1. Summer Series Lessons and reflections
OCR Science Teacher Networks; Autumn 2018
Summer Series Lessons and reflections

2. Our subject advisors

3. Today’s programme 16.00 A Level grade boundaries
First reformed GCSE grade boundaries and perceptions GCSE Combined Science: Foundation or Higher Tier?
Resources from OCR
Priorities for 17/18 teaching and learning
16:45 Refreshments and networking
17.00 In subjects: A Level and GCSE review and discussion + teacher timeline feedback

4. 2018 A Level grade boundaries

5. Grade boundaries Available on our website (each paper and overall)
Grade boundaries available from the OCR site for OCR qualifications; other awarding bodies have the grade boundaries for their qualifications on their websites, but we’ve collated them on the following slides for convenience.

6. The free results analysis tool for OCR qualifications.
Active Results
The free results analysis tool for OCR qualifications.
Available through Interchange (login required)
Lots of extra information available at:

7. Grade boundaries
A board with lower grade boundaries is not ‘easier’ than another. Comparable outcomes ensures that it should be no easier for students to get a particular grade with one board than with another.
Exam papers inevitably vary in difficulty, but this is taken into account by the comparable outcomes process.
Comparable outcomes means that it should be no easier for students to get a particular grade with one exam board than with another.

8. Biology A Level grade boundaries
Improvement on last year in Bio A: the A boundary is higher, while the E boundary has remained the same. Both the A and E boundaries have decreased by a two percentage points in Bio B compared to last year.
By comparison, boundaries for AQA and Edexcel A are lower compared to last year.
We’ve worked over the past year to make the Biology papers more accessible to candidates and this is something we’ll continue to work on (in Chemistry and Physics too!). Bandwidth has increased vs last year but we’d like it to continue to do so.
Comparable outcomes means that it should be no easier for students to get a particular grade with one exam board than with another.

9. Chemistry A Level grade boundaries
Grade boundaries highest for OCR A – we’re seeing this as a positive for accessibility as it means that candidates were able to access a large proportion of the questions asked. Slight increase in percentage required for an A compared to last year in Chem A, slight decrease in Chem B. E boundary is the same as last year for Chem A, lower for Chem B (continues to be lower than for the legacy qualification). Large bandwidth between A and E for both Chem A and Chem B means that there was good differentiation between candidates at different grades.
Combining entries for A and B, OCR continues to have the largest entries for Chemistry A Level. AQA are the second largest awarding organisation, with Edexcel and Eduqas having much lower numbers.
Comparable outcomes means that it should be no easier for students to get a particular grade with one exam board than with another.

10. Physics A Level grade boundaries
Note: AQA Physics has optional components, so the grade boundaries shown for AQA here are an average for the different available options.
Similar story to chemistry. For Physics A, A boundary is slightly higher than in 2017, E boundary has dropped by 1%. In Physics B, A boundary is 1% down vs last year, with the E boundary dropping by 6%.
AS papers from June 2018 will be moved on to the public web site on 1st May This is to bring us in line with the other boards and to give private candidates the same opportunities as other candidates.
In some subjects, AS papers do not relate to A Level so are not used as Yr 12 exams. We need to up load the AS papers as a block so to leave science ones out is complicated.
Comparable outcomes means that it should be no easier for students to get a particular grade with one exam board than with another.

11. 2018 GCSE grade boundaries
Grade boundaries available from the OCR site for OCR qualifications; other awarding bodies have the grade boundaries for their qualifications on their websites, but we’ve collated them on the following slides for convenience.

12. GCSE (9-1) Biology - Foundation
The grade boundaries are comparable across all awarding organisations. Grade boundaries are slightly lower in comparison to the legacy Science qualifications, but this was expected as exam papers are now more rigorous.
We’ve worked over the past year to make all Science qualification papers more accessible to candidates and this is something we’ll continue to work on.
For Biology, grade boundaries are lower than the design thresholds but this was expected due to the changes to all of the Science (9-1) exam papers ie. 10% maths and 15% practical skills questions.

13. GCSE (9-1) Biology – Higher

14. GCSE (9-1) Chemistry – Foundation
The grade boundaries are comparable across all awarding organisations. Grade boundaries are slightly lower in comparison to the legacy Science qualifications, but this was expected as exam papers are now more rigorous.
For Chemistry, grade boundaries are lower than the design threshold but this was expected due to the changes to all of the Science (9-1) exam papers ie. 20% maths and 15% practical skills questions.

15. GCSE (9-1) Chemistry – Higher

16. GCSE (9-1) Physics – Foundation
The grade boundaries are comparable across all awarding organisations. Grade boundaries are slightly lower in comparison to the legacy Science qualifications, but this was expected as exam papers are now more rigorous.
For Physics, grade boundaries are lower than the design threshold but this was expected due to the changes to all of the Science (9-1) exam papers ie. 30% maths and 15% practical skills questions.

