breakdown of presentation x of x version 3.0 copyright © aqa and its licensors. all rights...

Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Breakdown of presentation

x of xVersion 3.0

• Slides 1-4 – Background of the Hub project and structure of meetings

• Slides 5–8 – Autumn term updates GCSE and A-level documents to accompany

the slides GCSE Timelinedelegates Info on

reformISA EMPA changes 1st

September

• Slide 9 - National data GCSE comparison documents to accompany the slides

national data sheet

• Slides 10 – 15 Key messages from question paper analysis GCSE & GCE

documents to accompany the slides examples of pupils answers with examiners

comments


Launch of AQA network meeting

Autumn Term 2013


Welcome

Aim of network compliment our current customer support offer short workshops on topical issues

sharing good practice

Meeting format updates from AQA topical workshop from AQA sharing good practice feedback & arrangements for next meeting


Expectation is that there will be at least three meetings in the year - termly. Date and start time to be decided locally

Proposed topical sessions for network meetings

1. Summer exam series feedback2. CAU – ToLs & Top Tips3. Summer series exam preparation & revision4. A level reform


Agenda

• AQA updates GCSE & A level – Curriculum Advisor

• Key messages from summer series – AQA Science Team

• How to use exam feedback resources in the classroom . (Group activity) - AQA Science Team

• Evaluation form

• Date for our next meeting – main focus Controlled Assessments


Updates GCSE

• Reform time table for GCSE Science delayed by a year.

• June 2013 was the last series of the modular GCSEs for schools in England.

• Timeline of awards up to 2016 – Handout – ‘GCSE examination timeline’

• All AQA GCSEs in Science subjects can be taken at the end of a course of one year’s study

• Accreditation of current specifications have been extended – first teaching 2016 – first examination 2018


Updates cont.

• Changes to performance tables –handout ‘delegates info on reform’

• Resources to support the move from modular to linear

• Details of reform GCSEs - a new grading scale 1-9

- tiering will be decided on a subject by subject basis

- fully linear structure- exams as the default method

except where they cannot provide valid assessment of the skill

- exams only in the summer . Considering whether November exams should be available in other subjects


Update for A-level – current specification

• New rules for ISAs and EMPAs - designed to improve the security.

• Handout ‘ISA EMA changes 1st September ‘


A-level Reform - Autumn

• A-levels in Biology, Chemistry and Physics are being reformed for first teaching in September 2015, with the first full A-level exams in 2017.

• The new A-levels will be linear.• AS-level will be ‘stand alone’ - so will not count towards the

full A-level.• The new AS-level will be at the level of the current AS-level

and taught in one year.• A-levels will contain more:

– synoptic questions– some reduced scaffolding– greater amounts of problem solving and mathematical

skills

• No internal assessment of practical skills. • New Assessment Objectives.• Greater emphasis on maths skills.


National data Headlines – GCSE

All Awarding Bodies National Headlines (please see data sheet)

• Nationally there was a fall in pupils getting top grades in all the sciences, following the introduction of new syllabuses and more challenging exams

• Nationally 53.1% achieved A* - C in GCSE Science - a fall of 7.6% from last years figure of 60.7%.

• The drop of 7.6 percentage points was the biggest fall of all the GCSE science subjects.

• Smaller falls were seen nationally in the separate sciences and in Additional Science.


Key messages from question paper analysis

Examples of Questions candidates found more challenging:

Type of questions: 1.Calculations2.Interpreting and using graphs3.Explain / suggest reasons4.QWC


Key messages from examiners on summer series A-Level (1)

Across the three sciences :• There were many outstanding scripts in most of the units• Terminology was generally used accurately

There was some general weaknesses: • In some of the units students failed to read questions with

sufficient care• Mathematical skills:

A lack of understanding of differences between decimal places and significant figures

Leaving answers as fractions without calculating a final answer

Failing to use data appropriately or interpret graphs correctly


Key messages from examiners on summer series A-Level (2/2)

BIOLOGY• All papers had a similar level of demand compared to last year.• Students often failed to correctly interpret standard deviations

CHEMISTRY:• CHEM2 proved slightly more demanding compared to the June

2012 paper• CHEM4 and CHEM5 were of a similar demand compared to last

year• Knowledge of fundamental formulae was often incorrect

PHYSICS:• Questions on electricity answered with more confidence than

previous series in the PHYA1• Students were more confident in writing extended answers

involving Particle Physics than usual in PHYA1• Performance for PHYA4 was slightly lower in 2013 than previous

exam series• Students were often unable to express their answers with

sufficient clarity and coherence.


Key messages from question paper analysis

Activity Examples of Questions candidates found more challenging:

Type of questions: 1.calculations2.Interpreting and using graphs3.Explain / suggest reasons4.QWC

• For each type of question suggest a couple of strategies you could try back in school to address poor performance

Detailed examiner feedback for Biology, Chemistry & Physics is available via our live online events.

Implications for teaching and learning of exam analysis

• Knowledge and application are equally important

• Knowledge requires learning and application requires practice

• Encourage students to read each question carefully underlining key words and command words

• Make sure students understand the command words

• Information given in the question is intended to help with the answer

• Teaching maths concepts before application



Implications for teaching and learning of exam analysis• QWC and explain questions

Writing framesStructuring activities – card sorts

– pictures and keyword cards ConnectivesSpider diagram to collect ideas Clear about how mark scheme is applied


Using exam feedback with teachers

Resources available

Enhanced Results Analysis - your schools performance

Examiners reports – detailed question by question

Exampro topic tests – allows targeted assessment

Feedback meetings - big picture - question types ideas to improve


Activity: Informing pupil progress

• Using the selection of questions which pupils found difficult

• Have a look at the pupils responses ,the mark scheme and the examiners comments

• Write a learning target for each answer

Support listSubject departments

[email protected] / 01483 477 756

http://www.aqa.org.uk/news-and-policy/policy/changes-to-gcses A [email protected] / 0161 958 3859

http://www.aqa.org.uk/news-and-policy/policy/changes-to-a-levels

e-AQAhttp://web.aqa.org.uk/help/eaqa.php You can access Secure Key Materials (SKM) via eAQA. Login using the password for your school which you can obtain from your Examinations’ officer.

Enhanced Results Analysis (ERA)http://www.aqa.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/products-and-services/enhanced-results-analysis Exampro http://www.exampro.co.uk

Online course booking:https://coursesandevents.aqa.org.uk in-school CPDhttp://www.aqa.org.uk/professional-development/in-school-training

TOLS (Teacher Online Standardisation)http://www.aqa.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/products-and-services/teacher-online-standardisation


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.aqa.org.uk/news-and-policy/policy/changes-to-gcses

http://www.aqa.org.uk/news-and-policy/policy/changes-to-gcses

mailto:[email protected]



http://web.aqa.org.uk/help/eaqa.php

http://www.aqa.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/products-and-services/enhanced-results-analysis

http://www.exampro.co.uk/

https://coursesandevents.aqa.org.uk/

http://www.aqa.org.uk/professional-development/in-school-training

http://www.aqa.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/products-and-services/teacher-online-standardisation

http://www.aqa.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/products-and-services/teacher-online-standardisation

breakdown of presentation x of x version 3.0 copyright © aqa and its licensors. all rights...

Documents

updates gcse copyright

aqa updates gcse

aqa gcses

agenda copyright aqa

welcome copyright aqa

level reform slide

level exams

meeting slide