The UK Educational Landscape and Cambridge · PDF fileAACRAO Seattle 2011 Session ID: 153 Introduction ... yIntroduction of Extended Project ... 1 AS and Extended project Advanced

The UK Educational Landscape and Cambridge International Examinations

Presented by: Val Sismey, University of Cambridge International Examinations

Wednesday, March 16, 2011 10:30Session ID 153

AACRAO Seattle 2011 Session ID: 153

IntroductionThis session will provide an overview of the changes in UK education, including the reform of GCE 'A’Levels; and the introduction of new examinations such as the Diplomas and Cambridge Pre-U; plus additional information on Cambridge international variants such as 'O’ Level, IGCSE, and International 'A’ Levels.

UK National Curriculum and Awarding Bodies


UK National CurriculumFour key educational stages

Key stage 1: 5-7 year olds




And

Key Stage 5/Sixth Form: 16-19 education after compulsory schooling finishes www.testandexams.qcda.gov.uk/18914.aspx


England, Wales & Northern Ireland Awarding Bodies

AQA (Assessment and Qualifications Alliance) EnglandEdexcel Foundation EnglandOCR (Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examinations) EnglandWJEC (Welsh Joint Education Committee) WalesCCEA (Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment) Northern IrelandAndUniversity of Cambridge International Examinations


Our Organisation

Changes in the UK from 2011


Changes in the UK from 2011Changes to GCSEs and A LevelsIntroduction of Extended ProjectIntroduction of new diplomasIntroduction of Cambridge Pre-UApprenticeshipsFunctional skillsAnd many more…

UK GCSE & Cambridge equivalents


UK GCSE Cambridge International GCSE

180 class contact hours8 pass grades A*-GLinear examinationsOptional courseworkFunctional skills embedded

Group award (ICE) comprisingof 7 IGCSEs from specific subject disciplines

180 class contact hours8 pass grades A*-FModular examinationsControlled assessmentFunctional skills tested separately but included in resultEnglish Bac awarded for 5 subjects at Grade C or above including English and Maths


Grading Comparison: USA and GCSE/IGCSE

USA Cambridge

A+,A A*, A

A-,B+ B

B C

C+ D

C E

D+ F

D G

F U


Official Documentation


Cambridge O LevelCambridge O Level offered forover 50 yearsEquivalent to GCSE in UKWide range of subjectsCambridge O Level Grades A*-E only (A* from June 2010)Percentage Uniform Mark insome countries from June 2010Examination only options available

UK & Cambridge International AS and A Levels


Changes to UK A LevelsReduction in the number of units from six to four – less breadth more depthNo optional courseworkMove back towards examinationsStretch and challenge into A2 unitsNo structural changes to mathematics, music or applied A levelsNew grade of A* awarded since 2010 for students who gain an A grade overall at A level and in addition, gain 90 per cent or more of the maximum uniform marks on combined totals of the A2 units. This means achieving at least 180 uniform marks out of the 200 available at A2.http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/QualificationsExplained/DG_100390188


UK A Level Cambridge International A Level

360 class contact hours6 pass grades A*-ELinear examinationsRetakes only permitted for whole subjectsLinks in subject matter acrossall papersPercentage uniform mark (100) at syllabus level in some countries

360 class contact hours6 pass grades A*-EModular examinationsRetakes of modules permitted

Unitised, with some synoptic material at A2Uniform mark of 100 per unit (Total 400 on 4 unit A Levels)


Grading Comparison: USA and A/AS Levels

USA UK/Cambridge

A+,A A*, A

A-,B+ B

B C

C+ D

C E

F U


Official Documentation

Other Qualifications in the UK


Scottish qualificationsS3 and S4 S5 S6

Standard Grade (Foundation level) or Access 3

Intermediate 1 Intermediate 2

Standard Grade (General level) or Intermediate 1

Intermediate 2 Higher

Standard Grade (Credit level) or Intermediate 2

Higher Advanced Higher


UCAS Tariff point comparison between A Levels and Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

A* A B C D E A B C D

A and AS Level Scottish Highers and Advanced highers

UC

AS

Tarif

f Poi

nts

AS A Levels Higher Advanced Higher


Qualification & Credit Framework (QCF)

Levels 1-8 linked to NQFThree sizes of qualification in the QCF:Award (1-12 credits) Certificate (13-36 credits) Diploma (above 36 credits) - not linked to the 14-19 Diploma.Designed to support lifelong learning


The Extended ProjectEP will provide stretch and challenge for learners at level 3The EP is an integral component of the new Diplomas and optional at GCE A levelGrades A*-EEP approximately equivalent to half an A level and top grade awarded 70 UCAS tariff points


The new DiplomasCompletely new range of qualifications for 14-19 year olds which are more practical than traditional qualificationsBy 2013 will cover very wide range of subjects2010: construction; creative and media; engineering; IT; and society, health and developmentFoundation Diplomas: NQF level 1Higher diplomas: NQF level 2Progression Diplomas and Higher Diplomas: NQF level 3www.direct.gov.uk/diplomas/


UCAS Tariff point comparison between A Levels and Progression and Advanced Diplomas in the UK

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

A* A B C D E A* A B C D E

A and AS Level Diplomas

UC

AS

Tarif

f Poi

nts

4 A Levels 3 A Levels, 1 AS and Extended project Advanced Diploma Progression Diploma


BTEC Qualification NQFEntry Entry-1Introductory Entry-1First 2Specialist Entry-3National 3Higher National

