GCSE Sciences for 2011
www.gcse-science.com
Objectives
• Understand the ‘rules’ governing 2011 specifications and
the changes anticipated
• Consider OCR’s priorities and proposals
• Understand the timelines for development and
implementation
• Consider the support to be offered
Development Timeline
• December 2009 – Subject Criteria published
• April 2010 - submission of specifications and SAMs to Ofqual
• May 2010 – draft specifications published
• November 2010 - specifications accredited and published on
the OCR website
• Late 2010 - specifications distributed to Centres
• Late 2010 - guidance materials published
Achievements
• Science for the citizen (scientific literacy) and science for
the scientist
• Interest, engagement and motivation
• Increase in numbers taking GCE sciences
• Additional controls on coursework
• Coursework integrated into teaching
• Transparent and accessible assessment
Why was a review necessary?
• Assessment issues – highlighted by Ofqual report on GCSE sciences
• Issues of comparability - between different specifications and routes to
grades
• Opportunities for extended writing and need to provide ‘stretch and
challenge’
• Opportunities for practical work
• Use of maths in science
• Discontinuities: KS3-KS4, and KS4-KS5
General and Subject Criteria
• Review of subject content
• Controlled Assessment
• Terminal requirement
• Limit on number of units
• Re-sit rules
QCDA carried out
consultation with
teachers,
professional
bodies,
employers,
awarding bodies
…and the public
Review of subject content
• Content of GCSE sciences has been reviewed and some
changes have been made
• There are now Subject Criteria for each qualification (see
Ofqual website)
• 100% of content for Science and Additional Applied
Science is prescribed; less than 100% for other
specifications
Controlled Assessment
• Task setting
– tasks selected from a number of comparable tasks provided by
the Awarding Body, renewed each year; the unit must be
entered in the year for which the task is identified
• Task taking
– Data collection / research can be carried out in groups or at
home but analysis and evaluation must be carried out under
supervision
• Task marking
– teachers mark tasks using mark schemes or criteria provided by
Awarding Body; moderation carried out by Awarding Body
Units and weightings
• Minimum weighting of 20% for each unit
• Controlled Assessment weighted 25%
(60% in Additional Applied Science & Environmental and
Land-based Science)
• So maximum of 4 units possible
Re-sit rules for units
• Only one re-sit permitted of each unit, so:
– one attempt at F and one at H…or
– two attempts at F…or
– two attempts at H
Terminal Requirement
• 40% of assessment must be taken in final series, when
certification is requested
• Any combination of units: Controlled Assessment and
Written Paper
• Units which are part of the 40% must ‘count’
• Requirement must be met again if candidate subsequently
re-certificates
Key issues
• When will my students do the Controlled
Assessment?
• When will they cash in?
• Will I offer re-sits – if so when?
• How will my students meet the Terminal
Requirement?
• What if students want to re-sit units after
cashing in?
Consultation
• Discussions with 700 heads of science
• 8 focus groups on needs and requirements
• Consultations with cluster coordinators
• 150 responses from A Level teachers on progression
issues
• 8 focus groups on controlled assessment tasks
OCR’s priorities
• Thoughtful development to meet new requirements:
“evolution not revolution”, “build on success”
• Make Controlled Assessment, reliable, valid…… but
engaging and manageable
• Enhanced inclusion of relevant maths
• Effective progression
– from KS3 to GCSE; from GCSE to GCE
What revised GCSE specifications is
OCR planning to offer?
