Subject information updates

The last full assessment series for the legacy GCSE science specifications (listed above) will be June 2012. Candidates will, however, have a re-sit opportunity in January 2013. Certification for all legacy GCSE science specifications will also be available for the final time in the January 2013 series.

The JCQ Notice to Centres in February 2012, ‘Withdrawal of GCSE science specifications’, stated that, for the January 2013 series, ‘Units that are normally offered by OCR will be available’.

Following requests from centres, we have decided to offer the full set of legacy GCSE science units in the January 2013 series, to include coursework units and Ideas in Context units (Twenty First Century Science Suite).

Whilst the January 2013 series is intended as a re-sit opportunity, we will accept unit entries for candidates entering for the first time in the January 2013 series. However, please be aware that there will be no further re-sit opportunities for those candidates – no legacy unit assessments or certification will be available following the January 2013 series.

Candidates intending to complete GCSE science courses in June 2013 should be entered for the new science specifications for first teaching from 2011. Full details on the new specifications are available from the GCSE 2006 Science pages.

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998.

The set texts for GCSE and GCE Biblical Hebrew will change as follows:

For examination from June 2014

(J196) GCSE Biblical Hebrew: Unit A202 Literature

Candidates are required to study at least two of the three set texts:

• The trials of Abraham - Genesis 12-18
• The early years of King David - 2 Samuel 2-6; 8-9
• A spotlight on the period of the Judges - The Book of Ruth and Judges 11-12

(H017/H417) GCE Biblical Hebrew: Unit F191 (AS) Translation, Comprehension and Literature

Candidates are required to study at least two of the three set texts:

• Deuteronomy 16 vv18–22, 17–21, 25, 32 vv 1–20
• 1 Samuel 14–16, 18–19
• Isaiah 35–39 (to be read in conjunction with 2 Chronicles 31 vv2–21and 32)

For examination from June 2015

(H017/H417) GCE Biblical Hebrew: Unit F192 (Advanced GCE) Translation, Comprehension, Composition and Literature

Candidates are required to study at least two of the three set texts:

• 1 Samuel 25–27, 29–31 and 2 Samuel 1
• Psalms 19–28
• The return to Judah: Ezra 1, Haggai 1–2, Zechariah 7–10

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998.

The texts listed below will be examined for the first time in the June 2013 series. We expect you to start teaching these new texts in September 2012 to candidates taking A2 for the first time in June 2013. These details are also available on page 47 of the GCE Classics specification (PDF, 341 KB).

From June 2013 to June 2015, inclusive, the A2 set texts will be:

• Aristophanes’ Frogs and Lysistrata
• Plautus’ Pseudolus and The Swaggering Soldier.

Candidates may use any complete translation of the texts. Where a translation is printed on a question paper, it will be taken from:

• Aristophanes, Frogs translated by D Barrett, revised by S Dutta (Penguin)
• Aristophanes, Lysistrata translated by A Sommerstein (Penguin)
• Plautus, The Swaggering Soldier and Pseudolus translated by E F Watling (Penguin).

Extracts printed on the question papers will be taken from these translations even if they go out of print during the lifetime of the specification.

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998.

The Cambridge Nationals in Business and Enterprise and the Cambridge Nationals in Sport are accredited qualifications.

While these qualifications were re-developed to meet the recommendations of the Wolf Report, they were not accredited in time to be included in the DfE’s final list of qualifications eligible for the 2014 KS4 Performance Tables, published in March 2012.

The Cambridge Nationals in Business and Enterprise and the Cambridge Nationals in Sport will be eligible to be considered for the DfE’s list of qualifications that will count in the 2015 KS4 Performance Tables. The DfE plans to publish the 2015 list in November 2012 and we are confident that both these qualifications will be included on this list as they have been developed to the same standard as the Cambridge Nationals that will count towards the 2014 KS4 Performance Tables – those in Health and Social Care, ICT, and Science.

Year 9s: The DfE has confirmed that achievements for Year 9 candidates in 2011/12 who have already started current Level 2 OCR Nationals in Business, Health and Social Care, ICT, Science, and Sport will count in the 2014 performance tables. (Please note: this does not include the Level 2 National Short Course and First Awards in ICT).

Registrations for OCR Nationals in Business and OCR Nationals in Sport, along with all other OCR Nationals, will close on 31 August 2012, in line with their end accreditation date.

Entries for OCR Nationals in Media Level 2 and Level 3 will no longer be accepted after the end of August 2012 (Last certification date 31 December 2014).

We recognise the hard work and dedication of students and teachers who have used these qualifications successfully.

Major changes in vocational learning, as a result of the Wolf Report, have led to the decision not to redevelop these qualifications as Cambridge Nationals. OCR Nationals in Media Level 2 and Level 3 are being redeveloped as Cambridge TECs in Media Level 2 and Level 3. Further information about these qualifications will be available shortly. Register to keep updated.

Alternative OCR qualifications for students who are interested in working in Media are:

• Creative iMedia Levels 1 and 2 Award/Certificate/Diploma
• GCSE Media Studies

• FAO: Business Enterprise Tutors and Assessors
• Date: April 2012
• Subject: Business Enterprise (QCF)

The qualifications listed below expire for entries on 30 June 2012.

• 06510 – Level 2 Award in Business Enterprise (500/1798/6)
• 06511 – Level 3 Award in Business Enterprise (500/1797/4)
• 06753 – Level 1 Award in Understanding Business Enterprise Activities (500/3401/7)
• 06754 – Level 2 Award in Understanding Business Enterprise Activities (500/3402/9)
• 06755 – Level 3 Award in Understanding Business Enterprise Activities (500/3400/5).

Replacement units have been agreed and we are currently working to develop replacement qualifications that will be launched on 1 July 2012. We are now in the process of submitting our proposal to Ofqual for accreditation and will provide details of this as soon as they are confirmed.

Further updates regarding the progress of the replacement qualifications and qualification support material will be available on the Business Enterprise qualification pages.

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 02476 851 509.

• FAO: Head of ICT Department and GCE ICT Teachers
• Date: April 2012
• Subject: GCE ICT (H117/H517)

A number of revisions have been made to the GCE ICT specification for teaching from September 2012. These changes have been made to update the specification with regard to new technology and to rebalance the specification with regard to the theory at AS and A2.

The list below summarises the main changes from the most recent version of the specification (version 2, online edition, February 2008).

