NCEA Level 2 Science

BiologyChemistryEarth and Space SciencePhysics
Year 9 scienceYear 10 scienceNCEA Level 1 scienceNCEA Level 2 science

Biology

29 credits Exam: Friday 20 November, morning
AS 91153 · Biology 2.1 Internal4 credits

Carry out a practical investigation in a biology context, with supervision

  • Planning a biology investigation with valid controls
  • Collecting and processing data
  • Discussing reliability and the biology behind it
Biology investigation: catalase and temperature, start to finish
AS 91154 · Biology 2.2 Internal3 credits

Analyse the biological validity of information presented to the public

  • The biology behind a claim made to the public
  • How valid the evidence and source are
Biological validity: judging the science in public claims
AS 91155 · Biology 2.3 Internal3 credits

Demonstrate understanding of adaptation of plants or animals to their way of life

  • Structural, physiological and behavioural adaptations
  • How each suits a way of life
Adaptation: how New Zealand plants and animals fit their way of life
AS 91156 · Biology 2.4 External4 credits

Demonstrate understanding of life processes at the cellular level

  • Organelles and membrane transport
  • Enzymes
  • Photosynthesis and respiration
Cells, organelles and membrane transportEnzymes and the factors that affect themPhotosynthesis and respiration in the cellDNA replication, mitosis and the cell cycle
AS 91157 · Biology 2.5 External4 credits

Demonstrate understanding of genetic variation and change

  • Meiosis and inheritance
  • Gene pools, natural selection and drift
Meiosis, mutation and inheritanceGene pools and how they change
AS 91158 · Biology 2.6 Internal4 credits

Investigate a pattern in an ecological community, with supervision

  • Sampling an ecological community
  • Explaining the pattern with biotic and abiotic factors
Zonation on a rocky shore: investigating a community pattern
AS 91159 · Biology 2.7 External4 credits

Demonstrate understanding of gene expression

  • DNA replication and protein synthesis
  • Mutations and metabolic pathways
DNA, transcription and translationMutations, metabolic pathways and the environment
AS 91160 · Biology 2.8 Internal3 credits

Investigate biological material at the microscopic level

  • Preparing and viewing slides
  • Biological drawings and magnification
Investigating cells under the light microscope

AS 91156 past papers

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AS 91157 past papers

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2023Exam paper · Marking schedule

AS 91159 past papers

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Chemistry

26 credits Exam: Monday 16 November, afternoon
AS 91910 · Chemistry 2.1 Internal4 credits

Carry out a practical investigation into a substance present in a consumer product using quantitative analysis

  • Titration of a consumer product
  • Concentration calculations
Titration: how much acid is really in the vinegar?
AS 91911 · Chemistry 2.2 Internal3 credits

Carry out an investigation into chemical species present in a sample using qualitative analysis

  • Tests for ions in a sample
  • Justifying the identification
Qualitative analysis: which ions are in the sample?
AS 91163 · Chemistry 2.3 Internal3 credits

Demonstrate understanding of the chemistry used in the development of a current technology

  • The chemistry behind a current technology
The chemistry behind the lithium-ion battery
AS 91164 · Chemistry 2.4 External5 credits

Demonstrate understanding of bonding, structure, properties and energy changes

  • Lewis structures, shapes and polarity
  • Structure and properties of solids
  • Energy changes
Lewis structures, shapes and polarityStructure and properties of solidsEnergy changes in reactions
AS 91165 · Chemistry 2.5 External4 credits

Demonstrate understanding of the properties of selected organic compounds

  • Naming organic compounds
  • Organic reactions
Naming and drawing organic compoundsReactions of organic compounds
AS 91166 · Chemistry 2.6 External4 credits

Demonstrate understanding of chemical reactivity

  • Rates of reaction
  • Equilibrium, acids, bases and pH
Rates of reaction and collision theoryEquilibrium, acids, bases and pH
AS 91167 · Chemistry 2.7 Internal3 credits

Demonstrate understanding of oxidation-reduction

  • Oxidation numbers and half equations
  • Redox reactions in context
Oxidation and reduction: electrons, colours and equations