17. GCSE (9-1) Physics – Higher

18. GCSE (9-1) Combined Science – Foundation
The grade boundaries are comparable across all awarding organisations. Grade boundaries are slightly lower in comparison to the legacy Science qualifications, but this was expected as exam papers are now more rigorous.
For Combined Science, grade boundaries are lower than the design threshold but this was expected due to the changes to all of the Science (9-1) exam papers ie. 20% maths and 15% practical skills questions.

19. GCSE (9-1) Combined Science – Higher

20. Impact of changes on Maths GCSE had been minimal in May 2017
Impact on May 2018 Grading
Impact of changes on Maths GCSE had been minimal in May 2017
Number of U grades were expected to rise marginally in 2017 ≈0.5% (based on Maths)
Around 10% of Combined Science Higher candidates would have received a U if awarding regulations were followed
Impact seen across all specifications and exam boards
In May 2017, around 0.5% of students received a U grade in GCSE (9-1) Maths.
This year around 10% of students would have received a U grade in GCSE (9-1) Combined Science if awarding regulations were followed. This impact was seen across all specifications and exam boards.

21. Gateway Science – comparing 2017 to 2018
Gateway Suite – HigherTier
Grade 7/ 7-7 (%)
Grade 4/ 4-4 (%)
Biology
overall
52.8
30.0
Paper 3
46.7
25.6
Paper 4
58.9
34.4
Legacy (J263)
63.0 (56.9)
42.3 (36.3)
Chemistry
63.3
33.3
65.6
61.1
32.2
Legacy (J264)
71.2 (67.5)
49.5 (45.6)
Physics
35.0
57.8
31.1
64.4
38.9
Legacy (J265)
68.8 (64.4)
47.1 (42.5)
The highlighted in red 2017 figures show the percentage grade boundaries for A:7 and C:4 when the contribution from the Controlled Assessment is removed.
The 2017 A:7 modelled boundary was generally in line with the 2018 grade boundaries for each paper.
The 2017 C:4 modelled boundary were higher than the 2018 for each paper, particularly in Chemistry

22. Gateway Science – comparing 2017 to 2018
Gateway Suite – Foundation Tier
Grade 4/ 4-4 (%)
Grade 1/ 1-1 (%)
Biology
overall
43.9
8.3
Paper 1
37.8
8.9
Paper 2
50.0
7.8
Legacy (J263)
53.8 (51.3)
15.4 (12.5)
Chemistry
48.3
9.4
10.0
46.7
Legacy (J264)
56.3 (54.3)
15.3 (12.5)
Physics
41.7
10.6
45.6
11.1
Legacy (J265)
51.4 (48.1)
13.5 (10.0)
The highlighted in red 2017 figures show the percentage grade boundaries for C:4 and E:1 when the contribution from the Controlled Assessment is removed.
The 2017 C:4 modelled boundary were c. 6% higher than the 2018 grade boundaries for each paper.
The 2017 E:1 modelled boundary were generally in line with 2018 for each paper, except in Biology where they were 4% higher.

23. How did the mitigation work?
JCQ, Ofqual & exam boards identified issue
Objective of mitigation:
Minimise the impact of mis-tiering on students
Ensure that all grades awarded were valid
Bio/Chem/Phy ‘safety net’ grade 3: full bandwidth
Combined science:
Full 4–3 grade band applied
Full 3–3 safety grade introduced
Mitigation for May 2018 only
To minimise the impact on students:
For the separate Sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) grade 3 was increased to a full bandwidth instead of a half bandwidth.
For Combined Science, grade 4-3 was increased to a full bandwidth and 3-3 grade was introduced.
This reduced the number of students receiving a U grade to an appropriate level.

24. GCSE Combined Science: Foundation or Higher Tier?

25. GCSE Combined Science factsheet
Opportunity to talk through some of the points on the Factsheet.

26. GCSE Combined Science webinars
If the second webinar has already run at this point, point out that teachers can still access the resources via the CPD hub.

27. Resources from OCR

28. Examiner reports
Accessible directly through interchange or via the public qualification page.

29. Candidate Exemplars

30. Candidate Exemplars

31. OCR Resources
The OCR Science Twitter account shares regular updates:

32. OCR Resources
The CPD Hub can be used to book on to our CPD courses.

33. OCR Resources
Sign up for our subject updates and the Science Torchlight monthly newsletter:

34. Coffee break!

35. Teacher timeline feedback
For us to adequately plan our activities, it’s helpful for us to know when teachers are doing what.
Please look at the teacher timeline provided.
Does the timeline reflect your school year?
If not, what needs changing?

36. Reflections on the 2018 exams & outcomes
Were there any particular issues you identified for your students from this year’s examinations?
Have you found the new-style examiners’ reports useful?
How do you feel about the reformed GCSE now that the first series is complete and grade boundaries are available?
How are you deciding on entry for Higher or Foundation students for GCSE Combined Science this year? Has the information shared today affected your thoughts on this?