• Unit G061 (Information, Systems and Applications), pages 7–12:
  • Some of the key words have been changed. For example, in section 3.1.1 c, the keyword has been changed from describe to compare.
  • There has also been a reduction in content to allow candidates to learn, understand and apply the remaining content in greater depth. For example, the list of applications in section 3.1.3 b has been reduced.
  • Advances in technology and software have made some of the content redundant – for example, section 3.1.3 i.
• Unit G062 (Structured ICT Tasks), pages 13–15:
  • There are minimal changes to this section of the specification.
• Unit G063 (ICT Systems, Applications and Implications), pages 15–21:
  • As with Unit G061, there have been some changes to key words. For example, in section 3.3.1 b the keyword has been changed from describe to discuss.
  • Some content has been moved to Unit G061 (for example, in section 3.3.1)
  • Content has been updated to reflect advances in technology. For example, in sections 3.3.3 h, m and n.
• Unit G064 (ICT Project), pages 22–26:
  • Some areas of the specification for Unit G064 have been reworded.
  • The distribution of marks for Unit G064 has changed.
  • The Definition, investigation and analysis section (3.4.1) has been changed to reflect the need for two different areas of information collection – the current system and the requirements of the new system.
  • Test plans have been moved into the Design section (3.4.2).
  • The Software development, testing and installation section (3.4.3) has been changed to clarify the requirements of the detailed description of one element of testing.
  • The Evaluation section (3.4.5) has been broken down into separate parts.
  • The exemplification of Unit G064 marking criteria has been added as Appendix B (page 50).

To make it clear where significant changes have been made to the specification, vertical lines have been inserted next to the relevant text in Version 4 (March 2012) of the specification. Please download an up-to-date version of the specification and discard any previous copies. The specification can be downloaded from the ICT all documents page.

• FAO: Head of Mathematics and Teachers of Mathematics
• Date: April 2012
• Subject: GCE Mathematics (MEI)

From June 2013, the ‘Investigations of Curves’ topic is to be removed from Unit 4756. This topic will be examined for the final time in the June 2012 and January 2013 series.

From June 2013 there will not be an optional topic on this paper. Section A will continue to have three compulsory questions on the topics Polar Coordinates, Calculus, Series, Complex Numbers and Matrices. Section B will have one compulsory question on Hyperbolic Functions.

An electronic copy of the specification (from June 2013) reflecting this change is available from the Mathematics (MEI) all documents page.

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998 or contact the dedicated Maths line on 0300 456 3142 or at maths@ocr.org.uk

• FAO: Head of Geography
• Date: April 2012
• Subject: GCSE Geography B J385

We’d like to remind you that candidates are expected to study all the content of the four key themes within the specification:

• Theme 1: Rivers and Coasts
• Theme 2: Population and Settlement
• Theme 3: Natural Hazards
• Theme 4: Economic Development.

Candidates should study all four key themes during their course to give complete coverage of the specification. This allows candidates currently in Year 10 (first teaching September 2011) to take advantage of the flexibility provided by the current unitised structure of the specification.

Studying the content in its entirety should also ensure candidates are well prepared to continue to study Geography at a higher level.

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998.

• FAO: Head of Sociology
• Date: April 2012
• Subject: GCSE Sociology

From June 2012 onwards, there will be a change to the layout of the following GCSE Sociology examination paper:

• Unit B672 – Socialisation, Culture and Identity.

The question paper will consist of a combined question paper/answer booklet, where candidates write their answers in the answer booklet on the lines provided after each question.

In most cases, the number of lines allocated to each question gives an indication of the anticipated length of the answer. If a candidate needs to write more than the space allows, there is additional space at the end of the question and the answer booklet. The space at the end of the answer booklet can be used for any question. However, if a candidate uses this additional space, the question number(s) must be clearly shown.

If a candidate uses all the additional space at the end of the question and answer booklet and therefore needs additional paper, it is acceptable to use supplementary answer sheets. The candidate name, candidate number, centre number and question numbers should be clearly written on any supplementary answer sheets. The completed sheets should then be securely attached to the candidate’s answer booklet.

Amended versions of the June 2011 examination papers showing the new layout are now available on Interchange (OCR’s secure website for teachers and Exams Officers). We suggest that teachers show these versions to candidates or use them for mock examinations in order to familiarise candidates with the new format.

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998.

• FAO: Exams Officer, Key Skills Co-ordinator and Key Skills Teachers
• Date: April 2012
• Subject: Key Skills accreditation and certification

Key Skills have been extended in England for use in Apprenticeship Frameworks until September 2012. This means learning providers can offer a choice of either Functional Skills (see the OCR Admin Guide: Functional Skills24 April 2012 (PDF, 1 MB)) or Key Skills. Learning providers who prefer to deliver Functional Skills can go ahead, as this is not a postponement of Functional Skills but rather a period of dual running alongside Key Skills.

Accreditation for Key Skills in Northern Ireland and Wider Key Skills (Problem Solving, Working with Others and Improving Own Learning and Performance) have also been extended.

Please note this extension does not apply to Wales. Centres in Wales are required to use Essential Skills Wales in Apprenticeship frameworks (please see the OCR Admin Guide:Essential Skills Wales27 April 2012 (PDF, 1 MB) for details).

The accreditation dates are as follows:

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 02476 851 509.

• FAO: ICT Professional Competence (PROCOM) Tutors and Assessors
• Date: April 2012
• Subject: Customer Care in ICT

The units shown below have been updated and replaced on the qualification pages.

• Level 2 Customer Care in ICT (A/500/7158)
• Level 3 Customer Care in ICT (F/500/7159).

The current versions of the unit documents are easily identifiable by the UAN shown at the top of the unit.

The updated units must be used with immediate effect by all new candidates registering for the unit. All new candidates must be assessed to this version of the units and meet all the assessment criteria. Where candidates have already started the old units, they can be assessed to the criteria in the old unit, ensuring evidence is provided from demonstrating competence.

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 02476 851 509.

• FAO: Heads of Art and Exams Officers
• Date: April 2012
• Subject: GCE, GCSE and ELC Art and Design qualifications

This guidance has been issued in order to clarify and update the procedures and processes for the moderation of the above Art and Design qualifications in 2012, and to support teachers and centres in their effective administration of these qualifications. Please ensure that this notice is read by all teachers who deliver OCR Art and Design qualifications in your centre. It should be read in conjunction with the individual specifications, Instructions to Centres and Teacher’s Handbooks, available on the OCR website.

Making entries and submitting marks

Much of this process will remain exactly the same. You should continue to make entries and submit marks to OCR and your visiting moderator by the required date. Arrangements for the visit and display of work can be discussed with your moderator. For the moderation to take place, GCE/GCSE samples of work should be set out clearly by individual unit in candidate rank order; for ELC it should be set out by component in candidate rank order.

Arranging the visit

During the initial telephone conversation to arrange the visit with you, the moderator will run through a series of checks to ensure that all the correct paperwork has been sent to OCR. The moderator will then arrange the date for the visit. Whilst we make every effort to accommodate moderation dates requested by centres, it may not be possible for all centres to have the dates they would like, so please be prepared to be flexible on visit dates.

Your moderator will then email you at your centre’s official email address, to confirm the date and time of the visit and provide details of the sample(s) required.

