1. GCE Applied ICT Support Event June 17th 2009 Ross Park Hotel

2. Agenda Welcome & introduction CCEA local & online support Stretch & Challenge/A* Award Modified papers Questions and answers

3. Local support A local team fully committed to supporting you; Accessible subject officers and specification support officers; Tailored guidance from a subject specialist; and Centre visits on request

4. Aim of Event Bring you up to date with stretch and challenge and the awarding of A* To consult on the subject criteria for GCE Applied Information & Communication Technology.

5. Our support online Specification Specimen papers and mark schemes Chief Examiner’s reports with top tips for improving examination performance Student Guides Schemes of Work

6. ICT Microsite www.ccea.org.uk Select Applied ICT from Microsite Quickfind drop down menu

9. Changes for 2010 Despite the changes to the award (i.e inclusion of A*) for 2010 and onwards, there are no changes in the specification for examinations in 2010 and 2011. Nevertheless, the A2 written papers in January 2010 will have the elements of “stretch & challenge” to support the A* grade.

10. New layout of mark scheme Quality of written communication is embedded into particular questions identified at the front of the question paper. Mark schemes specifically show the markbands commensurate to the candidate response for each of these questions.

11. Stretch and challenge Regulatory requirement QCA guidance: fewer structured questions more open-ended questions which require the response to be constructed by the candidate understanding and connectivity to be tested through synoptic questions more extended writing.

12. CCEA response Writing teams are asked to: use a variety of stems in questions – for example analyse, evaluate, discuss, compare ensure connectivity between sections of questions use a wider range of question types to address different skills improve synoptic assessment.

13. Detailed Assessment Requires students to bring depth to their explanations Command words that require analysis include: –Discuss –Analyse –Evaluate Use appropriate methods in order to obtain and select information from a range of sources to analyse ICT problems

14. Detailed Assessment Command words Evaluate Discuss Assess To what extent Evaluate evidence to reach reasoned judgements Weighing something up Arguments for and against Usefulness of something Importance of something

15. How to score well in Evaluation Consider both sides of an issue – even if the arguments are not equally weighted. Students need to show examiners which points they consider to be most or least important Reach a conclusion Justify their conclusion

16. How to score well in Evaluation They need to consider the overall weight of the evidence They should reflect on the importance of each point in the context of the question Some arguments are weak and should be identified as such Others are crucial and must be given more credence when considering a conclusion It is only by assessing the strength of arguments that students can produce an informed judgement

17. Award of A* An A* will be awarded to the candidates who: attain an overall grade A in the qualification an aggregate of at least 90% of the uniform marks across the A2 units

18. Award of A* AS1 AS2 A21 A22 Total Grade 80 80 90 90 340 A* 70 70 90 90 320 A* 60 80 82 98 320 A* 95 95 88 89 367 A

19. Our support Exemplification of standards A2 September – November 2010

20. Consultation

21. Areas for consideration 6 - 4 Units? 12 to 8? Core Content for AS and A2 Remove units/Introduce new units Scheme of assessment

22. Staying informed For information on all our support events go to www.ccea.org.ukwww.ccea.org.uk Click on the Events icon (top left)

23. Contacts Officer with subject responsibility: Email: jmcgurk@ccea.org.uk Telephone: 028 90261443 Specification Support Officer: Catriona Skelton 028 90261200 Ext 2292 cskelton@ccea.org.uk Distribution