1. AQA’s GCE Science Specifications Presentation to Lancashire Heads of Science Conference 

2. AQA Senior Teacher Support Officer Simon Miles 0161 957 3988 smiles@aqa.org.uk

3. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 3 AS and A Level Subject Criteria  Specifications must build on the skills, knowledge & understanding set out in the GCSE criteria for science.  Approximately 60% of each subject’s AS/A2 specification is ‘common’, i.e. mandatory - taken directly from the GCE subject criteria (more areas have been prescribed as either AS or A2 level than was previously the case).  The remainder allows AQA to introduce breadth and/or depth – material of our own choice.

4. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 4 Building on GCSE  AQA assumes that candidates embarking on AS science courses will have studied at least the equivalent of GCSE “Core + Additional” science.  Students who have followed “Core + Additional Applied” or Applied Science (double award) are best suited to progress to GCE Applied Science – this specification is unaffected by the current revision schedule.

5. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 5 What is possible? Science (core) Double applied science Additional science Additional applied science Biology Chemistry Physics Science AS / A2 e.g. GCE Applied Science

6. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 6 “How Science Works”  AS and A Level specifications must include a range of contemporary and other contexts.  The skills, knowledge and understanding of How Science Works must be integrated into the content.  There are 12 requirements, ranging from… “Use theories, models and ideas to develop and modify scientific explanations”… to… “Appreciate the ways in which society uses science to inform decision making”.

7. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 7 How Science Works Requirements  Use theories, models and ideas to develop and modify scientific explanations.  Use knowledge and understanding to pose scientific questions, define scientific problems, present scientific arguments and scientific ideas.  Use appropriate methodology, including ICT, to answer scientific questions and solve scientific problems.  Carry out experimental and investigative activities, including appropriate risk management, in a range of contexts.  Analyse and interpret data to provide evidence, recognising correlations and causal relationships.  Appreciate the tentative nature of scientific knowledge.

8. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 8 How Science Works Requirements  Evaluate methodology, evidence and data, and resolve conflicting evidence.  Communicate information and ideas in appropriate ways using appropriate terminology.  Consider applications and implications of science and appreciate their associated benefits and risks.  Consider ethical issues in the treatment of humans, other organisms and the environment.  Appreciate the role of the scientific community in validating new knowledge and ensuring integrity.  Appreciate the ways in which society uses science to inform decision making.

9. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 9 Assessment Objectives  Same for AS and A2: AO1 (Knowledge & understanding); AO2 (Application of knowledge & understanding); AO3 (How Science Works)  Each assessment unit must address one or more aspects of each of the AOs.  ‘AO4’ has been removed – there is no longer a prescribed weighting for synoptic assessment.  Specifications must require, in all assessment units, that candidates answer questions using extended prose.

10. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 10 AQA’s Suite of GCE Specifications  Biology  Human Biology  Chemistry  Physics A (traditional approach)  Physics B: Physics in Context  Electronics  Science in Society (formerly SPU) (now full A level)  Psychology A  Psychology B  Environmental Studies

11. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 11 Scheme of Assessment Number of assessment units  Psychology and Environmental Studies specifications will comprise four externally assessed units; Science in Society will comprise four units too, 1 of which (AS) will be internally assessed  All of the other GCE science subjects will still contain six assessment units, three at AS and three at A2.  In the 6-unit subjects, one of the AS units and one of the A2 units must be internally assessed.

12. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 12 Externally Assessed Units  Two AS examinations (total examination time may not exceed 3 hours)  Two A2 examinations (total time may not exceed 4 hours)

13. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 13 Scheme of Assessment Internal Assessment  Weighting of each internally assessed unit is 20% for each of AS and A2.  Each internally assessed unit must include the assessment of practical skills.  For B, C, P specifications AQA has developed an assessment model similar to that developed for the new AQA GCSE science specifications – “PSA/ISA”.

14. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 14 Practical Skills Assessment (“PSA”)  A candidate’s ability to carry out practical activities skilfully and safely will be assessed throughout the course.  AQA will stipulate certain techniques/skills – centres must provide opportunities for candidates to gain experience of these.

15. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 15 Investigative Skills Assignment (“ISA”)  Centres will be provided with a task sheet outlining a practical investigation.  Candidates will generate and analyse data in a practical session under controlled conditions.  Candidates will then undertake a written ISA examination, based on their own and related investigations/data.  Teachers will mark this work using AQA marking guidelines.

16. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 16 Synoptic Assessment  There is a formal requirement to assess synoptically in all A2 units.  Synoptic assessment requires candidates to make and use connections within and between different areas of the subject at AS and A2.  A levels must be seen as coherent courses which place high demands on students.

17. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 17 ‘Stretch and Challenge’ All A2 examinations will  use a wider variety of question stems  use a wider range of question types to assess different skills  ensure connectivity between sections of questions  require extended writing  lead to the award of an A* grade (last award of AEA in 2009)

18. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 18 Timetable for Introduction  September 2007: specifications arrive in centres  September 2008: start teaching new AS / A level specifications  January 2009: first new spec AS units (selected units)  June 2009: all new spec AS units  August 2009: first award of new AS levels  January 2010: first new spec A2 units (selected units)  June 2010: all new spec A2 units  August 2010: first award of new A levels

19. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 19 Teacher Support Meetings – Phase I  Free of charge ‘launch’ meetings for Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Studies, Physics and Psychology specifications started in summer term; continue in autumn term  Centres should have received information about remaining ‘launch’ programme  Meetings for Electronics, Science in Society will follow in autumn term

20. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 20 Teacher Support Meetings – Phase II  Free of charge, full-day follow-up meetings will be offered for all specifications in 2008  Your chance to explore the revised courses, support and assessment materials in depth  Help and advice for teachers about teaching and assessment  Peruse AQA-endorsed teaching and learning resources from Nelson Thornes

21. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 21 Support from Nelson Thornes  Student text books  Students’ and teachers’ resources delivered on-line (e.g. animations, revision material, exam questions/answers, quizzes, learning outcomes, PowerPoint presentations, homework sheets)

22. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 22 Contacting AQA Biology / Human Biology: biology- gce@aqa.org.ukbiology- gce@aqa.org.uk Chemistry:chemistry-gce@aqa.org.ukchemistry-gce@aqa.org.uk Physics:physics-gce@aqa.org.ukphysics-gce@aqa.org.uk Electronics: electronics@aqa.org.uk electronics@aqa.org.uk Science in Society:science- gce@aqa.org.ukscience- gce@aqa.org.uk Psychology: psychology@aqa.org.uk psychology@aqa.org.uk Environmental Studies:environ- science@aqa.org.ukenviron- science@aqa.org.uk

23. ©AQA. All rights reserved. 23 Teacher Support Contacts Please address all ‘launch’ enquiries to: teachersupport@aqa.org.uk teachersupport@aqa.org.uk Mark your enquiries ‘FAO’ as follows  Simon Miles for Biology, Human Biology, Chemistry, Physics A and B, Electronics, Science in Society  Liz Hey for Psychology  Marilyn Lindsey for Environmental Studies