• Twenty First Century Science – Suite A
– GCSE Science, GCSE Additional Science
– GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry, GCSE Physics
• Gateway Science – Suite B
– GCSE Science, GCSE Additional Science
– GCSE Biology, GCSE Chemistry, GCSE Physics
• GCSE Additional Applied Science
• GCSE Environmental and Land-based Science
Twenty First Century Science Suite
• GCSE Science
• GCSE Additional Science
• GCSE Biology
• GCSE Chemistry
• GCSE Physics
B1, B2, B3
25%
60 min
C1, C2, C3
25%
60 min
P1, P2, P3
25%
60 min
B4, B5, B6
25%
60 min
B7
25%
C4, C5, C6
25%
60 min
C7
25%
P4, P5, P6
25%
60 min
Controlled
assessment S
Controlled
assessment A
25%
25%
60 min
60 min
P7
25%
60 min
Controlled
assessment B
GCSE Biology
25%
Controlled
assessment C
25%
Controlled
assessment P
GCSE
Chemistry
GCSE Physics
25%
Nested Model for C21 Suite
GCSE
Science
GCSE
Additional
Science
B1, B2, B3
25%
60 min
C1, C2, C3
25%
60 min
P1, P2, P3
25%
60 min
B4, B5, B6
25%
60 min
B7
25%
C4, C5, C6
25%
60 min
C7
25%
P4, P5, P6
25%
60 min
Controlled
assessment S
Controlled
assessment A
25%
25%
60 min
60 min
P7
25%
60 min
Controlled
assessment B
GCSE Biology
25%
Controlled
assessment C
25%
Controlled
assessment P
GCSE
Chemistry
GCSE Physics
25%
Nested Model for C21 Suite
GCSE
Science
GCSE
Additional
Science
Mixed Paper Model for C21 Suite
B1, C1, P1
25%
60 min
B4, C4, P4
25%
60 min
B2, C2, P2
25%
60 min
B5, C5, P5
25%
60 min
B3, C3, P3
25%
60 min
B6, C6, P6
25%
60 min
Controlled
assessment S
GCSE
Science
25%
Controlled
assessment A
25%
GCSE
Additional
Science
Each mixed paper includes questions from biology, chemistry and physics
Twenty First Century Approach
• Motivates and inspires students
• Balances Issues for Citizens with Big Questions in science
to provide exciting and relevant contexts
• Integrates How Science Works into the science content for
all specifications
• Offers great flexibility in the scheme of assessment
Gateway Science Suite
• GCSE Science
• GCSE Additional Science
• GCSE Biology
• GCSE Chemistry
• GCSE Physics
Gateway Suite
Gateway Separate Sciences
B1, B2, B3
35%
75 min
C1, C2, C3
35%
75 min
P1, P2, P3
35%
75 min
B4, B5, B6
40%
90 min
C4, C5, C6
40%
90 min
P4, P5, P6
40%
90 min
Controlled
assessment B
25%
Controlled
assessment C
25%
Controlled
assessment P
25%
GCSE
Biology
GCSE
Chemistry
GCSE
Physics
Gateway Suite
Gateway Science & Additional Science
B1, C1, P1
35%
75 min
B3, C3, P3
35%
75 min
B2, C2, P2
40%
90 min
B4, C4, C4
40%
90 min
Controlled
assessment S
GCSE
Science
25%
Controlled
assessment A
25%
GCSE
Additional
Science
Each mixed paper includes questions from biology, chemistry
and physics
Gateway Suite
Gateway Approach
• Differentiated content: three columns for:
low demand (foundation tier only)
standard demand (both tiers)
high demand (higher tier only)
• Additional column with focus on opportunities for practical
and other activities
• Assessment uses just 3 units (two written papers and
controlled assessment) allowing fewer examination sittings
Gateway Suite
Controlled Assessment
For GCSE Science
• Plan practical ways to answer scientific questions and test
hypotheses;
• devise appropriate methods for the collection of numerical and
other data;
• assess and manage risks when carrying out practical work;
• collect, process, analyse and interpret primary and secondary
data including the use of appropriate technology;
• draw evidence-based conclusions;
• evaluate methods of data collection and the quality of the resulting
data
Gateway Science
Controlled Assessment for GCSE Science
• One task, common topic, in two parts
Part 1 - Practical and data analysis including evaluation of data and drawing
conclusions
Part 2 - Research and planning activity based around
the original practical topic
• Candidates answer in structured booklets
(one for each part)
• Tasks set by OCR, valid for submission in one year only,
but published two years ahead
• Choice of tasks each year
Twenty First Century Science
Controlled Assessment for GCSE Science
• Case Study of a topical issue in science and Practical
Data Analysis are retained (two independent tasks)
• Case Study is based on stimulus material, but candidates
still have flexibility to frame their own question
• Tasks set by OCR, valid for submission in one year only,
but published two years ahead
• Choice of tasks each year
Controlled Assessment
For GCSE Additional Science, Biology, Chemistry
and Physics
• Develop hypotheses and plan practical ways to test them
including risk assessment;
• manage risks when carrying out practical work;
• collect, process, analyse and interpret primary and
secondary data including the use of appropriate technology
to draw evidence-based conclusions;
• review methodology to assess fitness for purpose, and
review hypotheses in light of outcomes.
Gateway Suite
Controlled Assessment for GCSE Additional Science and
the separate sciences
• One task, common topic, in two parts
• Part 1 - Using information and planning using stimulus material
• Part 2 - Practical and evaluation where candidates carry out a
specified experiment
• Candidates answer in structured booklets
(one for each part)
• Tasks set by OCR, valid for submission in one year only, but
published two years ahead
• Choice of tasks each year
Twenty First Century Science
Controlled Assessment for GCSE Additional Science and
the separate sciences
• A single Practical Investigation that draws together the
skills of predicting and planning, and collecting,
interpreting, evaluating and reviewing primary and
secondary data
• Tasks set by OCR, valid for submission in
one year only, but published two years ahead
• Choice of tasks each year
Why two suites?
