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Year 9 Science in the Australian Curriculum

19 content descriptions from Version 9.0. Choose "Plan this" to open a lesson plan set up for that content description.

Content descriptions

Science understanding

Biological sciences

  • AC9S9U01

    compare the role of body systems in regulating and coordinating the body’s response to a stimulus, and describe the operation of a negative feedback mechanism

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  • AC9S9U02

    describe the form and function of reproductive cells and organs in animals and plants, and analyse how the processes of sexual and asexual reproduction enable survival of the species

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Earth and space sciences

  • AC9S9U03

    represent the carbon cycle and examine how key processes including combustion, photosynthesis and respiration rely on interactions between Earth’s spheres (the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere)

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Physical sciences

  • AC9S9U04

    use wave and particle models to describe energy transfer through different mediums and examine the usefulness of each model for explaining phenomena

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  • AC9S9U05

    apply the law of conservation of energy to analyse system efficiency in terms of energy inputs, outputs, transfers and transformations

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Chemical sciences

  • AC9S9U06

    explain how the model of the atom changed following the discovery of electrons, protons and neutrons and describe how natural radioactive decay results in stable atoms

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  • AC9S9U07

    model the rearrangement of atoms in chemical reactions using a range of representations, including word and simple balanced chemical equations, and use these to demonstrate the law of conservation of mass

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Science as a human endeavour

Nature and development of science

  • AC9S9H01

    explain how scientific knowledge is validated and refined, including the role of publication and peer review

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  • AC9S9H02

    investigate how advances in technologies enable advances in science, and how science has contributed to developments in technologies and engineering

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Use and influence of science

  • AC9S9H03

    analyse the key factors that contribute to science knowledge and practices being adopted more broadly by society

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  • AC9S9H04

    examine how the values and needs of society influence the focus of scientific research

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Science inquiry

Questioning and predicting

  • AC9S9I01

    develop investigable questions, reasoned predictions and hypotheses to test relationships and develop explanatory models

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Planning and conducting

  • AC9S9I02

    plan and conduct valid, reproducible investigations to answer questions and test hypotheses, including identifying and controlling for possible sources of error and, as appropriate, developing and following risk assessments, considering ethical issues, and addressing key considerations regarding heritage sites and artefacts on Country/Place

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  • AC9S9I03

    select and use equipment to generate and record data with precision to obtain useful sample sizes and replicable data, using digital tools as appropriate

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Processing, modelling and analysing

  • AC9S9I04

    select and construct appropriate representations, including tables, graphs, descriptive statistics, models and mathematical relationships, to organise and process data and information

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  • AC9S9I05

    analyse and connect a variety of data and information to identify and explain patterns, trends, relationships and anomalies

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Evaluating

  • AC9S9I06

    assess the validity and reproducibility of methods and evaluate the validity of conclusions and claims, including by identifying assumptions, conflicting evidence and areas of uncertainty

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  • AC9S9I07

    construct arguments based on analysis of a variety of evidence to support conclusions or evaluate claims, and consider any ethical issues and cultural protocols associated with accessing, using or citing secondary data or information

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Communicating

  • AC9S9I08

    write and create texts to communicate ideas, findings and arguments effectively for identified purposes and audiences, including selection of appropriate content, language and text features, using digital tools as appropriate

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Other Year 9 learning areas

Questions teachers ask

What do students learn in Year 9 Science?
The Australian Curriculum v9 has 19 Science content descriptions for Year 9. They are listed on this page with their codes.
How do I plan a Year 9 Science lesson for a content description?
Choose "Plan this" next to the content description. Heapso opens a lesson plan set to Year 9 Science with that code linked, so the plan is built around it. You can change anything before Pip writes.

Plan your next Year 9 Science unit

Heapso opens a unit plan set to Year 9 Science. Add the content descriptions you're teaching and Pip cites only those.

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© Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) 2010 to present, unless otherwise indicated. This material was downloaded from the Australian Curriculum website (accessed 18 October 2026) and was not modified. The material is licensed under CC BY 4.0.

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