In-Service Teacher Training

Assessment in IGCSE Chemistry 0620

Session 1: Introduction to the Syllabus

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• Introductions• Background• Aim of training

Welcome

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Session 1 looks at:

• Syllabus aims

• The structure of the syllabus

• Assessment objectives

• The development of different skills

• The difference between formative and

summative assessment

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Aims of the syllabus (1):Relevance and application

• Relevance of chemistry to everyday life

• The social and economic aspects of chemistry

• The application of chemistry in solving

problems

• Ethical and cultural influences

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Aims of the syllabus (2):Practical skills

• Carrying out experiments

• Inventiveness

• Following instructions

• Accuracy and precision

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Aims of the syllabus (3):Communication and objectivity

• Communication skills are important in

everyday life

• Objectivity is an important part of science

• Science has some limitations and does not

always provide answers

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Structure of the syllabus (1):Overall structure

• There are 14 sections covering physical, inorganic and organic chemistry

• Some sections are divided into subsections

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Structure of the syllabus (2):Overall structure

• The Core curriculum is applicable to all students

• The Extended curriculum builds on the core material and the relevant sections are placed next to each other

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Structure of the syllabus (3):Overview of curriculum content• 1 Particles (C + S))• 2 Experimental techniques (C + S))• 3 Atomic structure and bonding (C + S)• 4 Stoichiometry (formulae and equations) (C+ S)• 5 Electricity and chemistry (C + S)• 6 Chemical changes (energetics) (C + S)• 7 Chemical reactions (rates and equilibrium) (C + S)

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Structure of the syllabus (4):Overview of curriculum content (2)• 8 Acids, bases and salts (C + S)• 9 The periodic table (C + S)• 10 Metals (reactivity, metal extraction) (C+S)

• 11 Air and water (including gaseous pollutants) (C + S)• 12 Sulphur (S)• 13 Carbonates (C) • 14 Organic chemistry (alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, acids & macromolecules) (C + S)

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Structure of the syllabus (5):Core and Supplement

• What extra knowledge is required for the Supplement?

• What extra skills are required for the Supplement?

• Are there any parts of the Supplement and Core which overlap?

• Do certain topics appear in more than one of the sections 1-14?

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Assessment objectives (1):General assessment objectives

Assessment objective Weighting

• Knowledge with understanding 50%

• Handling information and 30% problem solving

• Experimental skills 20%

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Assessment objectives (2):The scheme of assessment Paper Weighting Discriminating Core or

grades Extension• Paper 1 30% C-G C (multiple choice)• Paper 2 (theory) 50% C-G C

OR

• Paper 3 50% A-D C + E (theory)• Papers 4 or 5 or 6 20% * C (practical)

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Assessment objectives (3):Paper 2 or Paper 3?

• Paper 2 is based on the Core curriculum (80 marks)Paper 2 targets C-G candidates

• Paper 3 is based on the Extended curriculum (60 marks) plus 20 marks targeted at the Core curriculum

Paper 3 targets A-C candidates

• Which paper should be chosen?

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Assessment objectives (4):Practical assessment

• Paper 4 Coursework

• Paper 5 Practical Test

• Paper 6 Alternative to Practical

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Assessment objectives (5):The importance of practical work

Candidates need to be able to:• Understand how to carry out practical

procedures• Record readings and construct tables of

data

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Assessment objectives (6):The importance of practical work

Candidates need to be able to:• Undertake tests for gases and ions • Identify sources of error• Suggest suitable techniques and apparatus

for an investigation

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Assessment objectives (7):Coursework (Paper 4)

• There are 4 strands:• C1 Using and organizing techniques, apparatus and materials• C2 Observing, measuring and recording• C3 Handling experimental observations and data• C4 Planning investigations

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Assessment objectives (8):The role of teachers in practical work• Provide students with opportunities to develop their practical

skills• Produce and assist with subjects for investigations• Sources of information• Advise students in the practicality of schemes they have

chosen• Suggest length of time and general treatment of the problem• Exercise continuing supervision of the assessment

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Formative assessment (1):Formative and summative assessment

• Summative assessment involves terminal testing and interim testing

• There is no individual feedback on summative assessments that involve public examinations

• Formative assessment involves assessing student progress on a regular basis

• There is always feedback to the student in formative assessment

• The feedback from formative assessments are used by the students to improve their performance

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Formative assessment (2):The nature of formative assessment

• Formative assessment involves an interaction between the student and teacher

• The teacher is able to assess progress, for example by feedback on tests etc.

• True formative assessment encourages improvement in performance

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Formative assessment (3):Ways of assessing progress

• Marking• Feedback on tests• Answers given to verbal questions • Target setting• Student self evaluation

Closing comments