4-5

Foundation 3-4Professional 4-7Short Course 1-7

13 different qualificationsAvailable as awards, certificates and diplomasA wide range of vocational areasGraded as PASS, MERIT or DISTINCTIONhttp://www.edexcel.com/Pages/Home.aspx


UCAS Tariff point comparison between A Levels and BTEC Nationals in the UK

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

A* A B C D E

DD

D

DD

M

DM

M DD

DM D

MM

M

MM

P

MM

MPP M

P M

PPP PP P

A and AS Level BTEC Nationals

UC

AS

Tarif

f Poi

nts

4 A Levels 3 A Levels, 1 AS and Extended project Diploma Certificate Award

Cambridge Pre-U


Why develop Cambridge Pre-U?Approach from school Principals:

Modularisation causedLoss of teaching timeCognitive fragmentation

Higher Education concerns:Problems in selection

How to identify the very best?Opacity of outcomes

Lack of readiness for HEKnowledge gapLoss of holistic understandingLack of generic skills

Independent workResearch skills


Cambridge Pre-U Diploma

PrincipalSubject

PrincipalSubject

PrincipalSubject

Global Perspectives

Independent Research Report Opportunities for greater depth

Completely free choice of 26 subjects

Guarantees breadth

Short Courses in MFL,Additional Principal Subjects

Individual learning pathways


Complementing a subject-based portfolioGPR in the curriculum

Mathematics

PhysicsChemistry

GPR


Key components of curriculum core

1. Critical thinking2. Independent study and extended writing3. Trans-disciplinary study4. Reflective learning5. Awareness/understanding of global issues6. Communication skills

Global Perspectives GPRIndependent Research Report


An articulated two year programme

Independent Research Report

Critical thinking and research skills used for an in-depth exploration of an independently formulated research question

Global Perspectives

Critical thinking and research skills taught through an exploration of a broad range of global issues

Acquired skills, emerging personal perspective


Global Perspectives topics and themesEthics Genetic engineering, medical ethics, standards of living versus quality of life,

ethical foreign policy, religious/secular divide

Economics Globalisation of economic activity, migration and work, impact of the internet, global trade, ethics and economics of food, economic role of women

Environment Science and politics of climate change, industry and pollution, biodiversity, challenge of genetic modification, urbanisation and the countryside

Technology Alternatives to oil, artificial intelligence, futures, technology and intelligent buildings, online and interactive communities

Politics and culture

China’s emergence as a superpower, endangered cultures, international law, supra-national agencies, new nationalities, integration and multiculturalism


Global Perspectives: the ‘critical path’

Deconstruction

Presentation

Reflection

Reconstruction

Detailed analysis of a point of view

Identification and evaluation of evidence for and against competing

points of view

How have the student’s own views been affected by the inquiry?

An opportunity to address an issue holistically and in detail


GPR Assessment

Year 1 Year 2

Global Perspectives Independent Research Report

01 Exam Paper 04 Written Report

02 Essay

03 Presentation

50% 50%


GPR in the USA

Florida school involved in international pilotNew York pilot started Sept 2010Interest in group of schools in Boston areaSupport from US universities

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) praise the educational values of GPR, saying that its values are similar to those of MIT

Duke University welcomes students who have taken the new curriculum from Cambridge, ‘Global Perspectives and Research Report’ (GPR). GPR puts an emphasis on a number of the skills that students need in order to be successful in their university education.

University of Columbia hosting school development meetings.


Cambridge Pre-U Principal Subjects

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

D1 D2 D3 M1 M2 M3 P1 P2 P3

Num

ber o

f Can

dida

tes

59 schools

2,246 exam entries

1,518 candidates

Most popular subjects:

GPR

Literature in English

Mathematics

History

French

Physics


Principal Subject UK A LevelSpecifically focused on preparation for University380 class contact hours9 pass grades D1-P3 Linear examinationsRetakes only permitted for whole subjectsLinks in subject matter across all papers

Original purpose broadened360 class contact hours6 pass grades A*-EModular examinationsRetakes of modules permittedUnitised, with some synoptic material at A2


Grading

Distinction

Merit

Pass

D1

D3

M2

M3

P1

P2

P3

D2

M1

E/U boundary

A/B boundary

C/D boundary

Cambridge Pre-U exists in a defined relationship to A Level

It is accessible to all who currently achieve pass at A Level


0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

D1 D2 D3 M1 M2 M3 P1 P2 P3 A* A B C D E IB7 IB 6 IB 5 IB 4 IB 3 AP 5 AP 4 AP 3

Pre-U A and AS Level IB AP

UC

AS

Tarif

f Poi

nts

Cambridge Pre-U Principal Course

TBD Cambridge Pre-U Global Perspectives and Independent Research

Cambridge Pre-U Short Course

A-Level AS Level IB Higher IB Standard AP Group A AP Group B


UK recognition‘Durham University notes the academic rigour of the linear approach, the retention of subject specialism and the expanded reporting scale at the top end of achievement.’


Questions?


Thank You!

Val [email protected]

Please complete the class evaluation formSession ID 153

Documents

The UK Educational Landscape and Cambridge · PDF fileAACRAO Seattle 2011 Session ID: 153 Introduction ... yIntroduction of Extended Project ... 1 AS and Extended project Advanced