Quality assuring the moderation and the collection of artwork

Team leaders or senior moderators will accompany the visiting moderator in selected centres as part of OCR’s quality assurance process. On occasion, it may be necessary for a senior moderator to undertake a follow-in visit. You will be informed of this by your visiting moderator. The senior moderators will also choose work for awarding and training purposes in accordance with the JCQ and Ofqual requirements. No more than one unit of work per candidate will be chosen each series. This year, we are using the UPS courier service to collect work: your moderator will be able to give guidance on this where necessary.

If work is taken from the centre following the moderation visit, it will not be returned until the purpose(s) for which it has been collected are completed: this may be autumn of the following academic year. Therefore, we advise centres to take photographs of the work before the moderation visit takes place. Further guidance is available on the qualifications pages of the OCR website.

On completion of the moderation visit

Your moderator will give an abbreviated verbal report to one designated member of staff, usually the Head of Art. The verbal report will consist of the moderator’s findings with regard to the sample seen, the moderation display and the overall trend within the centre.

The moderator may also mention how to access further guidance and support, or inform the centre of relevant OCR art exhibitions and initiatives.

There will be no opportunity for a re-moderation in-series as we have instigated further quality assurance checks throughout the moderation period.

After the visit

The moderator will notify OCR of the results of the moderation. Your centre will receive the outcome of moderation and the enhanced written report of the moderation in the August release of results.

All centres have the right to request a post-results review of moderation through the formal enquiries about results (EAR) procedure. Further details are available on the Post Results page.

If you have any queries about this notice, please approach our Customer Contact Centre by emailing general.qualifications@ocr.org.uk or by calling on 01223 553998.

• FAO: Exams Officer and GCSE Media Studies Teachers
• Date: April 2012
• Subject: GCSE Media Studies J526

Administration

• We’d like to remind you that you will not receive a controlled assessment sample request email from OCR (noreply@ocr.org.uk) until marks for a particular unit have been submitted.
• Sample request emails need to be actioned within three working days, with the requested candidate portfolios sent to the moderator. If you have ten or less candidates there is no need to wait for a sample request, all the candidate portfolios can be sent straight to the moderator upon submission of marks.
• Units B321 and B324 are likely to be reviewed by different moderators. We therefore request that you check your moderator address labels carefully before sending portfolios.
• A signed centre authentication must be supplied to the moderator. We will not issue results for a moderated unit without receipt of a signed centre authentication form.
• Copies of candidate work may be retained by OCR once the moderation process is completed.

Coversheets

• Ensure controlled assessment coversheets have been filled in correctly:
  • These must be completed for each candidate with the candidate name, number and marks entered correctly.
  • Summative comment boxes are for teachers to communicate their assessment decisions to the moderator. These boxes should not be filled in by candidates.
  • We advise you to use the assessment criteria and relate them to a specific candidate’s achievements when writing your summative comments.
  • We also suggest you give additional information to help support the marks, such as whether the candidate used original photography or found images, or their role within a group where relevant.
• Teacher annotation on work is expected, in order to make it clear to the moderator how the marks have been allocated.

General

The choice of media texts used in the delivery of these units is at the discretion of each individual centre. However, consideration should be given to the appropriateness of any media texts used, in terms of the age range (including BBFC certification) and the maturity of candidates taking the course.

We’d like to remind you that blogging is not an acceptable method of submitting work for GCSE Media Studies due to the controlled conditions and security of work. Please see the separate Notice to Centres - Amendment to controlled assessment handbook (PDF, 27 KB).

Portfolio administration (Unit B321)

• A hard copy of the production exercise should be submitted in addition to any electronic work supplied. If websites have been undertaken for the production exercise, these should be submitted on CD.
• Work should be no larger than A3 size and placed in card folders for ease of access.
• We request that you do not use three-sided plastic folders (see page 14 of the online specification (PDF, 215 KB)).
• Work should be arranged into three, clearly labelled sections:
  • The analytical assignment
  • The production exercise
  • The evaluative commentary, together with evidence of research and planning material.
• Final versions of the production exercise must be clearly labelled so there is no confusion over which piece of work is draft and which piece is the final version, submitted for assessment and marked by the teacher.

Portfolio administration (Unit B324)

The only element in this unit where group work is allowed is the production. If group work is undertaken, teachers need to take into account evidence of a candidate’s individual contribution to the group product when marking this element of the unit. It is also important that teachers mention the level of individual contribution to the production in the summative comment box on the controlled assessment coversheet.

Candidates should use a contents list to organise work and arrange their portfolios into three, clearly labelled sections:

• Research & Planning
• Production work
• Evaluation

*If group work, teachers need to ensure each candidate portfolio includes the group production piece, plus each candidate’s individual elements. For example in Brief 2, this would entail a group front cover and contents page of a magazine plus individual double page spread.

If submitting electronic material to the moderator, universal file formats must be used, for example:

• Print – as PDF or JPEG
• Video/Audio – domestic player or .mpg / .mov
• Web – on disk in folder with index/home page identified.

Before submitting work to a moderator, you should ensure that any electronic materials have been copied correctly, run as intended and, if possible, checked on more than one computer/browser.

Open Office is a free software suite that can be used as a free alternative to Microsoft products http://OpenOffice.org

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998.

• FAO: Exams Officers and Functional Skills Tutors
• Date: April 2012
• Subject: Functional Skills

If you require modified papers as part of an access arrangement or reasonable adjustment, you must make applications for Braille question papers and all other modified papers at least ten weeks before the chosen test window.

The correct process for applying for modified papers for Functional Skills qualifications is to:

• Complete a JCQ Form 7 (available to download from the JCQ website)
• Send the completed form to OCR Special Requirements, 1 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB1 2EU.

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 02476 851 509.

• FAO: Head of Mathematics, Teachers of Mathematics and Exams Officer
• Date: March 2012
• Subject: GCE Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Mathematics (MEI) and Further Mathematics (MEI)

We’d like to remind you that, whenever an entry is made for any qualification in GCE Mathematics or Further Mathematics, all previously certificated qualifications should be re-entered for.

For a candidate entering for Mathematics and Further Mathematics, re-certificating ‘unlocks’ all units and makes all units available to optimise the grade for each qualification.

For example, a candidate certificates for AS Mathematics and AS Further Mathematics in Year 12, with Statistics 1 counting towards AS Further Mathematics. The candidate certificates for A2 Mathematics (and possibly A2 Further Mathematics) in Year 13. Statistics 1 is ‘locked’ into Further Maths, so cannot be used towards Maths – some of the otherwise valid combinations are not available and the candidate may not be awarded the best possible grades. Re-certificating the two AS qualifications in Year 13 ‘unlocks’ all units and makes them all available to optimise the grade for each qualification.

Certification entries are free of charge, and can be made at any time.

Further details can be found on the Mathematics qualification pages of the website www.ocr.org.uk/maths or in the OCR Admin Guide: 14–19 Qualifications (PDF, 1 MB).

