AQA network meeting Summer term May 2014 Exam preparation and revision Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Agenda Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. AQA updates GCSE & A level – Curriculum Advisor Revision and exam techniques - AQA

Updates GCSE Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Certificates (IGCSE) now in the performance tables from They will be equivalent to the Biology, Chemistry and Physics GCSE so will count in the EBacc part of the Progress & Attainment 8. The Science Certificate : Double Award will count for two slots within each of these performance tables. Reform science criteria still with DFE for further consultation 10% direct assessment of practical skill still in proposal

Update A-level Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. New Assessment Objectives for sciences, based on the current GCSEs 60% of the subject content is the same for all boards. At AQA there is very little change to the rest of our subject criteria. The expected outcomes are the same: the same students would get the same grades before and after the changes.

A-level assessment objectives

What has changed? Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. All A-levels are now linear. AS will be standalone – won’t contribute to A-level grade – could be co-taught Questions will require the use of Level 2 mathematical skills: 10% Biology, 20% Chemistry, 40% Physics. This might have an impact on entry requirements. Our present specifications already cover maths to a similar level as these percentages so minimal change should be seen by centres. AQA A-level specifications submitted to Ofqual June 2014 Draft specifications & SAMs will be available summer Teacher support events summer /autumn 2014

Practical assessment Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Internal assessment of practical skills will no longer contribute to A-level grade Endorsement for practical skills – 5 skills which can’t be assessed on written paper. Pass or Fail (expectation is majority will pass). Reported separately on the certificate. Do not contribute to A-level There will be a list of at least 12 specified practicals that all students will be expected to have done during the course. Series of technical competencies for each subject 15% of questions in written papers will be about practical work.

Timeline: Focus on Science Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. June 2014 Sept 2014 June 2015 Sept 2015 June 2016 Sept 2016 June 2017 Sept 2017 June 2018 Legacy A-level Biology, Chemistry, Physics Last 2 years teaching AS exams Last AS and A2 exams New A-level Biology, Chemistry, Physics Draft specs in schools First teaching First AS exams First A-level exams Legacy GCSE Science Last 2 years teaching Last linear GCSE New GCSE Science Draft specs in schools If triple over three years - Start teaching from draft First teaching First linear GCSE

Revision lessons – explanation of slides Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. x of x Version 3.0 The table on next slide shows some of the common activities teachers use with students to make revision engaging and fun. Examples of these are taken from various sources mainly TES and teachit (in purple). Where possible we have attributed the work to the contributor but as many examples on the TES only refer to themselves by a login name it is not always possible to attribute the work to a school or teacher. The resources shown are used to exemplify activities current teachers are using in the classroom. Teachit is a useful vehicle that AQA centres can use to share their resources. All resources on the site have gone through editing and DTP process before being published. The problems students may face, are learning large amounts of content for the linear exams. Therefore small regular chunks of revision and using progress tests are key. However, for Year 11 how to compile a summary of content is high priority. Placemats are useful as a confidence booster to look at the night before and morning of the exam, other wise students can become overwhelmed by the enormity of the task.

Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. x of x Version 3.0 Revision lessons need lots of short engaging activities. Different sorts of quizzes are a good way to break things up, with literacy activities planned into the lesson to break the learning up in to small sections. Embedding understanding of key words and definitions is essential so any short activities that engages pupils in this are very useful. There are many examples and the table just aims to capture a few old favourites Revision lessons

Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. x of x Version 3.0 You can use games like Snakes and ladders to get the students to make up the questions and answer cards. The Jigsaw games from teachit are a nice take on learning diagrams especially as they are student drawings, but you could just as easily do them for standard diagrams. Refer to crosswords in pack – from teachit site - keywords and definitions glossary are found in textbooks Bounce – demo – interactive version of splat – always good fun Catchphrase – one of my favourites – demo next slide – shows don’t need to be glossy expensive resources to do the job, what is important is getting students to be comfortable using the correct scientific language Interactive hangman – under practical skills language of science crossword or rock activity For high ability students, connection game encourages students to explain connections between scientific words which demonstrates and assesses real understanding at a higher level. Revision lessons

Explanation of revision ideas Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. x of x Version 3.0 Once you have your set of key words and definitions (glossaries in text books) there are various literacy games you can plug them in to. There are the staple crosswords or a nice interactive take on splat is teachit bounce. Catchphrase– demo slide 13 – shows resources don’t need to be glossy & expensive to do the job, what is important is getting students to be comfortable using the correct scientific language. Interactive hangman –on teachit is another fun game.

Revision and exam techniques Categories of materials Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. Learning content Summary of contentKey words & definitions BlockbusterPlacematsCrossword Who wants to be a millionaire Spider diagramsWord search True False quizKey word cards - turnover Splat / Bounce BingoSequencing processes or images Anagrams Snakes & ladders Catchphrase JigsawsCreating a Wiki Connections game Strategy gameHangman

cell membrane TES contributed by cath1975 AQA B2 Cells catchphrase I use this as a starter to a revision lesson on the cells topic. The pupils love them. They have to guess the keyword using the visual clues and then give a definition

Selection of online resources you might find useful Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved. GCSE BitesizeGCSE Bitesize - A classic revision aid with subject overviews, interactive activities and questions on a variety of topics. How about setting up your own revision video playlist for your students? You can tailor the videos to topics that your pupils need help with. Check out the Planet Science YouTube playlists for inspirationPlanet Science YouTube playlists TES Games for GradesTES Games for Grades - A collection of the most popular revision games and activities on TES Science. Secondary Science Resource Collections video lessons AQA specific resources A-level resources

Examination Techniques Underline command word Know what your command words mean – explain – connectives & linked statements evaluate– comparisons, consider evidence for & against & come to a conclusion calculate - use equations sheet, check significant figures, check units mark a minute use the mark schemes for teaching activities use pupil responses from ‘feedback from exams’ add wish and a star (EBI) Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Examination Techniques Quality of Written Communication Questions plan answer in rough: –list key words to include –address each bullet point of the question –divide page in three - advantages & disadvantages & conclusion –use question to inform and support –read through at the end to check answered all points –practice using a writing frame Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Useful AQA resources – all available on website (SKM) ‘Feedback on exams’- found in teacher support on SKM. Pre & post conference handbook – pupils answers and examiners responses to mark allocation Questions and students responses and examiner comments from launch meeting Command word document Explanation of terms teaching guidance AQA website QWC booklet Exampro Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

Support list Subject department: GCSE / A level / Coursework Administration / e-AQA You can access Secure Key Materials (SKM) via eAQA. Login using the password for your school which you can obtain from your Examinations’ officer. Enhanced Results Analysis (ERA) Exampro Online course booking: in-school CPD TOLS (Teacher Online Standardisation) Exam change essentials Copyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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