High School Diploma Science Syllabus

Science syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Science in High School Diploma, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Biology

   5 topics

   • Cell Structure and Function
     • Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells
     • Organelles and the cell membrane
     • Cellular transport
   • Cellular Energy and Processes
     • Photosynthesis
     • Cellular respiration
     • Enzymes and metabolism
   • Genetics and Heredity
     • DNA structure and replication
     • Protein synthesis
     • Mendelian genetics and Punnett squares
   • Evolution and Natural Selection
     • Evidence for evolution
     • Mechanisms of natural selection
     • Speciation and adaptation
   • Ecology
     • Energy flow and food webs
     • Biogeochemical cycles
     • Population dynamics and ecosystems
2. 2

   Chemistry

   5 topics

   • Atomic Structure
     • Subatomic particles and isotopes
     • Electron configuration
     • The periodic table and trends
   • Chemical Bonding
     • Ionic and covalent bonds
     • Molecular geometry and polarity
   • Chemical Reactions and Stoichiometry
     • Balancing equations and reaction types
     • The mole concept
     • Mass and mole relationships
   • States of Matter and Gas Laws
     • Kinetic molecular theory
     • Gas laws and calculations
   • Solutions, Acids, and Bases
     • Concentration and solubility
     • pH and neutralization reactions
3. 3

   Physics

   5 topics

   • Kinematics
     • Displacement, velocity, and acceleration
     • Motion graphs
     • Projectile motion
   • Forces and Newton's Laws
     • Three laws of motion
     • Friction and gravity
     • Free-body diagrams
   • Energy, Work, and Momentum
     • Work and power
     • Conservation of energy
     • Impulse and momentum
   • Waves and Sound
     • Wave properties and behavior
     • Sound and the Doppler effect
   • Electricity and Magnetism
     • Electric charge and circuits
     • Magnetic fields and electromagnetism
4. 4

   Earth and Space Science

   4 topics

   • Geology and Earth's Structure
     • Plate tectonics
     • Rocks, minerals, and the rock cycle
     • Earthquakes and volcanoes
   • Meteorology and Oceanography
     • Atmosphere and weather systems
     • Ocean currents and circulation
   • Astronomy
     • The solar system
     • Stars and stellar evolution
     • Galaxies and cosmology
   • Earth's Resources and Climate
     • Natural resources and energy
     • Climate change and human impact
5. 5

   Scientific Practices and Inquiry

   4 topics

   • The Scientific Method
     • Forming hypotheses and predictions
     • Controlled experiments and variables
   • Data Analysis
     • Measurement and units
     • Graphing and interpreting results
   • Laboratory Safety and Techniques
     • Safe handling of equipment and materials
     • Accuracy, precision, and error
   • Engineering Design
     • Defining problems and constraints
     • Designing, testing, and refining solutions

Science flashcards for High School Diploma

23 of 68 cards from the Science deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. What is the function of the cell membrane, and what model describes its structure?

   The cell membrane controls what enters and exits the cell (selective permeability). Its structure is described by the fluid mosaic model: a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins, cholesterol, and carbohydrates.

2. What are the three main differences between prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells?

   Prokaryotes lack a true (membrane-bound) nucleus, lack membrane-bound organelles, and are generally smaller; eukaryotes have a nucleus, membrane-bound organelles, and are larger and more complex.

3. Which organelle is the 'powerhouse of the cell,' and which is the site of protein synthesis?

   The mitochondrion produces ATP (powerhouse). The ribosome is the site of protein synthesis.

4. What is the overall equation for cellular respiration?

   C6H12O6 + 6O2 → 6CO2 + 6H2O + ATP (energy). Glucose and oxygen yield carbon dioxide, water, and ATP.

5. What is the overall equation for photosynthesis?

   6CO2 + 6H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2. Carbon dioxide and water, using light, produce glucose and oxygen.

6. How do aerobic respiration and anaerobic fermentation differ in oxygen use and ATP yield?

   Aerobic respiration requires oxygen and yields about 36-38 ATP per glucose. Anaerobic fermentation occurs without oxygen and yields only 2 ATP per glucose (plus lactic acid or ethanol/CO2).

7. What is the difference between a gene's genotype and its phenotype?

   Genotype is the genetic makeup (the alleles an organism carries, e.g., Bb). Phenotype is the observable physical trait that results (e.g., brown eyes).

8. State Mendel's Law of Segregation.

   During gamete formation, the two alleles for each trait separate so that each gamete carries only one allele for that trait.

9. In a monohybrid cross between two heterozygotes (Bb x Bb), what is the expected phenotypic ratio?

   3:1 dominant to recessive (genotypic ratio 1 BB : 2 Bb : 1 bb).

10. What are the base-pairing rules in DNA?

    Adenine pairs with Thymine (A-T) and Guanine pairs with Cytosine (G-C), joined by hydrogen bonds.

11. What is natural selection, and who proposed it?

    Natural selection is the process by which organisms with traits better suited to their environment survive and reproduce more, passing those traits on. It was proposed by Charles Darwin.

12. List four lines of evidence that support evolution.

    Fossil record, comparative anatomy (homologous structures), embryology, and molecular/DNA similarities among species.

13. What is the difference between homologous and analogous structures?

    Homologous structures share a common evolutionary origin but may have different functions (e.g., human arm and whale flipper). Analogous structures have similar functions but different origins (e.g., bird wing and insect wing).

14. Define a species according to the biological species concept.

    A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile, viable offspring in nature.

15. What is the difference between an organism's habitat and its niche?

    A habitat is the physical place where an organism lives. A niche is the organism's role or function in the ecosystem, including how it obtains food and interacts with other species.

16. Order the levels of ecological organization from smallest to largest, starting with organism.

    Organism → population → community → ecosystem → biome → biosphere.

17. In an energy pyramid, approximately what percentage of energy is passed from one trophic level to the next?

    About 10%; the other roughly 90% is lost as heat and through metabolic processes.

18. What is the difference between a food chain and a food web?

    A food chain shows a single linear pathway of energy flow. A food web shows the interconnected, multiple feeding relationships among many organisms in an ecosystem.

19. What three subatomic particles make up an atom, and what is the charge of each?

    Protons (positive, +1), neutrons (neutral, 0), and electrons (negative, -1). Protons and neutrons are in the nucleus; electrons orbit it.

20. How do you determine the number of neutrons in an atom?

    Subtract the atomic number (number of protons) from the mass number (protons + neutrons): neutrons = mass number − atomic number.

21. What are isotopes?

    Atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons, giving them different mass numbers.

22. What is the difference between an ionic bond and a covalent bond?

    An ionic bond forms by the transfer of electrons between a metal and a nonmetal, creating charged ions. A covalent bond forms by the sharing of electrons, typically between two nonmetals.

23. What is the octet rule?

    Atoms tend to gain, lose, or share electrons in order to achieve a full outer shell of eight valence electrons (like a noble gas).

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