identification (combined virtual lab) |
In build |
| 5.9 | Chemistry of the Atmosphere Early atmosphere, greenhouse gases, climate change, atmospheric pollutants. Spec-light for launch: ~55 sections vs peer units' 65-110. Higher-tier evidence-quality + CO / particulate depth to be authored week 1 post-launch. Foundation coverage complete. |
Spec-light |
| 5.10 | Using Resources Finite vs renewable, potable water, waste-water treatment, life-cycle assessment, recycling. AQA RP13 Water purification (virtual lab) |
In build |
Physics · Combined 8464/P + Separate 8463
Spec 6.1 - 6.7 across Combined, plus 6.8 Space Physics on Separate. Both Foundation and Higher tier delivered; Separate (Triple) content authored across every unit including greenfield P8 Space. Required Practicals delivered as virtual labs where AQA mandates.
| Spec | Topic | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | Energy Energy stores + transfers, kinetic / GPE / EPE, specific heat capacity, power, efficiency, energy resources. AQA RP1 (physics) Specific heat capacity (virtual lab) |
In build |
| 6.2 | Electricity Circuit symbols, Q=It, V=IR, series + parallel, AC + DC, mains safety, P=VI, transformers, National Grid. AQA RP17 Resistance of a wire · AQA RP18 I-V characteristics (both as virtual labs) |
In build |
| 6.3 | Particle Model of Matter Density, changes of state, heating + cooling curves, internal energy. Gas pressure (HT only quantitatively). AQA RP15 Density (regular + irregular + liquid, virtual lab) Spec-light for launch: AQA 4.3.3 HT gas-pressure / kelvin / pV = constant content to be authored week 1 post-launch. Foundation coverage complete. |
In build |
| 6.4 | Atomic Structure Atom structure history, isotopes, ions, radiation types, radioactive decay + half-life, contamination vs irradiation. (No required practical.) |
In build |
| 6.5 | Forces Scalar vs vector, force types, resultant + free-body, Hooke's Law, distance / speed / velocity / acceleration + motion graphs, Newton's three laws, momentum (qualitative at Foundation), stopping distance. AQA RP19 Force vs extension · AQA RP20 Acceleration (both as virtual labs) |
In build |
| 6.6 | Waves Transverse vs longitudinal, wave equation, sound, reflection / refraction / absorption, EM spectrum + uses + hazards, black body radiation. AQA RP21 Leslie cube infrared (virtual lab) |
In build |
| 6.7 | Magnetism & Electromagnetism Poles, magnetic fields, Earth's field, permanent vs induced, current-carrying wire field (right-hand rule), solenoids, motor effect. Higher-tier and Separate content (generators, transformers, loudspeakers, microphones) delivered. |
In build |
| 6.8 | Space Physics (Separate only) Solar system, orbital motion, life cycle of stars, red-shift and Big Bang. Separate Physics 8463 only; not present on Combined 8464. Includes new lab-legends: Copernicus, Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin, Katherine Johnson, Hubble, Lemaitre, Vera Rubin. |
In build |
Key Stage 3 (Years 7 - 9)
KS3 is a distinct product surface from GCSE, not a stripped-down GCSE. It uses a younger-learner voice, cloze-heavy content, spelling games, Create-a-Creature style engagement, and clean graduation-to-GCSE rules. Aligned to the current KS3 National Curriculum for Science.
| Strand | Topic | Status |
|---|---|---|
| KS3-B1 | Organisms & cells Cells and organisation, structure and function of body systems (skeleton, muscles, respiration), reproduction, health. | In build |
| KS3-B2 | Genes & variation DNA and inheritance basics, variation, natural selection, evolution. | In build |
| KS3-B3 | Ecosystems Food chains and webs, interdependence, adaptations, human impact. | In build |
| KS3-C1 | Matter Particle model, states of matter, pure vs impure, elements / compounds / mixtures, separation techniques. | In build |
| KS3-C2 | Reactions Chemical changes, energetics, types of reaction, acids and alkalis, reactivity. | In build |
| KS3-C3 | Earth Rock cycle, Earth structure, the carbon cycle, resources, climate. | In build |
| KS3-P1 | Energy Energy stores and transfers, work, heating, energy resources. | In build |
| KS3-P2 | Forces Speed and motion, force types, balanced and unbalanced forces, pressure. | In build |
| KS3-P3 | Waves Wave properties, sound, light, reflection and refraction basics. | In build |
| KS3-P4 | Electromagnets Electric current, circuits, series and parallel, magnets and simple electromagnets. | In build |
| KS3-P5 | Space Solar system basics, day / night / seasons, stars and galaxies, scale. | In build |
Exam technique & Mastery
Cross-cutting AQA exam-skills content across both tiers. Spec-orthogonal but central to grade progression at Foundation and Higher.
| Strand | Topic | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Command | Command words Describe / Explain / Compare / Evaluate / Suggest / Calculate. Per-command worked examples + mark-scheme structure. | In build |
| M/S | Mark schemes How AQA marks. Common-error galleries. Practice with reveal. | In build |
| 4&6 | 4-mark and 6-mark answers Structured-response scaffolds + worked exemplars per subject + sentence stems. | In build |
| RP | Required Practical questions Exam-board RP questions per practical, with model answers and common errors. | In build |
| Mix | Mixed practice Interleaved exam-question practice across spec sections. | In build |
Want a deeper breakdown? The full spec-point-by-spec-point map (mapping each "4.1.1.1 The cell as a unit" line of the AQA spec to a specific SoloCogs section) is available on request. Email hello@solocogs.co.uk with subject "Coverage map" - typical turnaround 2 working days.
For B2B procurement: see the procurement evidence pack for legal entity, insurance, DPIA, sub-processors, safeguarding flow + everything else a school / MAT / trust procurement form asks for. Also publishing the DPIA, GDPR & Data Residency one-pager, and per-seat pricing bands directly.