Students taking alevel and gcse examinations can be confident in the grades they receive. Revision for new gcse 91 english,maths, science specification or textbook. Gcse science students should complete log book of sixteen experiments, says ofqual. Those particularly interested in the detail may wish to see our latest report which describes.
English literature alevels criticised by watchdog ofqual. Ofqual to press ahead with alevel science reforms despite. New gcses put pupils under more pressure, say school. The tougher standards demanded by the new style of gcses being awarded for the first time this year have put pupils under a great deal of additional pressure, according to school leaders. Teachers, students and exam boards raised concerns that students who had invested effort in their nonexam. Ofqual s guide to the 2019 gcse results in england. Aqa response to ofqual gcse consultation on the assessment of practical work in gcse science 04 february 2015. Ofqual published a report on gcse science in march 2009 that detailed serious concerns. The new gcse science examinations findings from the monitoring of the new gcse science specifications. Ofqual has today published a series of letters with exam boards about its scrutiny of gcse mathematics qualifications offered by the englandbased exam boards aqa, pearson and ocr in 201112 this correspondence was previously released to the media in response to a freedom of information request that has been the subject of press reports including an article in the sunday times. Intersubject comparability in a level sciences and modern. Ofqual report on gcse science dr jim sinclair, director, joint council for qualifications, said.
Gcse subject level guidance for combined science gov. You can also use the link on the right under the picture to download. Ofqual has announced the results of its research into gcse maths. Gcse computer science pupils to receive no marks for coursework, ofqual confirms. The summer report provides a general overview of the summer 2017 exams in england. Furious teachers condemn outrageous ofqual gcse report. Each of which are designed to support many of the statutory requirements of the ni curriculum. Richard porte, royal society of chemistry spokesperson said today. In response to ofqual s gcse english report, andrew hall, aqas chief executive, said it is clear from ofqual s final report today that the issues this summer were largely caused by the structure of the gcse english qualifications, combining with the pressures of performance measures on schools. Ofqual to crack down on highly structured textbooks childrens education is being put at risk by the use of exam textbooks that prioritise teaching to the test over subject knowledge, the.
In line with the obligations set out in condition gcse combined science 1. Ofqual wants gcse science specifications to set out the apparatus that pupils should use, the practical techniques that they should develop and a minimum of eight practical activities that they will be expected to complete during their course. Gcse subject level guidance for combined science ofqual 2015 5 the key areas of emphasis in each assessment objective and the particular meaning for the subject of any key terms and phrases used. Ofqual to crack down on highly structured textbooks. Supplementary gcse science research the ofqual blog. These measures have included amendments to the written papers and internal assessments involved. Following a consultation at the end of 2017, ofqual today confirmed nonexam assessment tasks will not count towards the grades of all new gcse 91 computer science qualifications. Given the amount of change in gcse science we decided that it would be appropriate to undertake some supplementary research looking at the various sample papers for biology, chemistry and physics that have been submitted to us as part of accreditation. In biology, chemistry and physics, exam boards will use statistics so that broadly the same proportion of students will achieve a grade 4 and above as previously achieved a grade c and above in the legacy gcse single science qualifications. Gcse 9 to 1 subject level guidance for single science biology, chemistry and physics gcse 9 to 1 subject level conditions and requirements for combined science gcse. Gcse science examinations are set for a shake up after a report by the qualifications and examinations regulator ofqual, published in march, highlighted concerns that the latest gcse science specifications have led to a fall in the quality of science assessments.
Now we expect ofqual to pursue the important issues that have surfaced. Ofqual refuses to back down over gcse grading row the exams watchdog has provoked a furious backlash after insisting that controversial gcse english test papers would not be regraded. The qualifications were designed so that 80 per cent of the marks for the qualifications were allocated to exams and 20 per cent to a nonexam assessment. The new reforms we are announcing now bring in the further changes that are needed if gcses are to become more engaging and worthwhile to teach and study, as well as more resilient and respected.