Graphical calculators for Unit 4757 (Further Pure 3)

The Markov Chain option requires access to a calculator that can handle matrices. We have been made aware of calculators that are limited to handling matrices up to size 3 by 3. Please be aware that this may not be adequate; calculators should be able to handle matrices up to at least size 5 by 5.

Computer software for Unit 4773 (Decision Computation)

This unit requires the use of a linear programming package. Many centres offering this unit use the LINDO package, obtained through MEI. Please note that this software is no longer supported and an alternative programming package, LINGO, can now be obtained through MEI. LINDO commands run in LINGO. For more information, please go to the Mathematics qualification pages of the website at www.ocr.org.uk/maths or contact MEI via www.mei.org.uk.

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998 or contact the dedicated OCR Maths line on 0300 456 3142 or at maths@ocr.org.uk.

See the Notice to Centres - Admin Guide supplement - CPC 201218 April 2012 (PDF, 95 KB) for more details.

• FAO: Exams Officer and Head of Science
• Date: February 2012
• Subject: GCSE Applied Science (Double Award) J649

The last full assessment series for all GCSE Applied Science (Double Award) units will be June 2012.

This will be the last coursework submission opportunity for units B481 and B483 and the final external assessment opportunity for unit B482. Candidates will, however, have the opportunity to re-sit unit B482 only in January 2013.

These units will not be available for assessment beyond this point.

However, OCR offers a range of suitable alternative Science courses, including:

• GCSE Science A (J241) or Science B (J261) plus Additional Applied Science (J251)
• GCSE Science A (J241) or Science B (J261) plus Environmental and Land-Based Science (J271)
• New OCR Cambridge Nationals in Science Level 1/Level 2 (awaiting accreditation)

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998.

• FAO: Teachers of GCE Government and Politics
• Date: February 2012
• Subject: GCE Government and Politics H095/H495

We would like to take this opportunity to remind all teachers preparing candidates for compulsory questions on F851, F852, F853 and F854, that topics may be drawn from any of those listed in the specification.

It has come to our attention that some centres believe a predictable pattern of questioning has emerged on the setting of compulsory questions. In order to clarify we would like to emphasise there is no intended pattern and that, in line with good educational practice, centres need to prepare candidates to cover all topics.

Centres must not assume that only those topics not assessed to date will be set as compulsory questions. To avoid any predictability, topics already assessed may also reappear as compulsory questions.

Centres are advised that candidates be prepared with this notice in mind.

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998.

• FAO: Exams Officer and Young Enterprise Link teachers
• Date: February 2012
• Subject: Young Enterprise Level 1 Award and Level 2 and 3 Certificates (03982, 03983, 03984)

The closing date for entries for the following May 2012 series Young Enterprise qualifications is Tuesday 10 April 2012.

• 03982 – Young Enterprise Level 1 Award
• 03983 – Young Enterprise Level 2 Certificate
• 03984 – Young Enterprise Level 3 Certificate

The examination for all these qualifications will take place on Tuesday 8 May 2012. The case study required for the examination will be available on the OCR website six weeks before (Tuesday 27 March 2012). Unlike previous series, please note that the case study will no longer be supplied in hard copy in advance of the examination, so you must download this from the relevant qualification pages of the OCR website:

• Young Enterprise Level 1 Award - All documents page
• Young Enterprise Level 2 Certificate - All documents page
• Young Enterprise Level 3 Certificate - All documents page

A hard copy of the case study will be included in your examination pack, due to arrive in your centre 23 April 2012.

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998.

• FAO: Exams Officer and Head of Art and Design
• Date: February 2012
• Subject: Entry Level Certificate Art and Design (R300–R306)

The Entry Level Certificate (ELC) in Art and Design (R300–R306) will change from postal to visiting moderation from the June 2012 series onwards.

The specification documentation and support materials have been updated to reflect this change and are available from the qualification documents page.

Below is a brief summary of the key changes to the moderation process. Please download the specification from the OCR website for more detail.

• Appointment of a moderator - The moderator will, where appropriate, also be the GCSE moderator for your centre. This allows the moderation visits to be organised in an integrated way, which we hope you will find helpful.
• Photographing candidate work - We recommend that centres, if appropriate, allow candidates to photograph their work during the year for the purpose of keeping a record should it be selected by the moderator for award or training purposes.
  
  Photographing work also enables candidates to build an e-portfolio which can be used as reference material by both teachers and candidates in current and future series.
• Moderation sample - The moderation sample will be communicated to you in writing by email or letter and during the phone call from your moderator to arrange the visit.
  
  When preparing the sample for the moderator’s visit, it is suggested that 2 x A1 boards or equivalent, plus the final outcome(s), would be an appropriate amount of work for each candidate to display if sampled for the coursework portfolio. A similar amount would be sufficient for the sampled OCR-set work.

Your moderator will be happy to discuss any concerns or queries you may have regarding this change when they contact you to arrange the moderation visit(s).

Alternatively, the Subject Area Support Team (a group of experienced assessors/practitioners) is available to support you throughout the year. Please call our Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998 for more information about this support.

• FAO: The Head of Physical Education and the Exams Officer
• Date: February 2012
• Subject: GCE Physical Education

It is important to visit the OCR website regularly throughout the academic year in order to access the most up-to-date and relevant materials which support the specification. Any new or updated resources will be added to the all documents page.

The following essential resources are available to download free of charge:

• Teacher Support: Coursework Guidance Booklets - amendments have been made to the AS Unit G452 and A2 Unit G454 Coursework Guidance Booklets in response to feedback from centres and moderators. The amended Coursework Guidance Booklets for 2011/12 have been published on the OCR website. All changes/amends/new information within these documents have been highlighted in yellow. A summary document highlighting the changes/amends/new information has also been made available on the OCR website. All assessments and administration for Units G452 and G454 in 2012 must be conducted in line with these amended documents.
• Coursework Administration Guide – this guide has been updated for 2011/12. It aims to assist centres in their administration of the coursework Units G452 and G454. Centres must read this to ensure that they are familiar with the key dates and requirements associated with these units.

DVD/CD-ROM Evidence

Centres are reminded of the requirement to collate and retain DVD/CD-Rom evidence in respect of Units G452 and G454. The Teacher Support: Coursework Guidance Booklets stipulate the following:

• All final assessments must be supported by DVD/CD-Rom evidence. Centres are required to have DVD/CD-Rom evidence of a sample of their candidates from across the range of marks (top, middle and bottom) for each activity assessed. This DVD/CD-Rom evidence should include:

For AS:

• The selection and application of acquired and developed skills. Candidates are recorded taking part in performance, coaching or officiating assessment situations;
• Evaluation and planning for the improvement of performance. Candidates are recorded responding, together with footage of the performance they have observed.

For A2:

• The performance of a range of basic and advanced acquired and developed skills in an authentic context. Candidates are recorded taking part in performing, coaching or officiating assessment situations;
• Evaluation, appreciation and the improvement of performance. Candidates are recorded responding, together with footage of the performance they have observed.

