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GCE Biology

Getting to grips with assessment objectives

Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives

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

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GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives

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 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives

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 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives

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 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives

AO3: How Science Works

Candidates should be able to a) 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 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives

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 A2 Biology – pages 57 and 58 – pages 59 and 60 • These descriptions tell you what you must demonstrate in your exam answers Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives

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

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GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives

Balance of assessment objectives

Assess Object

AO1 AO2 AO3 Total marks Unit 1 26 26 8 60

Target raw marks in each unit (



2)

Unit 2 Unit 3 Unit 4 Unit 5 33 32 20 7 7 36 22 35 18 27 57 16 85 50 75 100 Unit 6 5 10 35 50 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives

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 Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives

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.

Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

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GCE Biology – Getting to Grips With Assessment Objectives

Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.

The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) is a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (company number 3644723) and a registered charity (registered charity number 1073334). Registered address: AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

Dr Michael Cresswell, Director General.

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Copyright © 2009 AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.