• To provide choice to teachers
• To enable teachers to meet the needs of their students
• To reflect different approaches to
teaching & learning
• To provide a choice of assessment models
Additional Applied Science
Science in Society
20%
60 min
Science of Materials
and Production
20%
60 min
Controlled
assessment AA
GCSE Additional
Applied Science
60%
• The specification becomes free-standing (i.e. not within C21 suite)
- it can be taken after/alongside any GCSE Science specification
Additional Applied Science
• Controlled Assessment retains the current mix of standard
procedures, suitability tests and work related report.
• There will be a choice of controlled assessment tasks set
by OCR, some of which (work related report) can be
adapted by the Centre.
• Popular contexts from the current course such as
forensics and life care retained and updated.
GCSE Environmental and
Land-based Science
Unit 1 20%
Unit 2 20%
Unit 3 60%
Agricultural
science
Management of
the natural
environment
+
OR
+
Controlled
Assessment
GCSE
Environmental
and Land-based
Science
Care of plants
and animals
• The specification can be taken after/alongside any GCSE Science
specification
GCSE Environmental and
Land-based Science
• Choice of online and paper based examinations
• Highly motivating course for candidates who enjoy a
strong practical focus to their studies
• Controlled Assessment retains three strands
based upon Practical Tasks, an Investigative Project
and a Work-related Report or mini-Enterprise
What other specifications will be
available for KS4?
• Entry Level Science
• OCR Level 2 Nationals in Science
• IGCSE available from CIE
Entry Level Science
(Science Plus)
• Extended until 2012
• Options continue to provide progression into GCSE
Science - Twenty First Century Science Suite A and
Gateway Suite B
• Post 2012 development - may move Entry Level to QCF
OCR Nationals in Science (Level 2)
• Fully internally assessed qualification
• Visiting moderators also have an advisory
role, supporting Centres
• Can be used to meet KS4 Programme of
Study
• Learning styles and assessment meets the
needs of individual students
• Level 2 qualifications equivalent to 2 or 4
GCSEs at Grade C+)
IGCSE in Biology, Chemistry and Physics
• Offered by University of Cambridge International
Examinations (CIE)
• Separate sciences are fully accredited by Ofqual and
funded for state schools
• www.cie.org.uk/uk for more details
Users of Applied Science
(Double Award)
• Could consider using:
–
–
–
–
–
GCSE Science + GCSE Additional Applied Science
GCSE Science + GCSE Environmental & Land-based Science
OCR Nationals in Science
Entry Level Science + GCSE Additional Applied Science
Entry Level Science + GCSE Environmental & Land-based Science
Support and training
• Comprehensive programme of INSET
• Published schemes of work and lesson plans
• Teacher support handbooks
• Cluster networks
• Active Results
Support and training - for early adopters
• Free half day INSET courses in late June 2010
• For early modules in Gateway & Twenty First Century –
- documents highlighting what’s changed
- draft schemes of work with sample lesson plans
- publisher partners releasing draft materials
• All draft materials updated in Autumn Term
(post accreditation)
• Further free INSET courses on offer in Autumn 2010
and Spring 2011
Links with Publishers
• Oxford University Press
– Twenty First Century Science
– Additional Applied Science
– Entry Level
• Collins
– Gateway Science
– Environmental and Land-based Science
– Entry Level
• Hodder
– OCR Nationals in Science
Other publishers are also likely to produce new materials
Supplements to cover new content may also be available.
Implementation of new specifications
• September 2010 - start of teaching in Y9 (for a 3 year
course ending in 2013)
• September 2011 – start of teaching in Y10
• January 2012 – first exams
• Summer 2012 – GCSE Science first moderation of
Controlled Assessment and first certification
• Summer 2013 – first moderation of Controlled Assessment
and first certification for all other qualifications
Final sessions for old (legacy)
specifications
• Last full examination series is June 2012
• There are likely to be re-sit opportunities in 2013
Why choose OCR?
• Engaging and exciting courses
• Pedagogy underpins content and assessment
• Flexibility and manageability
• Teachers involved in development and
assessment of OCR courses
• Extensive, targeted support
Keeping in touch
• Visit the website:
www.gcse-science.com
• Sign up for e-alerts
• Register for cluster support
• Access: specifications, presentations,
support documents, details of INSET meetings