OCR A Level Science teacher network Autumn 2016

Today’s programme 16.00 Welcome and initial discussion 16.25 Written assessment of practical skills 16.40 Resources and support 16.45 Break 17.00 Discussions in subject groups

What aspects of your students’ exam preparation worked well?

What changes are you intending to make in your teaching or exam preparation for 2017?

2016 reformed AS – headlines Differentiation on a par with or better than for legacy qualifications No evidence of timing being a problem Differentiation (or bandwidth – the range of marks covered between the E and A boundaries) was improved for Chemistry B (Salters), Physics A and Physics B

Procedure for changing answer No responses 2016 reformed AS – MCQs Useful strategies elimination writing down working Procedure for changing answer No responses Some students showed evidence of discounting answers, thus progressing to correct answer (or reducing options for guessing). Some students wrote out working for calculations or wrote/drew out their thought process, often leading to successful results. Other papers were very ‘bare’. It is advisable for students to use the white space to their advantage. If a student changes their mind, they are advised to cross out the letter in the box and write the correction alongside the box (rather than trying to squeeze the correction in the box). Not many ‘no responses’ seen, but there were some. It is advisable to write something down; there is no negative marking.

2016 reformed AS – practical Expect questions like Draw the apparatus required to … Outline how these results could have been produced / this question could be tested Suggest how this plan could be improved What would be the effect on the outcome if…

OCR Resources and support

Ongoing support Subject specialists to answer technical queries: ScienceGCE@ocr.org.uk PASS@ocr.org.uk CPD Hub: for booking courses but also downloading materials, e.g. examiner comments on past series https://www.cpdhub.ocr.org.uk

Teaching and learning resources http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/as-a-level-gce-chemistry-a-h032-h432-from-2015/ COVERAGE OF FULL QUALIFICATION CONTENT INDIVIDUAL TEACHING ACTIVITIES TOPIC EXPLORATION PACKS DELIVERY GUIDES LESSON ELEMENTS TRANSITION GUIDES

Planning support scheme of work builder online Delivery Guide support material for lesson planning

Assessment support sample assessment materials additional practice papers additional teaching and learning materials, e.g. multiple choice quizzes

Keep up to date Twitter: @ocr_science Community: http://social.ocr.org.uk/ OCR Blog: http://www.ocr.org.uk/blog/ Spotlight: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/by-subject/science/science-spotlight/ Subject email updates: http://www.ocr.org.uk/i-want-to/email-updates/

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