1. OCR A Level Science teacher network
Autumn 2016

2. Today’s programme
16.00 Welcome and initial discussion
16.25 Written assessment of practical skills
16.40 Resources and support
16.45 Break
17.00 Discussions in subject groups

3. What aspects of your students’ exam preparation worked well?

4. What changes are you intending to make in your teaching or exam preparation for 2017?

5. 2016 reformed AS – headlines
Differentiation on a par with or better than for legacy qualifications
No evidence of timing being a problem
Differentiation (or bandwidth – the range of marks covered between the E and A boundaries) was improved for Chemistry B (Salters), Physics A and Physics B

6. Procedure for changing answer No responses
2016 reformed AS – MCQs
Useful strategies
elimination
writing down working
Procedure for changing answer
No responses
Some students showed evidence of discounting answers, thus progressing to correct answer (or reducing options for guessing).
Some students wrote out working for calculations or wrote/drew out their thought process, often leading to successful results. Other papers were very ‘bare’. It is advisable for students to use the white space to their advantage.
If a student changes their mind, they are advised to cross out the letter in the box and write the correction alongside the box (rather than trying to squeeze the correction in the box).
Not many ‘no responses’ seen, but there were some. It is advisable to write something down; there is no negative marking.

7. 2016 reformed AS – practical
Expect questions like
Draw the apparatus required to …
Outline how these results could have been produced / this question could be tested
Suggest how this plan could be improved
What would be the effect on the outcome if…

8. OCR Resources and support

9. Ongoing support
Subject specialists to answer technical queries:
CPD Hub: for booking courses but also downloading materials, e.g. examiner comments on past series

10. Teaching and learning resources
COVERAGE OF FULL QUALIFICATION CONTENT
INDIVIDUAL TEACHING ACTIVITIES
TOPIC EXPLORATION PACKS
DELIVERY GUIDES
LESSON ELEMENTS
TRANSITION GUIDES

11. Planning support
scheme of work builder
online Delivery Guide
support material for lesson planning

12. Assessment support
sample assessment materials
additional practice papers
additional teaching and learning materials, e.g. multiple choice quizzes

13. Keep up to date
Community:
OCR Blog:
Spotlight:
Subject updates:

14. Regional teacher networks
Quiz our qualification experts
Engage with other teachers in your local area
Share best practice
Keep up to date on OCR qualifications, support and resources
Find out more

15. Thank you!