Level 3 Food Science & Nutrition Topics: Full List

Level 3 Food Science & Nutrition – currently only offered by WJEC Eduqas (opens in a new tab) (England) and CBAC (opens in a new tab) (Wales) – splits its topics into different units. The qualification you take determines which units you’ll study: Certificate covers units 1 and 2, whereas Extended Certificate covers units 1-3 and either 4 or 5. 

This article includes an official and complete breakdown of the Level 3 Food Science & Nutrition topics you need to revise. We’ll also explain how to use topic lists for effective revision.

Key Takeaways

• WJEC (Eduqas in England and CBAC in Wales) is currently the only exam board offering Level 3 Food Science & Nutrition

• The Certificate qualification covers units 1 and 2, but if you’re taking the Extended Certificate, you’ll need to revise units 1-3 and either 4 or 5

• Use topic lists to create a revision plan and organise your notes

Why It's Important to Know Your Exam Board

Although subject content often overlaps across exam boards, each exam board has a different syllabus. This means that the same subject can be taught very differently in one exam board compared to another, with varying topics, skills and assessment methods.

Knowing exactly which topics your exam board covers means you can create a focused revision plan. You won't waste time studying content that won't be tested, and you'll know exactly what to expect when it comes to exams.

Only WJEC (Eduqas in England and CBAC in Wales) currently offers Level 3 Food Science & Nutrition, so if you’re taking this subject, WJEC is your exam board. The topics (units) are the same across WJEC Eduqas and CBAC, but make sure you study the units required for your chosen qualification – either Certificate (units 1 and 2) or Extended Certificate (units 1-3 and either 4 or 5).

WJEC Food Science & Nutrition Topics (610/6190/6: Certificate & 610/6189/X: Extended Certificate)

The topics you’ll study depend on which qualification you’re taking:

Unit 1. Nutritional needs across the life stages (Certificate and Extended Certificate)

• Properties of nutrients

• The relationship between nutrients and the human body

• Planning nutritional requirements

Unit 2. Developing practical food production skills (Certificate and Extended Certificate)

• Factors affecting food choice

• Planning, preparation and cooking techniques

• Evaluating food production

Unit 3. Principles of food hygiene and food safety in food production (Extended Certificate)

• How micro-organisms affect food safety

• How food can cause ill health

• How food safety is managed in different situations

Unit 4. Experimenting to solve food production problems (Extended Certificate)

• Scientific properties of food

• Solving food production problems

• Scientifically investigating changes to food

Unit 5. Current issues in food science and nutrition (Extended Certificate)

• Carrying out research into a contemporary issue in food science and nutrition

• Use of research in food science and nutrition

• Evaluating own research into current issues in relation to food science and nutrition

For more information on the content in each unit, refer to the relevant specification.

The table below shows what comes up in each Level 3 Food Science & Nutrition exam paper:

How to Use Topic Lists for Revision

Create a revision plan

Print or write out your topics into a checklist. Use the traffic light system (opens in a new tab) to prioritise weaker areas, and tick each area off as you revise. Seeing progress is really motivating, and it stops you from accidentally skipping anything important.

Organise your notes and flashcards by topic

Separating your notes and flashcards according to topic will make it much easier to find information quickly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to revise all Level 3 Food Science & Nutrition topics for the exam?

If you’re taking the Certificate qualification, you only need to revise units 1 and 2.

For the Extended Certificate, units 1-3 are mandatory, and you’ll then choose between units 4 and 5.

Are these topics the same across all exam boards?

WJEC is currently the only exam board offering Level 3 Food Science & Nutrition, and the topics are the same across Eduqas (England) and CBAC (Wales).

How do I know which topics I struggle with most?

Look at Sample Assessment Materials (SAMs) for units 1 (opens in a new tab), 2 (opens in a new tab), 3 (opens in a new tab), 4 (opens in a new tab) and 5 (opens in a new tab) (depending on your qualification and options) to get an idea of what to expect in the exams. You can then use the traffic light system to prioritise revising whichever unit you’re least confident in.

Do all topics come up in every exam paper?

No, as each unit has its own exam paper.

Final Thoughts

Using topic lists to structure your Level 3 Food Science & Nutrition revision means you'll know exactly what to study, how it's tested, and how to allocate your time between each unit.

Bookmark or print this page, and use it as your roadmap. Revise each topic, tick it off as you go, work through SAMs, and persevere to improve your knowledge and skills for all your units.

References

• How to Use the Traffic Light System to Improve Your Marks (opens in a new tab)

• WJEC CBAC Level 3 Food Science & Nutrition (opens in a new tab)

• WJEC Eduqas Level 3 Food Science & Nutrition (opens in a new tab)