• Centres should ensure that candidates included in the DVD/CD-Rom evidence can be clearly identified and married easily to candidates detailed within the assessment forms. This can be achieved by the use of numbered bibs together with a commentary or accompanying documentation. The DVD/CD-Rom evidence should relate to the assessment criteria for the activity concerned.,/p>

  Centres are also advised that any request for Post Results Services in respect of Units G452 and/or G454 is subject to a centre being able to provide DVD/CD-Rom evidence of a sample of their candidates from across the range of marks (top, middle and bottom) for each performance activity viewed at moderation. DVD/CD-Rom evidence of a sample of their candidates from across the range of marks (top, middle and bottom) will also be required in respect of coaching, officiating and, for G452, the Evaluation and planning for the improvement of performance (EPIP) and, for G454, the Evaluation, appreciation and the improvement of performance (E & A).

• Moderator address labels – centres will no longer be sent moderator address labels for GCE Physical Education. Centres will be informed as to their moderator’s address by their moderator via his/her introductory letter which should be received in late March/early April.
• Interactive Assessment Forms – centres are encouraged to use the amended interactive Practical Assessment Forms in respect of Units G452 and G454. These amended forms enable centres to enter the marks required for those performance activities with distinct, separate elements for assessment, a requirement for a log book and/or when candidates are assessed in an event/skill and measured against the performance assessment tables. For coaching and officiating a separate mark can be entered for the coaching/officiating itself and the log book. In each instance, the overall mark will be automatically calculated when using the interactive Practical Activity Assessment Form. Centres are also encouraged to use the amended interactive Final Practical Activity Assessment Forms and the interactive EPIP/E & A forms.
• Candidates attending moderation – Moderation is part of the assessment process and, as such, if a candidate is selected by the moderator to attend moderation, they should be present on the day. If a candidate cannot attend for a legitimate reason, such as injury or a clash with another examination,the centre must inform the moderator before the moderation visit and a suitable alternative candidate must attend the moderation instead. In June 2011, a number of candidates arrived at moderation without the necessary equipment. It is vital that candidates attending moderation have appropriate kit and equipment where relevant eg shin pads, etc.
• Centre Authentication Form (CCS160) – Centres must send a signed Centre Authentication Form to their moderator along with all of the other paperwork for each practical unit to be assessed. This form is available from the OCR website.
• Seasonal activities – There is now a set list of activities for which marks for AS Unit G452 may be submitted by 15 May rather than 31 March. The list can be found in Section 1.3 of the Coursework Guidance booklet. Any activity not on the seasonal activity list must be assessed by 31 March. NB all A2 assessments must be completed by 31 March. All AS candidates must have a minimum of one activity mark submitted by 31 March as per the requirements of the specification. Candidates being assessed in seasonal activities may still be called to moderation to answer questions on, or demonstrate knowledge of skills associated with, these activities even if final assessment of them by the centre has yet to take place.

• FAO: Exams Officer and Head of Health and Social Care Department
• Date: February 2012
• Subject: QCF Health and Social Care qualifications (04700, 04711, 05921, 04701, 05919)

If you are intending to submit an online claim for any of the following Health and Social Care qualifications, please note that you can submit candidate evidence electronically to the OCR examiner-moderator, via email.

• 04700 - Level 2 Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care
• 04711 - Level 2 Award in Employment Responsibilities and Rights in Health, Social Care and Children and Young People’s Settings
• 05921 - Level 3 Award in Awareness of Dementia
• 04701 - Level 3 Certificate in Preparing to Work in Adult Social Care
• 05919 - Level 2 Award in Awareness of Dementia

Full details of how to submit electronic evidence are available in the relevant Centre Handbooks (on the individual qualifications pages) and a brief description is also provided below:

Electronic submissions – You can send the candidate work to the examiner-moderator at their dedicated candidate evidence email address, as an attachment to your email.

Submissions using e-portfolios – If you’re using e-portfolios to organise your candidates’ work, you can email your examiner-moderator at their dedicated candidate evidence email address, with login details for the e-portfolio and instructions on how to navigate around the site. The examiner-moderator can then access the evidence directly.

Specific guidelines for what to include in the email and the requirements of any attachments can be found in the qualification Centre Handbooks.

Please note that this email account should only be used for submitting/granting access to candidate evidence. It should not be used to ask questions or enter into any other dialogue.

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 024 76 851509.

• FAO: Exams Officer and all teachers of OCR Entry Level Certificate (ELC) qualifications (excluding Physical Education, Art and Design and Science)
• Date: February 2012
• Subject: ELC moderation arrangements

From the June 2012 series onwards the moderation arrangements for most ELC qualifications will be changing. Details of these changes are given below.

• If you are making ELC entries for the first time, or you did not have entries for the qualification in the previous series, your centre will be subject to the normal moderation process.
• If your centre’s internally assessed marks were not adjusted through the moderation process in the previous series, you:
  • Will not be required to submit a moderation sample (unless you are selected as part of a random sample of unadjusted centres – see below)
  • Will receive a label indicating that the sample should be retained in the centre and not submitted for moderation
  • Will not be allocated a moderator or receive a moderator’s report.
• If your centre’s internally assessed marks were not adjusted in the previous series but you are selected as part of a random sample, your centre will be subject to the normal moderation process.

Please note that this notice does not apply to OCR ELC Physical Education, Art and Design or Science qualifications.

If you have any queries about this notice, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 01223 553998.

• FAO: Exams Officer, Teachers of Diploma qualifications, Lead and Domain Assessors
• Date: January 2012
• Subject: Erratum

Please see the Notice to centres - Erratum (PDF, 27 KB).

• FAO: Exams Officer, Teachers of Diploma qualifications, Lead and Domain Assessors
• Date: December 2011
• Subject: Diploma and Principal Learning

Please see the Notice to centres - Withdrawal of Diploma and Principal Learning (PDF, 60 KB).

• FAO: Exams Officer and Head of Design and Technology
• Date: December 2011
• Subject: Entry Level Design and Technology

Further to our October 2011 notice, we’d like to remind you that all new entries for the Entry Level Design and Technology qualification must be submitted using one or more of the separate unit codes for each material area. Please see the document below for details:

• Notice to centres - Unit code and entry changes - Further update (PDF, 85 KB)

• FAO: Exams Officer and Head of Languages
• Date: December 2011

Please note that the June test date provided in the Admin Guide: Vocational Qualifications 2011/12 for the Shorthand Speed Skills units has been updated (pages 6 and 31). The November and March series test dates are unaffected.

