The reform of A level qualifications in the sciences

Dennis Opposs

SCORE seminar on grading of practical work in A level sciences,17 October 2014, London

A level reform in England

We want qualifications that:

properly prepare young people for next steps in education or work

provide a level playing field for all students

give valid results in which people can have confidence

Key decisions on A level reform

AS to be decoupled – but we expect they will be co-teachable, so significant flexibility remains

Otherwise, no fundamental changes to A levels – evidence is that they are broadly fit for purpose

A levels and AS to remain at the same standard as now

Some subjects undergoing significant review – mathematics, languages, geography

Sciences content updated

Other subjects will continue much as they are

A level reform schedule

Subjects for teaching from September 2015:

English language

English literature

English language and literature

Biology

Chemistry

Physics

Psychology

Computer science

Business

History

Art and design

Economics

Sociology

Current requirements

In the A levels in Biology, Chemistry and Physics subject currently:

The practical skills are assessed through tasks set by the exam boards or, in some cases, by schools and colleges

Assessments are supervised by teachers and are marked either by the teacher or by the exam board

Assessments are marked with the expectation of discrimination across the full ability range

Outcomes from the assessments contribute to the overall grades awarded to students

Current issues (1)

There are a range of concerns about the current arrangements for the assessment of the practical skills:

The assessments do not discriminate effectively between different levels of performance

Students’ grades for the practical assessments often exceed those for their written exams

Overall grades do not make clear students’ practical attainment

Current issues (2)

HE representatives have said the technical and manipulative skills of students entering courses are generally not strong enough

The range of assessments is limiting students' experience of practical work

The results cannot be validated effectively

The flexibility of the current assessments and the pressures in schools and colleges create the potential for malpractice

Getting things right (1)

We have considered how to strengthen the arrangements:

We have analysed the current qualifications and have discussed the issues and possible ways of addressing them with a wide range of stakeholder groups:– exam boards– teaching and subject bodies– the wider science community

We have all agreed that the current arrangements are not delivering good educational outcomes and need to change

The feedback and suggestions from all those consulted have been extremely helpful in shaping our views

Getting things right (2)

We have not been able to determine an approach that:– involves a sufficiently wide and varied range of practical work and

experimentation– would provide direct, objective and manageable assessment of

practical skills– could be marked sufficiently reliably and consistently and with

enough discrimination for the assessment to contribute to the overall qualification grade

We have taken forward into the reformed arrangements for first teaching in September 2015 several elements proposed by different stakeholder groups

We announced our decisions on these arrangements in April 2014, following our consultation the previous autumn

Key changes (1)

In the reformed A level science subjects:

Students taking each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics will have to complete at least 12 practical activities during the course

These activities must enable students to engage with a list of specific apparatus and techniques detailed in the content requirements for all qualifications

Students’ practical skills will be assessed in two main ways

Key changes (2)

The written exams – for Biology, Chemistry and Physics as well as for Psychology – will include questions about the theory and application of practical skills

These will address requirements such as commenting on experimental design and evaluating scientific methods

They will form at least 15% of the total marks for each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics and 25-30% of those for Psychology

Key changes (3)

Students’ practical skills when conducting the required activities for A level Biology, Chemistry and Physics will be directly assessed by teachers

The skills will include making and recording observations, applying investigative approaches and methods to practical work, as well as working safely using instruments

Attainment in these practical skills will be reported (pass/fail) on the certificate alongside the qualification grade rather than contributing to it

Addressing the new requirements (1)

To ensure that the new requirements are met:

Schools and colleges must keep records of the practical work undertaken by all their students

Each student must also keep a laboratory book/record for each practical activity

Exam boards will conduct live checks of students completing their practical work and the assessment by teachers

Exam boards will identify any schools and colleges where the entire qualification is not being taught

We plan to discuss with Ofsted the arrangements they may put in place to check practice

Addressing the new requirements (2)

The exam boards are conducting a trial this term to:

Finalise the common practical assessment criteria teachers will use to assess practical skills in Biology, Chemistry and Physics

Determine consistent arrangements between the exam boards for assessing and monitoring practical work

Make sure the arrangements in place are fit for purpose and promote the best science teaching and learning

Summary

Ofqual and others are firmly of the view that practical skills are an integral part of A level science courses

It is widely accepted that the current arrangements need to change

The new arrangements will – give schools and colleges the opportunity to make practical work

central to their teaching– provide opportunities to assess students’ practical skills better

than at present– enable the assessment of the learning that has taken place

through practical work to contribute to the qualification grade

Further information

http://www.ofqual.gov.uk/

 

Contact me atdennis.opposs@ofqual.gov.uk