AS 91164 past papers

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AS 91165 past papers

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2023Exam paper · Marking schedule

AS 91166 past papers

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Earth and Space Science

28 credits Exam: Tuesday 1 December, morning
AS 91187 · Earth and Space Science 2.1 Internal4 credits

Carry out a practical Earth and Space Science investigation

  • Planning and carrying out an Earth and Space Science investigation
Carrying out an Earth and Space Science investigation
AS 91188 · Earth and Space Science 2.2 Internal4 credits

Examine an Earth and Space Science issue and the validity of the information communicated to the public

  • The science behind an issue
  • How valid the information about it is
Sea-level rise in Aotearoa: an issue and its sources
AS 91189 · Earth and Space Science 2.3 Internal4 credits

Investigate geological processes in a New Zealand locality

  • Rocks, landforms and the sequence of events in one locality
Geological processes at Franz Josef and the Southern Alps
AS 91190 · Earth and Space Science 2.4 Internal4 credits

Investigate how organisms survive in an extreme environment

  • Conditions in an extreme environment
  • Adaptations that let organisms survive there
Surviving extreme environments: hot springs, ice and alpine cold
AS 91191 · Earth and Space Science 2.5 External4 credits

Demonstrate understanding of the causes of extreme Earth events in New Zealand

  • Earthquakes and volcanoes
  • Tsunami and landslides
Earthquakes and volcanoes in AotearoaTsunami, landslides and linked hazards
AS 91192 · Earth and Space Science 2.6 External4 credits

Demonstrate understanding of stars and planetary systems

  • Stars and their life cycles
  • Planetary systems
Stars: fusion, the HR diagram and life cyclesPlanetary systems: formation, orbits and exoplanets
AS 91193 · Earth and Space Science 2.7 External4 credits

Demonstrate understanding of physical principles related to the Earth System

  • Density, pressure and convection
  • Heat transfer in the Earth system
Density, pressure and convection in the Earth systemHeat transfer in the Earth system

AS 91191 past papers

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2023Exam paper · Marking schedule

AS 91192 past papers

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AS 91193 past papers

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Physics

26 credits Exam: Wednesday 18 November, afternoon
AS 91168 · Physics 2.1 Internal4 credits

Carry out a practical physics investigation that leads to a non-linear mathematical relationship

  • A physics investigation with a non-linear relationship
  • Linearising the data
A physics investigation with a non-linear relationship
AS 91169 · Physics 2.2 Internal3 credits

Demonstrate understanding of physics relevant to a selected context

  • Physics in a context of your choice
Physics in a selected context: the bungy jump
AS 91170 · Physics 2.3 External4 credits

Demonstrate understanding of waves

  • Light, reflection, refraction and lenses
  • Wave behaviour
Light: mirrors, refraction, total internal reflection and lensesWave behaviour: reflection, refraction, diffraction and interference
AS 91171 · Physics 2.4 External6 credits

Demonstrate understanding of mechanics

  • Motion and projectiles
  • Forces, torque and circular motion
  • Momentum and energy
Motion, vectors and projectilesForces, torque and circular motionMomentum, energy and springs
AS 91172 · Physics 2.5 Internal3 credits

Demonstrate understanding of atomic and nuclear physics

  • Models of the atom
  • Radioactivity and half-life
  • Fission and fusion
Atomic and nuclear physics: the nucleus, radiation and E = mc²
AS 91173 · Physics 2.6 External6 credits

Demonstrate understanding of electricity and electromagnetism

  • Electrostatics
  • DC circuits
  • Electromagnetism
Electric fields and charges between parallel platesDC circuits: series, parallel and combinedMagnetic forces and induced voltage

AS 91170 past papers

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2024Exam paper · Marking schedule · Resource booklet
2023Exam paper · Marking schedule · Resource booklet

AS 91171 past papers

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2024Exam paper · Marking schedule
2023Exam paper · Marking schedule · Resource booklet

AS 91173 past papers

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2023Exam paper · Marking schedule · Resource booklet

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