The correct test date is shown below:

There are a number of new QCF qualifications which are not included in the original admin guide. We have created an additional guide for these new qualifications, which you can download below:

• Admin Guide: Vocational Qualifications - Entry Codes Supplement - October 2011 (PDF, 371 KB)

• FAO: Classics Head of Departments
• Date: November 2011
• Subject: Entry Level Latin Component 1 tests

Following the first session of the Entry Level tests we have decided to make some small changes to the existing tests to fix one or two small issues spotted during the session, provide a little more guidance on marking the tests and separate the mark scheme from the Question papers to prevent accidental distribution to candidates.

These revised tests are now available on Interchange. As with the previous versions of the tests we would ask that you treat this material as confidential at all times and do not hand marked copies of the tests back to candidates.

The old versions of the test are still valid assessments so if you have already used the old tests or saved candidate work to be submitted in 2012 moderators will treat them as valid tests and moderate them in the same way.

• FAO: Head of Media Department and all GCSE Media Studies teachers
• Date: November 2011
• Subject: GCSE Media Studies J526

From January 2012 onwards, there will be a change to the layout of the following two GCSE Media Studies examination papers:

• B322 - Textual Analysis and Media Topic (Moving Image)
• B323 - Textual Analysis and Media Topic (Print)

The existing format consists of a separate examination paper and eight-sided answer booklet. From January 2012, this will be replaced with a combined 16-sided question paper/answer booklet.

This is only a change to the layout of the examination papers and will have no impact on the content of a particular series’ set of assessment materials. An amended set of sample assessment materials showing the new layout is available on the following page:

• GCSE Media Studies - All Documents

• Date: November 2011

OCR collects preliminary entries for GCE Applied Art and Design, Design and Technology, ICT and Law, where in-course teaching guides and question papers are required at a very early stage of the teaching process.

If your centre offers any of the qualifications listed, please ensure that subject teachers are aware that they need to complete this form in order to receive the course materials. Please submit your preliminary entries by 31 January 2012.

For more information, please see the following notice:

• Notice to centres - Preliminary entries - Order for materials - January and June 2013 examinations (PDF, 123 KB)

• FAO: Head of Design and Technology
• Date: November 2011

With immediate effect, the original entry code for this specification (R364) will no longer be used. All new entries must now be submitted using the separate unit codes for each material area, as listed below:

• R371 - Electronics
• R372 - Graphics
• R373 - Industrial Technology
• R374 - Resistant Materials
• R375 - Textiles Technology

In addition, certificates will now include the name of the material area(s) undertaken.

Please note that there have been no changes to the specification content, themes or marking criteria.

The updated specification booklet, centre forms and support material are available on the following page:

• Design and Technology - Documents page

• FAO: Exams Officer and Head of Science
• Date: November 2011

The GCE A Level examination papers for the sciences are required to include some questions providing additional ‘stretch and challenge’ for candidates, in order to generate evidence for the award of A* grades. OCR has received comments from centres that, for the above specifications, the additional demand of these questions has meant that significant numbers of candidates have found it difficult to complete examination papers in the time available.

We are pleased to be able to respond to these comments. At OCR’s request, Ofqual has approved an increase in the time allowed for the A2 examination papers for these specifications.

• Notice to centres - Changes to timings of examination papers (PDF, 20 KB)

The Equality Act 2010 is now in place and supersedes all of the following equal opportunities legislation:

• The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations
• Disability Discrimination Act
• Race Relations Act
• Sex Discrimination Act
• Equal Pay Act

This change affects all examined and moderated units within the specifications listed below which may contain references to the previous legislation:

• GCSE Applied Business (J213, J226)
• GCSE Business Studies (J253)
• GCE Applied Business (H026, H226, H426, H626)

Although some January and June 2012 question papers may make reference to the previous legislation, responses in the context of that legislation or in the context of the Equality Act 2010 will be equally acceptable.

We will only begin to assess in the context of The Equality Act 2010 from the January 2013 series.

From January 2012 onwards, there will be a minor change to the layout of all of the following GCE Accounting examination papers:

• F011 - Accounting Principles
• F012 - Accounting Applications
• F013 - Company Accounts and Interpretation
• F014 - Management Accounting

The format of the examination papers will remain largely unchanged. However, for those questions where it is applicable, we will introduce a ‘working box’ – a space for candidates to show their workings. This will be printed before the lined response space for each question (where applicable). It is hoped that this will further encourage candidates to show workings to such questions.

This is only a change to the layout of the examination papers and will have no impact on the content of a particular series’ set of assessment material. An amended set of sample assessment materials showing the new layout is available on the following page:

• GCE Accounting - All Documents

From January 2012 onwards, there will be a change to the layout of the Strategic Management (F297) examination paper for GCE Business Studies.

The existing layout consists of a separate examination paper and 16-sided answer booklet. From January 2012, this will be replaced with a combined question paper/answer booklet, as per the booklet currently used for the Business Functions unit (F292).

This is only a change to the layout of the examination papers and will have no impact on the content of a particular series’ set of assessment material. An amended set of sample assessment materials showing the new layout is available on the following page:

• GCE Business Studies - All Documents

• FAO: Head of Media Department and GCE Media Studies Teachers
• Date: October 2011

A number of revisions have been made to the GCE Media Studies specification for teaching from September 2011.

To make it clear where significant changes have been made to the specification, vertical lines have been inserted next to the relevant text in Version 5 of the specification.

Please download an up-to-date version of the specification from the GCE Media Studies qualification page and discard any previous copies.

• Notice to centres - Revisions to the GCE Media Studies specification for teaching from September 2011 (PDF, 52 KB)

We are pleased to let you know that we have made some improvements to the certification warning reports for unitised qualifications. Please see the document below for details:

• Notice to centres - Updates to certification warning reports (PDF, 56 KB)

• FAO: Head of Classics
• Date: October 2011

In response to centre feedback over the first two years of the new specifications listed above, we have made some changes to the format of some of the questions on the literature units. Examination papers for these units (A403/01, A403/02, A404/01, A404/02, B403 and B404) will follow the format of the revised specimen assessment materials from June 2012.

We have also made amendments to the marking grids for all units. These grids will be used for marking from January 2012 (Units A401 and A402 only) and from June 2012 (all other units).

The updated specimen assessment materials can be downloaded from the following links below:

• GCSE Latin
• GCSE Classical Greek

There are no changes to the specification.

• FAO: Exams Officer/Head of Department
• Date: October 2011

Entry Code

Please note that GCSE Computing (J275) is no longer in pilot. This affects page 210 of the Admin Guide: 14–19 Qualifications 2011/12, where J275 is listed within the Entry Codes: GCE and GCSE Pilots section. This erratum notice may be downloaded below, printed and inserted within the Entry Codes:

• Notice to centres - Erratum - Entry Codes

• FAO: Exams Officer/Head of Department
• Date: October 2011

Please note that there was an error on page 176 of the Admin Guide: 14–19 Qualifications 2011/12 regarding the availability for certification of GCSE Religious Studies B (J621).

