Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Getting to grips with assessment objectives GCE Biology

GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Examinations test skills These skills are called ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES What skills (assessment objectives) are tested in the unit tests in Biology? To gain a good grade, you must develop these skills

GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. What skills will be tested? Assessment objective 1 (AO1) Knowledge and understanding of science and of How Science Works Assessment objective 2 (AO2) Application of knowledge and understanding of science and of How Science Works Assessment Objective 3 (AO3) How Science Works

GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. AO1: Knowledge and understanding Candidates should be able to a)recognise, recall and show understanding of scientific knowledge b)select, organise and communicate relevant information in a variety of forms

GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. AO2: Application Candidates should be able to a)analyse and evaluate scientific knowledge and processes b)apply scientific knowledge and processes to unfamiliar situations including those related to issues c)assess the validity, reliability and credibility of scientific information

GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives AO2: Application Candidates should be able to a)analyse and evaluate scientific knowledge and processes b)apply scientific knowledge and processes to unfamiliar situations including those related to issues c)assess the validity, reliability and credibility of scientific information Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives AO3: How Science Works Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Candidates should be able to a)demonstrate and describe ethical, safe and skilful practical techniques and processes, selecting appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods b)make, record and communicate reliable and valid observations and measurements with appropriate precision and accuracy c)analyse, interpret, explain and evaluate methodology, results and impact of their own and other’s experimental and investigative activities in a variety of ways

GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Performance Descriptions The specification gives statements about the skills that are characteristic of an A/B boundary candidate and an E/U boundary candidate –AS Biology – pages 57 and 58 –A2 Biology – pages 59 and 60 These descriptions tell you what you must demonstrate in your exam answers

GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives Target weighting of assessment objective 1 (AO1) as percentage of total GCSE science BIOL1BIOL5BIOL Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Shift occurs in testing of AO1

GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives Balance of assessment objectives Assess Object Target raw marks in each unit (  2) Unit 1Unit 2Unit 3Unit 4Unit 5Unit 6 AO AO AO Total marks Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Possible exam strategies include…. Find and complete the E-grade questions first Find and complete questions testing a particular skill first, e.g. the graph questions Find and complete the longer questions first – keep one theme going rather than jump from topic to topic Try each question in turn until you get stuck and then move on to the next (sub)question

GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Possible exam strategies include…. Find and complete the E-grade questions first Find and complete the AO2 questions first, e.g. the graph questions Find and complete the longer questions first – keep one theme going rather than jump from topic to topic Try each question until you get stuck and then move on to the next (sub)question You need to feel comfortable with a strategy that works well for you.

Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number ) and a registered charity (registered charity number ). Registered address: AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX. Dr Michael Cresswell, Director General. GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives Version 1.0 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.