Paper 5308 Finance – advice for teachers

Delivery Issues 5308 Externally tested unit The exam is UNTIERED – targeted at students across the full ability range The 1½ hour paper contains both short and extended answers and is marked ONLINE The paper is marked out of 90 Students may try the paper TWICE only – may be entered in Years 10 and/or Year 11

Success Rates 5308 June 2005 – 96% passed with a G grade (20/90) 52.5% passed with a C grade (44/90) 7.5% passed with an A grade (63/90) 0.5% passed with an A* grade (73/90)

Delivering the Unit 5308 Allocate a term to deliver and practice Lay out a scheme of work Start by “unpacking” the unit Work through each area in turn Allow time to practice in class and at home Round up with a past paper under exam conditions

Delivering the Unit 5308 Look at areas of weakness of previous candidates: “Failure of candidates to relate figures from their answer to the specific situation they had just encountered” “Marks lost by failing to tailor their answers to the specific situation, being content to stick to general comments” Principal Examiners Report June

Delivering the Unit 5308 Look at style of papers: Based on scenario business Follow either a single business or single location theme Have either 9 or 10 questions Be designed and laid out to assist on-line markingon-line

Raising Achievement Help the students: Use the textbooks Use the Internet e.g. Use a variety of approaches Reinforcement through past papers – available online Use the Edexcel candidate kit – also online

Raising Achievement Look at the final question: The last question is always an extended answer Decisions will be involved “Explain why” “Select” “Recommend” “Justify” “Evaluate” Ensure candidates understand these terms Explain the importance of these “trigger” words

Raising Achievement 5308 Practise writing extended answers Obey the rubric Apply the specification topics to real businesses Apply the answer to the given business Avoid simple answers or phrases e.g. the quick and easy approach