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 toa) 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

BIOL1 BIOL5 BIOL6

30-40 41 26 10

Balance of assessment objectives

Assess Object

Target raw marks in each unit ( 2)

Unit 1 Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 Unit 6

AO1 26 33 7 22 27 5

AO2 26 32 7 35 57 10

AO3 8 20 36 18 16 35

Total marks

60 85 50 75 100 50

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.