Edexcel Update August 2013 Dr David Davies Education Consultant Pearson Curriculum reform update and International Advanced level

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Edexcel qualifications: The Complete Solution QCF Level Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ) Edexcel Qualifications   Academic Vocational (BTEC) Level 7 M (masters) Masters degrees, postgraduate certificates and diplomas BTEC Professional Level 6 H (honours) Bachelor degrees, graduate certificates and diplomas BTEC Higher National Graduate Diploma* Level 5 I (intermediate)  Diplomas of higher education and further education, foundation degrees and higher national diplomas BTEC Higher National Diploma Level 4 C (certificate) Certificates of higher education BTEC Higher National Certificate Specialist Level 3 GCE (A) Levels (A* - E) BTEC Nationals Level 2 GCSE (A*-C) / International GCSEs BTEC Firsts Level 1 GCSE (D-G) / International GCSEs BTEC Foundation Learning Entry Level Basic skills 4 * Currently in development. First UK teaching September 2011. 4

Edexcel Academic Qualifications Edexcel offers two main suites of academic qualifications- GCE A levels and International GCSEs GCE A levels are two-year courses designed for students aged 16-18 The first year of the GCE A level is known as the AS and can be separately certificated if required Edexcel’s GCE A levels are regulated by the UK Regulator Ofqual GCE A levels are accepted for university entry by all universities in the UK and many universities around the world, e.g. USA (Harvard, Yale), Australia, New Zealand, Canada etc. International GCSEs are two-year courses designed for students aged 14-16 which prepare students for GCE A levels 5 5

Edexcel GCE A Levels – the specifics

Immediate Changes to existing Edexcel A levels from September 2013 From September 2013 students in England will no longer be able to take Edexcel A level examinations in January; all examinations will be in June only Students who started in September 2012 and who will be finishing their course in June 2014 will be able to take examinations in June 2013 and June 2014 only In certain subjects students who will be finishing their course in January 2014 will be able to finish their A levels in January 2014 AS and A2 examinations for existing specifications will be available in June 2013, June 2014, June 2015 and June 2016 Ofqual has decided that there will be no further opportunities for examinations in the January examination series after January 2013. Students who started a two-year A level course in September 2012 will be able to take examinations in June 2013 and June 2014 only. AS and A2 examinations for existing specifications will be available in June 2013, June 2014, June 2015 and June 2016. Curriculum reform update and International Advanced level

A level Reform from September 2015 A levels revised for teaching from September 2015 First assessment in June 2016 for revised AS and in June 2017 for revised A Level Revised specifications introduced in ‘facilitating’ subjects. i.e. those most commonly required for university entry Facilitating subjects will be introduced in September 2015: Mathematics and Further Mathematics, English (Language, Language and Literature and Literature), Biology, Chemistry, Physics, History, Geography) Plus: Psychology, Art and Design, Business Studies, Economics Edexcel A levels will be revised for teaching from September 2015. The first assessment of the revised specifications will be in June 2016 for revised AS and in June 2017 for revised A2. Revised specifications will be introduced initially in ‘facilitating’ subjects. i.e. those which are most commonly required for university entry. Universities will provide advice on content in facilitating subjects The following specifications in facilitating subjects will be introduced in September 2015: Mathematics and Further Mathematics English (Literature) Biology Chemistry Physics History Geography Languages (Classical and Modern). Curriculum reform update and International Advanced level

Introduction of revised Edexcel A levels from September 2015 The revised Edexcel A levels will be designed for schools in England and in international schools The specifications will be ‘linear’- i.e. all examinations will be taken at the end of the course The specifications will be examined in the June examination series only A full suite of A level and AS specifications will be available All specifications will be regulated by Ofqual and will carry the Ofqual logo on certificates A revised suite of Edexcel A levels in facilitating subjects will be introduced for first teaching from September 2015 and first assessment in June 2017.The revised Edexcel A levels will be designed for schools in England and in international schools. The specifications will be ‘linear’- i.e. all examinations will be taken at the end of the course. The specifications will be examined in the June examination series only. A full suite of A level and AS specifications will be available All specifications will be regulated by Ofqual and will carry the Ofqual logo on certificates Curriculum reform update and International Advanced level

Introduction of revised Edexcel AS Specifications from September 2015 AS specifications will become ‘stand-alone’ qualifications which can be taken over one or two years AS specifications will not contribute to A level results AS specifications will encourage curriculum breadth AS specifications will be broadly at their current standard First assessment of the new AS will be in June 2016 AS specifications will become ‘stand-alone’ qualifications which can be taken over one or two years. AS specifications will not contribute to A level results. AS specifications will cover half the A level content. AS specifications will be examined at the same standard as A levels. The first assessment of the new AS will be in June 2016. Curriculum reform update and International Advanced level

International Advanced Level Qualifications – the specifics

Introduction of new International Advanced level and AS Specifications from September 2013 A suite of Advanced level and AS specifications for international centres for first teaching in September 2013 Specifications content designed to meet specific needs of international centres Modular structure. Examinations in June and January. First examination in January 2014 Unit re-sit opportunity AS contributes to A level A suite of Advanced level and AS specifications for international centres for first teaching in September 2013 and first examination in June 2015 will be introduced in key subjects. The specifications will be designed to meet the specific needs of international centres with content relevant to international centres where appropriate. They will be examined on a ‘modular’ basis with examinations in June and January of each year from September 2013. Both Advanced level and AS specifications will be available. AS will contribute to the A level results There will be an opportunity to re-sit individual units. Flexible entry of units will be available. Curriculum reform update and International Advanced level

