2. Understanding Standards: Advanced Higher Physics
Course Assessment
October – December 2016

3. Aims of the Day
To support the understanding of the standards applied in Advanced Higher Physics Course Assessment by
increasing familiarity with the Question Paper Marking Instructions and Project general assessment information.
asking questions and seeking clarification about the assessment standards applied.
reviewing candidate material.
discussing this material and associated standards with colleagues.

4. Activities for the Day Introduction. Session A – Marking the Exam.
Session B – Marking the Project.
Duration of each session 2½ hours.
Led by Principal Assessor, Senior Team Leader, Team Leaders.

5. Understanding Standards: Advanced Higher Project
Session B
Advanced Higher Project

6. Activities for the Session
Choosing a topic min
Marking Instructions 1,2,3,4,5 and min
Workshop 1 and discussion 35 min
Marking Instructions 6,7,8,10,11 15 min
Workshop 2 and discussion 35 min
Marking Instructions 12,13 and min
Workshop 3 and discussion 35 min
Questions min

7. Choosing a Topic
An in depth investigation of a physics topic chosen by the candidate.
The candidate must discuss the selection with the teacher to ensure time is not wasted.
The teacher has responsibility for ensuring that the topic to be investigated by the candidate is sufficiently demanding.
It is the teacher’s responsibility to ensure that the topic will allow the candidate to provide a report of an appropriate standard to access the full range of marks available.

8. Choosing a Topic That is a topic which will enable candidates to:
write an abstract;
explain the underlying physics of the topic and/or the underlying physics of the procedures;
select, describe and carry out a number of procedures related to the aim;
present and analyse experimental data;
estimate and analyse experimental uncertainties;

9. Choosing a Topic That is a topic which will enable candidates to:
state a conclusion;
evaluate the procedures;
discuss the conclusion and critically evaluate the project as a whole;
present a report with suitable structure and reference research sources.

10. Marking Instructions 1 – Abstract (1 mark)
State the aims and findings of the project.
The abstract should immediately follow the contents page and be separate from the introduction.
(1 mark)

11. Marking Instructions 2 – Introduction (4 marks)
Candidates should explain the topic and/or procedures using physics at a depth appropriate to Advanced Higher.
The physics can appear anywhere in the report.
Terms should be used accurately and ideas should be explained clearly.
The references to any sources should be cited in the text and listed at the end of the report.
Downloading directly from the internet or copying directly from books does not demonstrate understanding. It’s better if candidates use their own words.

12. Marking Instructions 3 -
Procedures – description of apparatus (2 marks)
Candidates should include labelled diagrams and/or descriptions of the apparatus used for experiments.
Clear, uncluttered photographs of assembled apparatus, with appropriate labelling, are acceptable.
Circuit diagrams should be included where appropriate.
Markers will consider the question ‘How well does the description of apparatus support replication?’

13. Marking Instructions 4 -
Procedures – description of procedures (2 marks)
The procedures should be written in the past tense and impersonal voice.
Bulleted/numbered points are only acceptable if statements are in sentences and are meaningful and coherent.
The range of the independent variable and the number of repetitions should also be included, where appropriate.
Markers will consider the question ‘How well does the description of apparatus support replication?’

14. Marking Instructions 5 - Procedures – level of demand (3 marks)
The procedures used should be at a level of demand appropriate for Advanced Higher Physics.
Issues considered include:
control of variables;
degree of accuracy and precision;
originality and sophistication.
Markers will consider the question ‘Would the procedures have taken the candidate hours in the lab to complete?’

15. Marking Instructions 9 -
Discussion - conclusion (1 mark)
A conclusion should be given for each individual experiment.
Conclusion(s) should relate to the aim(s) of the investigation and be valid for the results obtained.

16. Workshop 1 – Marking Sections 1,2,3,4,5 and 9
In your pack you have sections from the assignment reports of three candidates. Using the Detailed Marking Instructions, assign marks to the above sections for each of the three candidates. 13 marks are available.
Discuss any difficult decisions with a colleague.
Towards the end of the workshop commentaries will be made available explaining the marks allocated by the marking team.
There will be the opportunity for questions.

