Understanding Standards: Nominee Training Event Biology National 3 – Advanced Higher

Aims of the day To support Nominees in their understanding of national standards by: reviewing candidate evidence discussing this evidence and associated assessment standards with colleagues asking questions and seeking clarification about national standards To support Nominees in their understanding of: the nominee role the Biology Review Report

Verification Activity 2016 - 17 21st September – Understanding Standards event with Nominees February 2017 Round 1 Unit Verification May 2017 Round 2 N4 Added Value Unit Verification March – May 2017 Visiting Verification – Advanced Higher

Round 1 Verification: February 2017 Unit assessment at all levels up to and including Advanced Higher (but not the Investigative Biology Unit). Selection criteria: centres which received not accepted outcomes within the qualification group in 2015/16 centres entering candidates within the qualification group for the first time centres entering candidates within the qualification group which have not previously been verified *For one year only there will be no ‘random sample’ for this round of verification.

Round 2 Verification: May 2017 National 4 Added Value Unit Selection criteria: Same three criteria as before plus ‘random sample’ selection

Visiting Verification: March – May 2017 Investigative Biology Unit – Advanced Higher Outcome 1 and Outcome 2 (Principal Verifier, Depute Principal Verifier & Visiting Verifier Team Leaders)

Purpose of Verification All verification activities Look at each centre’s: 1. approach to assessment and 2. their ability to make sound assessment judgements.

National 4 Added Value Unit

What’s changed? marks introduced a cut-off score introduced revised Judging Evidence Table (in guidance note – Understanding the next steps for session 2016-17 – National 4)

Outcome 1 – Key Messages National 3 candidates are not expected to devise a procedure. Candidates at all other levels must be involved in the planning aspect of the experiment/investigation.

Outcome 2 – Key Messages Discuss the marking guidance prior to using the assessment and annotate it, detailing alternative acceptable answers as well as unacceptable answers Rigorous, accurate and consistent application of a marking scheme is essential. Effective internal verification procedures make a difference. Annotate the candidate evidence.

Biology Review Report SQA Biology homepage Published in May 2016 Key issues duplication and overlap of assessment complete mastery required tracking and monitoring of assessment mandatory content

Biology Review Report: Action plan 2016/17 All levels introduce threshold for Outcome 1 revise Unit Assessment Support Packs to introduce a single assessment with marks and a cut-off score provide guidance on how to adapt current unit assessment support packs as an interim measure

Biology Review Report: Action plan 2016/17 National 3 & 4 remove Assessment Standards 2.2 & 2.3 National 4 introduce marks and a cut-off score for the Added Value Unit investigate alternative assessment strategies for the Added Value Unit introduce threshold for Outcome 1 Higher investigate the introduction of a half-credit Researching Unit

Biology Review Report: Action plan 2016/17 cont. National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher review the mandatory content of units during this session to ensure that they are manageable

Biology Review Report: Action plan 2016/17 cont. Course Assessment: Coursework word count penalties will not be applied at National 5 and Higher levels will be applied at Advance Higher level Marking Instructions revise to reflect new guidance document on presenting data in graphs, charts revise to take into account any issues identified during Diet 2016 update exemplification materials

Biology Review Report: Action plan 2016/17 cont. Course Assessment: General investigate the nature of Course assessment including question paper and Coursework and report during session 2017/18 SQA are developing a plan to streamline the documentation associated with the National Courses

Biology Review Report: benefits A reduction in the number of candidates who need to be re-assessed. Tracking attainment in units should be easier to log, releasing more time for teaching and learning. More time released for completion of the Coursework task and/or preparation for the question paper.

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