Glenys stacey responds to the tes article experts fear race to the bottom after ofqual drops extra science gcse checks. However, ofqual has said gcse pupils should continue to complete the project in 20 hours under controlled conditions. In spring 2009, ofqual will agree with each of these awarding. Pearson response to the ofqual consultation assessment of practical work in science gcse february 2015 page 6 of 21 1d. Ofqual has ordered a revision of the papers for the physics and science gcse exams for this year.
The qca has been told to overhaul the entire criteria for. Scientists have repeatedly told ofqual that what is valuable about science practicals is the opportunity they give to students to practise their bench skills, to help test theoretical concepts and, crucially, to. Grading the new gcse science qualifications the ofqual blog. Ofqual refuses to back down over gcse grading row telegraph. The qualifications regulator ofqual has ruled there should be an adjustment to grading standards in french and german gcses entries for which have declined dramatically but not in spanish. The results of ofquals gcse maths research pearson. Assessment of practical work in gcse science analysis of. Intervention to support gcse science amazon web services. French and german gcses to be marked less harshly, ofqual. Some of you will remember the announcement we made in august 2018, that we were allowing exam boards to award an exceptional grade 33 on the higher tier of gcse combined science, along with a fullwidth safety net grade 43.
Ofqual to press ahead with alevel science reforms despite criticisms. A levels and gcses grading the new gcse science qualifications. Decisions on gcse computer science assessments regulated. Analysis of consultation responses ofqual 2015 2 summary we have consulted about gcse science twice. Gcse science cath jadhav 15 july 2009 who we are and what we do independent regulator of qualifications, tests and assessments established in 2008 legislation gives five objectives. A healthy debate took place between aqa, edexcel, ocr and ofqual about the new gcse science syllabuses last summer. Ofqual s alevel science revision could soon be followed by gcse science. Ofqual orders revision of science exams at gcse news.
Decisions on gcse computer science assessments regulated by ofqual ofqual 2018 3 background gcse 9 to1 computer science will be awarded for the first time in summer 2018. Gcse 9 to 1 subject level guidance for single science biology, chemistry and physics gcse 9 to 1 subject level conditions and requirements for combined science gcse 9 to 1 subject level. Steps table summary to support effective intervention during gcse science courses xls 43 kb key changes to gcse science specifications a number of changes to gcse science courses are being implemented for first teaching from september 2011. Anyone know any good ways to revise without spending a lot of money. How to revise for gcse exam in 21 days best gcse physics revision guide.
Gcse computer science pupils to receive no marks for. Science gcse criticised by exams regulator education. We will therefore only consider your response if you complete the following information section. Advice and guidance for students on different parts of the process of gcse, as and a level assessment. How many revision guides did you havedo you have for your gcses. Read more ofqual has now concluded its research into the perceived level of demand in gcse maths, and has requested all awarding bodies to make changes to their sams in order to make the level of difficulty in gcse maths more comparable. This work will run parallel to accreditation and will inform our accreditation decisions. The new gcse science qualifications can be taken in different ways students can take single gcses in one or more of biology, chemistry and physics, or they can take a double gcse in combined. This group as a whole saw gcse takeup fall from over 30,000 to under 3,000 entries last year. Standards for regulated qualifications standards for regulated assessments public confidence public awareness efficient provision, representing value for money ofqual standards group scrutiny programme code of. Ofqual have released a helpful video to explain 9 to 1 grading for the new single and combined science gcses in england.
English literature alevel exams have been criticised in a report by exam watchdog ofqual. Gcse combined science was awarded for the second time. Ofqual analytics presents a selection of data in an engaging and accessible way by using interactive visualisations. You can also read their grading the new gcse science qualifications blog or take a look at their gcse combined science. To evaluate responses properly, we need to know who is responding to the consultation and in what capacity. In 20, we suggested that students practical science work should be assessed by nonexam assessment, counting for 10 per cent of the marks. We hope this innovative approach to presenting data will make it easier to understand and explore the data we produce. Gcse computer science will be examonly, the uks education. Pearson response to ofqual consultation on the assessment. Furious teachers condemn outrageous ofqual gcse report as insult teachers have claimed they are being treated as scapegoats for this summers gcse. Read more about this topic gcse, as and a level reform.
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