17. Marking Instructions 6 - Results - data (1 mark)
The data should be relevant to the aim(s) of the project.
All raw data as well as processed or derived data should be included. Raw data are the readings actually recorded in the course of the project.
All measurements taken should be included (not just the mean values).

18. Marking Instructions 7 - Results - analysis (4 marks)
Analysed data should be presented in a clear and concise manner with appropriate use of tables, graphs, diagrams and calculations. Tables must have appropriate headings and units.
Graphs should have:
scales chosen so that the plotted points are widely spread;
each axis labelled with the name of the quantity and the correct unit;
data plotted accurately;
best-fit straight line or curve is drawn

19. Marking Instructions 7 - Results - analysis (4 marks)
Where Excel or other software packages are used to present graphs, it is important that axes are adapted to suit the data in order that the results are presented in the most appropriate way.
Calculations should be clearly structured. Where the same type of calculation is repeated for different raw data, one sample calculation is sufficient.
The number of significant figures in the final calculated result should reflect the precision of the measurements taken.

20. Marking Instructions 7 - Results - analysis (4 marks)
It is not uncommon for candidates to calculate values of a physical constant derived from a number of different values of the independent variable. The temptation is to average these values to obtain a single final value of the physical constant.
This approach would be invalid.
It would be better to use a graphical analysis and use the gradient of the best fit line to obtain a single value for the physical constant.

21. Marking Instructions 8 - Results - uncertainties (3 marks)
All (calibration, scale reading and random) uncertainties that have a bearing on the accuracy of the experimental work should be quantified.
Uncertainties in a measured value should be combined appropriately.
Uncertainties in measured values should be combined appropriately to give the uncertainty in a derived value.
One clearly laid out sample calculation is sufficient to represent repeated calculations.
Combined uncertainties should be quoted to one sig fig.

22. Marking Instructions 10 -
Discussion – evaluation of procedures (3 marks)
Candidates may comment on:
accuracy and precision of experimental measurements;
adequacy of the number of repeated readings;
adequacy of the range over which the independent variable is altered;
adequacy of the control of variables;
limitations of apparatus;
sources of uncertainties.

23. Marking Instructions 11 - Discussion and critical evaluation (3 marks)
Candidates should discuss their conclusions, together with the project as a whole, in a critical and scientific manner.
Candidates may comment on:
problems overcome;
modifications to procedures (possibly based on the identification of the most significant source of uncertainty);
significance/interpretation of findings;
suggestions for further work.

24. Workshop 2 – Marking Sections 6,7,8,10 and 11
In your pack you have sections from the assignment reports of three candidates. Using the Detailed Marking Instructions, assign marks to the above sections for each of the three candidates. 14 marks are available.
Discuss any difficult decisions with a colleague.
Towards the end of the workshop commentaries will be made available explaining the marks allocated by the marking team.
There will be the opportunity for questions.

25. Marking Instructions 12-
Discussion - quality of project (1 mark)
This is a quality mark for the standard of the project report, not just for the discussion section.
The mark is awarded, not only for an excellent project, but for a good, efficient project, done properly, well worked through.

26. Marking Instructions 13-
Presentation – structure (1 mark)
The report structure should be easy to follow.
An informative title, contents page and page numbers are necessary.

27. Marking Instructions 13-
Presentation – structure (1 mark)
In 2016, the report also had to be concise, which meant that reports exceeding 3300 words (excluding title page, contents page, tables, graphs, diagrams, calculations, algebraic justifications, references, acknowledgements and references) were not awarded this mark.
In 2017, the need for a concise report is removed from this section.
The maximum word count is increased to 4500, but if a report exceeds 4950(+10%), there is a 3 mark deduction from the total mark for the report.

28. Marking Instructions 14 -
Presentation – references (1 mark)
The candidate should include references to at least three sources of information used.
The references should be:
relevant to the aims of the project;
cited within the project report;
listed at the end of the project report;
retrievable by a third party.
In 2017, the candidate should use a formal referencing system, either Harvard or Vancouver.

29. Workshop 3 – Putting it all together
In your pack you have copies of the project reports of two candidates. Using the Detailed Marking Instructions, assign marks for each of the two candidates. 30 marks are available.
Discuss any difficult decisions with a colleague.
Towards the end of the workshop commentaries will be made available explaining the marks allocated by the marking team.
There will be the opportunity for questions.

30. Questions