Certification for this specification is available in the January 2012 series as well as the June 2012 series

For more information please refer to the file below:

• Notice to centres - Erratum - Entry Codes

• FAO: Head of Sociology
• Date: October 2011

The examination papers will be in the form of question and answer booklets from January 2012.

Candidates write their answers in the answer booklet on the lines provided after each question.

In most cases, the number of lines allocated to each question gives an indication of the anticipated length of the answer.

If a candidate needs to write more than the space allows, there is additional space at the end of the question and answer booklet. This space can be used for any question. If a candidate uses this additional space, the question number(s) must be clearly shown.

If a candidate uses all the additional space at the end of the question and answer booklet and therefore needs additional paper, it is acceptable to use supplementary answer sheets. The candidate name, candidate number and centre number should be clearly written on the supplementary answer sheets, the number of the questions answered on the sheets clearly identified, and the sheets securely attached to the candidate's answer booklet.

Versions of the June 2011 examination papers have been made available in the new format on Interchange (OCR's secure website for teachers and Exams Officers). Teachers may like to show these versions to candidates or use them for mock examinations in order to familiarise candidates with the new format.

• FAO: Head of Modern Foreign Languages
• Date: September 2011

Part 2 of the Breakthrough Stage Reading test for French, Spanish and German has been changed. Samples of the new test are available to view on the OCR website under the heading 'Sample external assessment materials 1 – Breakthrough':

• French
• German
• Spanish

• FAO: Head of Modern Foreign Languages, Foreign Languages Teachers
• Date: October 2011

The process for submitting answers to Reading and Listening tests has changed for primary candidates.

With effect from November 2011, candidates will transfer their answers from their question paper to a separate OMR answer sheet before returning them to OCR for marking.

The answer sheets will be sent to centres pre-printed with candidate details.

Full instructions on using candidate OMR answer sheets can be found on pages 81 and 82 of the Admin Guide: Asset Languages 2011/12.

• FAO: All Heads of Department and Teachers
• Date: October 2011

We have now added the spring and summer dates to our programme of training. Edition 2 of our printed programme has arrived into centres for the attention of the Staff Training Coordinator. You can also view a digital version of the publication

In addition to the digital booklets, we make our training courses available as an A to Z list and the courses are also linked to the relevant qualifications page where appropriate.

Online booking is quick and easy using OCR EventBooker. You will need to register and log in before you select a course.

If you would like any help with finding and booking a training event, please email training@ocr.org.uk.

• FAO: Head of Department
• Date: October 2011

A change to the layout of three GCE Law examination papers will be introduced from January 2012 onwards.

The three units affected by this change are:

• G152 Sources of Law (Advanced Subsidiary GCE Unit).
• G157 Law of Torts (Advanced GCE Unit).
• G157 Law of Torts Special Study (Advanced GCE Unit).

Currently, candidates write their responses to these three examinations in either a generic eight-sided or 16-sided answer booklet. From January 2012 onwards:

• G152 - candidates will write their responses in a specific G152 answer booklet. This answer booklet will be the same as a generic eight-sided answer booklet but will have the unit number on the front cover. Centres must ensure that candidates write their responses in the specific G152 answer booklet and not a generic answer booklet. The question paper will be provided as a separate question paper booklet and the format of it will remain unchanged.
• G157 - candidates will write their responses in a combined G157 question paper/answer booklet. A clean copy of the question paper will also be provided to candidates for use within the examination.
• G158 - candidates will write their responses in a combined G158 question paper/answer booklet. A clean copy of the case study will still be provided to candidates for use within the examination.

• These changes are only a cosmetic/layout change and will have no impact on the content or the responses candidates will provide. An amended set of Sample Assessment Materials demonstrating the new layout is available from the OCR website for units G157 and G158. No amendments are required to the G152 Sample Assessment Materials because the format of the question paper will be identical.

• FAO: Heads of Psychology
• Date: October 2011

The examination paper for GCE Psychology unit G543 will be in the form of an answer booklet and insert (question booklet) from January 2012.

Candidates will write their answers in the answer booklet on the lines provided. The question number should be written in the margin.

If a candidate uses all the space in the answer booklet and therefore needs additional paper, it is acceptable to use supplementary answer sheets. The candidate name, candidate number and centre number should be clearly written on the supplementary answer sheets, answers clearly identified with the question number, and the sheets securely attached to the candidate’s answer booklet.

The examination paper for GCE Psychology unit G544 has also been updated. The two section B questions will now be listed on a single page before the question and answer space. This will provide candidates with the opportunity to read both questions and decide which one to answer.

Versions of the June 2011 examination papers have been made available in the new format on Interchange (OCR’s secure website for teachers and Exams Officers). Teachers may like to show these versions to candidates or use them for mock examinations in order to familiarise candidates with the new format.

Please remind candidates to check that they have answered the appropriate number of questions.

• FAO: Heads of Religious Studies
• Date: October 2011

Centres are reminded that it is not possible to enter for two full course certifications or two short course certifications in Religious Studies in the same examination session.

Please could all centres ensure that they are only entering for ONE of J620, J621 and J622 or ONE from J120, J121 or J122.

For example, it is not possible for centres to enter candidates for both J620 and J621 in the same examination session.

• FAO: The Head of Physical Education and the Exams Officer
• Date: October 2011

• Notice to centres - Key information about conducting H154/H554 assessments in 2011/12

• FAO: The Head of Languages and the Exams Officer
• Date: October 2011

Please note that the option codes for French, German and Spanish World of Work preliminary units are listed incorrectly in the OCR Admin Guide: Asset Languages 2011/12. These units are only available for assessment at Secondary (S) and Post-16 (A) level. Preliminary units are not available for assessment at primary (P) level. The units affected are:

• French (World of Work) Preliminary units P801, P803, P805 and P807 (page 37)
• German (World of Work) Preliminary units P817, P819, P821 and P823 (page 38)
• Spanish (World of Work) Preliminary units P809, P811, P813 and P815 (page 50).

For more information please refer to the file below:

• Notice to Centres - Erratum - Asset Languages: World of Work

• FAO: The Head of Languages and the Exams Officer
• Date: October 2011

Deadlines for replacement certificates

Please note that one of the deadlines for applications for replacement certificates listed on page 28 of the Admin Guide: Asset Languages 2011/12 was incorrect. The deadline for all replacement certificates for the June 2012 series is 18 February 2013, as reflected in the updated table below.

• FAO: Exams Officer and Head of Science
• Date: September 2011

The GCE A Level examination papers for the sciences are required to include some questions providing additional ‘stretch and challenge’ for candidates, in order to generate evidence for the award of A* grades. OCR has received comments from centres that, for the above specifications, the additional demand of these questions has meant that significant numbers of candidates have found it difficult to complete examination papers in the time available.

We are pleased to be able to respond to these comments. At OCR’s request, Ofqual has approved an increase in the time allowed for the A2 examination papers for these specifications.

