AQA Spec Coverage Matrix
What SoloCogs covers across AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy Foundation (8464). For Heads of Department + SLT planning a rollout. Updated 2 June 2026.
Honest note on variance. Cell Biology is publicly live. Most other units are in build at parity with each other, but three (C7 Organic, C9 Atmosphere, P7 Magnetism) are currently thinner than their peers - we've called those out below with a Spec-light pill rather than letting a rollout discover them. Lift-to-parity is scheduled before each unit's public launch.
Biology · Paper 1 + Paper 2 (AQA 8464/B)
Spec 4.1 - 4.7. Foundation tier covered in full where shown as Live; Higher-tier extension topics are out of scope.
| 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 · Paper 1 + Paper 2 (AQA 8464/C)
Spec 5.1 - 5.10. Foundation tier coverage. 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. (No required practical at Combined Foundation.) Currently thinner than C1-C6 / C8 / C10. Lift to parity scheduled. |
Spec-light |
| 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. ~50 sections vs peer units' 100+. Lift to parity scheduled before public launch. |
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 · Paper 1 + Paper 2 (AQA 8464/P)
Spec 6.1 - 6.7. Foundation tier. 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) |
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 (qualitative). (No required practical.) Uses a different placeholder convention vs P1-P6. Convergence to peer-unit pattern + content lift scheduled. |
Spec-light |
Exam technique & Mastery
Cross-cutting AQA exam-skills content. Spec-orthogonal but central to the Foundation pass.
| 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.