New Advanced level and AS Specifications from September 2013- continued Enter students for a combination of Edexcel A levels and the new International Advanced levels e.g. enter for English Literature with Edexcel A levels and for Science with the new International Advanced Levels We will ensure that the qualifications are recognised by universities in the UK, US, Australia etc in the same way as Edexcel A levels It will be possible for schools to enter students for a combination of Edexcel A levels and the new Advanced level suite. Progression routes will be available for students who wish to proceed to universities in the UK, USA, Australia etc. The specifications will be accepted by universities in the UK, US, Australia etc in the same way as Edexcel A levels. Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/00

New International Advanced level and AS - Subjects Available Revised structure Mathematics, Pure Mathematics and Further Mathematics Structure unchanged Biology Chemistry Physics Economics Business Studies Accounting- 2 papers Law- 2 papers (linear) The following subjects will be available for first teaching from September 2013: Mathematics, Pure Mathematics and Further Mathematics- 6 units Biology- 6 units Chemistry-6 units Physics- 6 units Economics- 4 units Business Studies- 4 units Accounting- 2 units Law- 2 units (linear) Other subjects will be added to the suite at a later stage. Curriculum reform update and International Advanced level

New International Advanced level and AS Specifications - Timeline End of April Outline of new specifications May/June Draft specifications and sample assessment materials Subject-specific Training in May for Business Studies, Economics and Mathematics October Final specifications and sample assessment materials January 2014 First unit examination It is possible to teach a combination of Edexcel A levels and International Advanced levels at the same time. For example, a student wishing to take Mathematics, Science and Geography, could take the Advanced Level Mathematics and Science and the Edexcel A level in Geography. The Mathematics and Science A levels will be available in January and June and the Advanced level Geography will only be available in June. Many other similar combinations are also available. Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/00

Students who need to complete their A levels in January 2014 Ofqual has agreed that we can offer the same exams we currently offer in these subjects in January for one more sitting in January 2014 in the following subjects: Mathematics Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) Economics Business Studies Accounting Students can cash in as planned to complete their A levels NB The specification and assessment remain unchanged. Students will be awarded an Edexcel International Advanced level, regulated by Pearson. For other subjects examinations will be available in June only. Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/00

Students wishing to complete their Edexcel GCE A levels in June 2014 Students who are planning to complete their A levels in June 2014 will not be able to sit an examination in January 2014 They will be able to complete their courses in June 2014 as planned Centres entering for Accounting, Law and the written paper options for Biology, Chemistry and Physics will receive an International Advanced Level in place of an A level. Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/00

Edexcel GCE A level Mathematics and Edexcel International Advanced level Mathematics The Edexcel International Advanced level Mathematics will have three specifications: Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, Further Mathematics The following units will be available from January 2014: Core Mathematics 1 and 2 (available as one unit) Core Mathematics 3 and 4 (available as one unit) Further Pure Mathematics 1, Mechanics 1, 2 and 3, Statistics 1 and 2 and Decision Mathematics 1 In addition, the following units will be available from June 2014: Further Pure Mathematics 2 and 3 and Statistics 3 Further information is available at: www.edexcel.com/quals/ial Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/00

Edexcel International Advanced level Economics and Business Studies There will be some new content added in the International Advanced level Economics specification. All four units in the International Advanced level Economics specification will be equally weighted. The content of the International Advanced level Business Studies will be updated with an international synoptic unit. All four units in the International Advanced level Business Studies specification will be equally weighted. Both specifications will be available in the January and the June examination series with effect from January 2014 Further information is available on: www.edexcel.com/quals/ial . Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/00

University Recognition of International Advanced Levels A large number of universities in the United Kingdom and elsewhere have recognised International Advanced Levels for entry purposes in the same way that they accept Edexcel A levels, including the following: Hong Kong: The University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology United Kingdom: University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, King’s College, London, and more than 40 others Also leading universities in the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland etc More universities are being added to the list on a weekly basis The full list of university recognition is available here: ial-recognition4.pdf 20 Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/00 20

Recognition of International Advanced Levels by UK NARIC UK NARIC, the National Recognition Centre for the United Kingdom, is the national agency responsible for providing information and expert opinion on qualifications and skills worldwide UK NARIC has compiled a draft Report on ‘Benchmarking the Edexcel International A level against the GCE A level’ The study looked at the following IAL subjects: Accounting, Business Studies, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Law, Physics and Mathematics Using NARIC’s well-established methodology for benchmarking qualifications, the Report considered: programme design, entry requirements and progression, course content and structure, learning outcomes, assessment framework, including assessment objectives, methods and performance descriptors 21 Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/00 21

Recognition of International Advanced Levels by UK NARIC- 2 A review of quality assurance processes was also conducted, taking into account external marking, standardisation, certification, and examination and assessment development. The study found that the assessment frameworks in Biology, Chemistry and Physics align with Edexcel GCEs in these subjects, the core content of the Mathematics aligns to that covered in the Edexcel GCE Mathematics, and that the design and structure of the IALs in Law, Accounting, Economics and Business Studies, related closely to the Ofqual Subject Criteria, but also included additional topics appropriate for international candidates The study concluded overall that ‘the Edexcel International A levels is considered comparable to the overall GCE A level standard’ 22 Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/00 22

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