1.3 Systems: How do organs work together?
Connect specialised tissues and organs in plant transport, digestion, gas exchange and circulation.
How to study WJEC GCSE The Sciences
Move from a scientific model to a prediction or method, collect or interpret evidence, show quantitative working and finish with a conclusion whose limits match the data.
Core concepts
Concept 1
Explain water, mineral and assimilate transport in plants.
Exam cue: Identify the unit, entered tier, supplied reference material, command word and relevant scientific enquiry skill.
Concept 2
Trace digestion, absorption and assimilation through the human digestive system.
Exam cue: Trace the substance through each structure and state the process or pressure/concentration difference that moves it.
Concept 3
Relate respiratory and circulatory structures to gas exchange and transport.
Exam cue: Use scientific terminology, show quantitative working with units, and connect conclusions to data and the stated model.
Concept 4
Official subtopics: 1.3.1 Transport systems in plants; 1.3.2 Digestive system in humans; 1.3.3 Respiratory system in humans; 1.3.4 Circulatory system in humans.
Concept 5
Scientific enquiry and mathematical skills apply in this topic; bold amplification is Higher Tier only.
Risk pitfalls and guardrails
Naming organs without explaining how their adaptations support transport, exchange or absorption.
Guardrail: Do not import outgoing 3430QD content, another science route, a fixed required-practical list or unsupported tier and connection assumptions.
Recalling a fact without applying it to the observation, data, practical method or unfamiliar context.
Guardrail: Use the live secure pack: Task A may use groups of up to three; Task B is individual and highly controlled. Two enquiries are selected by the centre from three.
Importing content, required practicals, tier rules or paper structure from the outgoing WJEC or another awarding-body route.
Guardrail: Bold amplification is Higher-only. Units 1-6 may mix tiers, but Unit 7 is untiered.
Memory anchors
Xylem
Plant tissue transporting water and mineral ions, mainly upward from roots.
Phloem
Plant tissue transporting products of photosynthesis by translocation.
Villus
A small-intestine projection increasing surface area for absorption.
Alveolus
A thin-walled air sac adapted for gas exchange.
Double circulation
Blood passes through the heart twice in one complete body circuit.
Checkpoint rule
Do the check-up only after you can summarize each concept in one sentence and identify one dangerous pitfall from memory.
Knowledge Check (after reading)
Short check-up to confirm understanding of this module.
Check-up Questions
Which combination makes alveoli effective gas-exchange surfaces? Trace the substance through the adapted tissue or organ system before choosing. Reject any option that reverses cause and effect.
What makes the human circulatory system a double circulation? Trace the substance through the adapted tissue or organ system before choosing. Identify what changes and what remains controlled.
Answer all questions to submit.
Next step personalized recommendations
Continue learning
Move forward only after this module is stable.
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