BGCSE Science Double Award

How to use BGCSE Science Double Award past papers

The Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education (BGCSE) is the national qualification taken at the end of senior secondary school in Botswana.

A double award science subject usually brings content from more than one science area into your revision. Past papers show how questions move between topics and how much you need to remember compared with how much you need to apply.

Look for questions on living things, materials and chemical change, and forces, energy and electricity, and for questions that ask you to read graphs and tables.

At senior secondary level, papers reward clear and well-organised answers. Plan your revision across the whole syllabus, and use full past papers under timed conditions as your exams get closer.

Study tips

• Revise every science area evenly. It is easy to spend all your time on the area you like best.
• Learn key terms and definitions word for word, then practise using them in your own sentences.
• Practise reading tables and graphs, and always write units with numerical answers.
• Sketch and label diagrams from memory, then compare them with your textbook.
• After marking a paper, group your mistakes by area so you know where to revise next.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Leaving out units or writing the wrong ones.
• Giving a one-word answer where the question asks you to explain.
• Mixing up similar terms from different science areas.

This is general study guidance and not an official syllabus. Always check your current syllabus and exam requirements with your school or the examination board.

Frequently asked questions