1. An overview of the changes to GCE biology in England
Dr Katherine Hands-Taylor
OCR A Level Science Subject Specialist

2. Contents General changes to the biology AS and A Levels
Biology content changes
Assessment Objectives
The Practical Endorsement

3. What changes, AS level… Old New Modular - but exams in June only
Linear – papers are not units rather components
Content is first half of A level
Content is half the A level
AS grades count towards A level score
AS does not count towards A level
Approx. 2 h 45 min examination time, no minimum
Minimum 3 h examination time
Coursework
100% external assessment (15% practical weighting)
No maximum number of papers
Maximum of two papers
QWC
Extended responses
No maths weighting
Maths weighting introduced, 10% Level 2 and above
Grades A-E, UMS
Grades A-E, total raw marks
Standard unchanged from now.
Content broadly the same, minimal changes to criteria.

4. What changes, A level… Old New Modular - but exams in June only
Linear – papers are not units rather components
Content is first half of A level
Content is half the A level
AS grades count towards A level
AS does not count towards A level
Approx. 5 h 45 min examination time, A2 maximum
Minimum 6 h examination time
Coursework - 6 activities
No practical weighting for papers
Endorsement – min. 12 activities
15% practical weighting for papers
No maximum, generally 4 papers
Maximum of 3 exam papers
QWC
Extended responses
No maths weighting
10% maths weighting, Level 2 and above
Grades A*-E, UMS
Grades A*-E, total raw marks
Standard unchanged from now (but A*).
Content broadly the same, minimal changes to criteria.

5. Assessment overview Paper 1 ~2 h Paper 2 ~2 h Endorsement Paper 1
70 marks
Paper 2
~1 h 30
70 marks
Marks available,
Paper 3
~2 h
Old AS Level 200
New OCR 140
Old A Level 400
New OCR 270
Comparable outcomes - in general across all students, it is no harder or easier to get an A this year. The standard is being maintained year to year, board to board.

6. Contents General changes to the biology AS and A Levels
Biology content changes
Assessment Objectives
The Practical Endorsement

7. Biology content changes
divided into 8 sections (4 AS and A Level, 4 A Level only)
60% prescribed
Topics moved to AS level
Protein synthesis
Meiosis
ATP structure
Practical Skills list
15% Planning, implementing, analysis and evaluation
Practical Endorsement
Mathematical skills list
28 skills to cover, split into 5 categories
10% at Level 2 or above
DfE document link:

8. Level 2 Maths Level 2 (or higher) mathematics:
application and understanding requiring choice of data or equation to be used
problem solving involving use of mathematics from different areas of maths and decisions about direction to proceed
questions involving use of A level mathematical content (as of 2012), e.g. use of logarithmic equations.
The following will not be counted as Level 2 mathematics:
simple substitution with little choice of equation or data
structured question formats using GCSE mathematics (based on 2012 GCSE mathematics content).

9. Contents General changes to the biology AS and A Levels
Biology content changes
Assessment Objectives
The Practical Endorsement

10. Assessment Objectives - wording
AO1
Recognise, recall, show understanding; select, organise, communicate information
AO2
Analyse and evaluate
Apply knowledge to unfamiliar situations
Assess information
AO3
Demonstrate practical, make observations, evaluate methodology
Old
AO1
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of ideas, processes, techniques and procedures
AO2
Apply knowledge and understanding (theory, practical, qualitative and quantitative data)
AO3
Analyse, interpret and evaluate information, make judgements, develop and refine practical
New

11. Assessment Objectives - weightings
AS Levels
AO1
AO2
AO3
Old 38 40 22
New
35-40
40-44
20-23
A Level
AO1
AO2
AO3
Old 34 44 22
New
31-34
40-43
25-28
Less recall
Practical contexts
More new information
contexts in which to apply knowledge / understanding
data / information to evaluate / interpret

12. Contents General changes to the biology AS and A Levels
Biology content changes
Assessment Objectives
The Practical Endorsement

13. The Practical Endorsement
Skills assessed directly (5b)
Core ‘techniques’ (5c)
Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC)
Skills assessed indirectly (5a)
Min. 15%
Minimum 12 practical activities
A Level (A*–U)
Endorsement (Pass/Unclassfied)
To pass, a student must have demonstrated the appropriate skills and techniques for the subject and met the assessment criteria, having completed a minimum of twelve practical activities.

14. The Practical Endorsement
Across all Exam Boards the following features of the Practical
Endorsement are common, it:
covers a specified list of skills and techniques
is not part of the AS Level
will appear on certificates as a separate grade, e.g. Biology, A* (Endorsement, Pass)
will be reported as pass or unclassified
requires a minimum of 12 assessed practical activities
requires students to keep appropriate records of their assessed practical activities
is teacher assessed against the Common Practical Assessment Criteria, CPAC
is quality assured by visiting monitoring

15. Thank you any questions?
ocr.org.uk/alevelbiologya
ocr.org.uk/alevelbiologyb