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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

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

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

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

9. National 4 Added Value Unit

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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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.