GCE Biology Getting to grips with assessment objectives

Examinations test skills These skills are called ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES What skills (assessment objectives) are tested in the unit tests in Biology? To gain a good grade, you must develop these skills

What skills will be tested? Assessment objective 1 (AO1) Knowledge and understanding of science and of How Science Works Assessment objective 2 (AO2) Application of knowledge and understanding of science and of How Science Works Assessment Objective 3 (AO3) How Science Works

AO1: Knowledge and understanding Candidates should be able to a)recognise, recall and show understanding of scientific knowledge b)select, organise and communicate relevant information in a variety of forms

AO2: Application Candidates should be able to a)analyse and evaluate scientific knowledge and processes b)apply scientific knowledge and processes to unfamiliar situations including those related to issues c)assess the validity, reliability and credibility of scientific information

AO2: Application Candidates should be able to a)analyse and evaluate scientific knowledge and processes b)apply scientific knowledge and processes to unfamiliar situations including those related to issues c)assess the validity, reliability and credibility of scientific information

AO3: How Science Works Candidates should be able to a)demonstrate and describe ethical, safe and skilful practical techniques and processes, selecting appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods b)make, record and communicate reliable and valid observations and measurements with appropriate precision and accuracy c)analyse, interpret, explain and evaluate methodology, results and impact of their own and other’s experimental and investigative activities in a variety of ways

Performance Descriptions The specification gives statements about the skills that are characteristic of an A/B boundary candidate and an E/U boundary candidate AS Biology – pages 57 and 58 A2 Biology – pages 59 and 60 These descriptions tell you what you must demonstrate in your exam answers

Shift occurs in testing of AO1 Target weighting of assessment objective 1 (AO1) as percentage of total GCSE science BIOL1BIOL5BIOL

Balance of assessment objectives Assess Object Target raw marks in each unit (  2) Unit 1Unit 2Unit 3Unit 4Unit 5Unit 6 AO AO AO Total marks

Possible exam strategies include…. Find and complete the E-grade questions first Find and complete questions testing a particular skill first, e.g. the graph questions Find and complete the longer questions first – keep one theme going rather than jump from topic to topic Try each question in turn until you get stuck and then move on to the next (sub)question

Possible exam strategies include…. Find and complete the E-grade questions first Find and complete the AO2 questions first, e.g. the graph questions Find and complete the longer questions first – keep one theme going rather than jump from topic to topic Try each question until you get stuck and then move on to the next (sub)question You need to feel comfortable with a strategy that works well for you.