GCSE Science

Cath Jadhav15 July 2009

Who we are and what we do

Independent regulator of qualifications, tests and assessments

Established in 2008

Legislation gives five objectives:– Standards for regulated qualifications– Standards for regulated assessments– Public confidence– Public awareness – Efficient provision, representing value for money

Ofqual Standards Group– Scrutiny programme– Code of Practice Monitoring– Standards over time

What are subject criteria?

Two different sets of criteria:– GCSE qualification criteria– Subject-specific criteria

The ‘rules’ for qualification development– State the high level aims of the qualification– Make clear the assessment objectives– Define the common content– Define some structural requirements– But still leave scope for differentiation between different

specifications

Qualification development – who does what?

QC(D)A– Write the subject criteria in consultation with stakeholders– Support awarding bodies through qualification development– Report to Ofqual on each draft qualification

Ofqual– Approve the subject criteria– Accredit qualifications against the criteria

Awarding Bodies– Write qualifications that meet the subject criteria

GCSE Science – our findings

Variation across specifications → many different routes to the same grade

Differences in types of assessment make comparability difficult to ensure

More and ‘smaller’ assessments differentiate less effectively

Context-based questions not always working

Some issues with internal assessment (addressed for 2008/9)

Grading judgements on written papers not in line with expectations

Recommendations for revised subject criteria

Next steps

Ongoing monitoring of current GCSE science specifications

Revised subject criteria for science taking into account Ofqual’s recommendations

QCA currently consulting on the revised subject criteria http://www.qca.org.uk/qca_21855.aspx

Criteria published November 2009

Awarding bodies submit new specifications May 2010

Regulators accredit new specifications August 2010

First teaching September 2011

First GCSE awards August 2013