• Notice to centres - Changes to timings of examination papers (PDF, 20 KB)

• FAO: Exams Officer, Head of Science Department, Teacher of GCSE Environmental and Land-based Science
• Date: September 2011

OCR’s new specification for GCSE Environmental and Land-based Science (J721) has options for candidates to take computer-based tests (CBT) or conventional written paper examinations.

We have decided to make similar options available for the remaining examination series (January and June 2012) for the legacy specification (J650). For each of units B491-B495, each candidate may be entered for either a computer-based test or a written paper, and for either Foundation Tier or Higher Tier. These options are indicated in the entry codes as follows:

• FC - Computer-based test; foundation tier
• HC - Computer-based test; higher tier
• FP - Written paper; foundation tier
• HP - Written paper; higher tier

For more information please refer to the file below:

• Notice to centres - Entry codes for GCSE (legacy) Environmental and Land-based Science (J650) (PDF, 75 KB)

• FAO: Exams Officer/Head of Department
• Date: September 2011

This notice concerns the withdrawal of the GCSE English, Mathematics and ICT specifications replaced by new specifications, introduced for first teaching in September 2010.

For more information please refer to the file below:

• Notice to centres - Legacy OCR GCSE specifications in English, Mathematics and ICT (PDF, 25 KB)

• FAO: Exams Officer and Head of Languages
• Date: September 2011

Important changes have been made to the preparation stage of controlled assessment for Speaking and Writing in OCR’s GCSE French, German and Spanish specifications.

Changes at a glance:

• Preparation for controlled assessment tasks take place under informal supervision.
• Students can have up to 6 hours preparation time for controlled assessment if desired.
• Some of this preparation can take place outside of the classroom.

A four-page guide has been created to provide you with all the information you need about what is changing and what is staying the same. The guide, along with the amended specification and updated GCSE MFL support materials, can be found on the respective qualification pages.

• FAO: Heads of Government and Politics
• Date: September 2011

The examination papers for GCE Government and Politics units F851, F852, F853, F854, F855 and F856 will be in the form of question and answer booklets from January 2012.

Candidates will write their answers in the booklets on the lines provided, normally after each question. If a candidate needs to write more than the space allows, there is additional space at the end of the question and answer booklet. This space can be used for any question. If a candidate uses this additional space, the question number(s) must be clearly shown.

If a candidate uses all the additional space at the end of the question and answer booklet and therefore needs additional paper, it is acceptable to use supplementary answer sheets. The candidate name, candidate number and centre number should be clearly written on the supplementary answer sheets, answers clearly identified with the question number, and the sheets securely attached to the candidate’s answer booklet.

For AS units F851 and F852, the sources for question 1 will be provided on a separate insert, so that candidates may refer to them as they write their answers to question 1.

For A2 units F853 and F854, all the questions and the sources for question 1 will be provided on a separate insert, so that candidates may refer to them as they write their answers.

There is no separate insert for A2 units F855 and F856, where candidates answer two questions from the eight questions on page 2 of the question and answer booklet.

Versions of the June 2011 examination papers and inserts have been made available in the new format on Interchange (OCR’s secure website for teachers and Exams Officers). Teachers may like to show these versions to candidates or use them for mock examinations in order to familiarise candidates with the new format.

• FAO: Heads of Critical Thinking
• Date: September 2011

The examination papers for A2 Critical Thinking units F503 and F504 will be in the form of question and answer booklets from January 2012.

Candidates will write their answers in the answer booklets on the lines provided after each question.

If a candidate needs to write more than the space allows, there is additional space at the end of the booklet. This space can be used for any question. If a candidate uses this additional space, the question number(s) must be clearly shown.

If a candidate uses all the additional space at the end of the question and answer booklet and therefore needs additional paper, it is acceptable to use supplementary answer sheets. The candidate name, candidate number and centre number should be clearly written on the supplementary answer sheets, answers clearly identified with the question number, and the sheets securely attached to the candidate’s answer booklet.

Versions of the June 2011 examination papers have been made available in the new format on Interchange. Teachers may like to show these versions to candidates or use them for mock examinations in order to familiarise candidates with the new format

There will be no change to the resource booklets.

• FAO: Head of English
• Date: August

From 2013 onwards, there will be a new procedure for issuing the clips to complement the Spoken Language tasks for Unit A652 section B.

Instead of a DVD containing the clips, links for the all of the clips will be accessible via Interchange (on the same page as the controlled assessment paper for this unit).

The transcripts for each clip will appear alongside this in the same place on Interchange each year.

This enables all teachers to have access to the material without the restriction of having to share a DVD between members of the department. This will also allow greater flexibility in terms of the content that can be placed on the links and transcripts, as it avoids copyright restrictions that can arise with the DVD format.

The 2013 task clips and transcript documents will be on Interchange by 30 August 2011. For the 2014 tasks, we will endeavour to make the link to the clips and transcripts document available to centres at the same time as the annual controlled assessment tasks (1 June).

The DVD for Speaking and Listening (Unit A643/A652 section A), which is part of the internal standardisation process, will continue to be sent out annually to centres.

• FAO: Head of English
• Date: August

The foundation Writing mark scheme for this unit has been amended. To reflect the tier of the paper, the mark scheme now begins with ‘Above Band 4’ criteria, and the Band 1 and 2 criteria have been removed. This change takes place from June 2011. The newly amended mark scheme is available to view on Interchange.

• FAO: Head of Classics
• Date: July

Set texts for examination in 2013

Unit B403 - Classical Greek Prose Literature

Section A: Selections from Herodotus

Section XVI ‘The Battle of Salamis’ (pages 52–61)
Part (a) lines 8-19
Parts (b), (c) and (d)
Part (e) lines 11-33
Parts (f) and (h)
Note part (g) is omitted altogether
Part (i) lines 5-13
Part (j) lines 1-12
In Tales from Herodotus eds GS Farnell and M Goff (Duckworth/BCP) ISBN 9780862920913 Candidates will be expected to have read the introduction to Section XVI and the accompanying notes.

Section B: Selections from Lysias and Demosthenes

Lysias 1 ‘On the Murder of Eratosthenes’
Sections 6-27
Pages 105-111 (the complete extract) in Lysias, ‘An Adulterer Apprehended’, adapted from Greek Beyond GCSE, John Taylor.

Demosthenes ‘Against Conon’
Sections 6-9
Pages 115 (line 25) to 118 (line 61) in Demosthenes, ‘Conon and his Gang’, adapted from Greek Beyond GCSE, John Taylor.

These selections are available to download from the Bloomsbury website.

To access these, you will need to sign up as a member - but this is free and is very quick and easy to do. To access the resources, click on ‘More Resources’ and the PDF files for the selections are listed, as well as the supporting vocabulary.

Unit B404 - Classical Greek Verse Literature

Section A: Homer: Iliad VI

Lines 369-502
The text will be taken from: Homer Iliad VI, ed R H Jordan & J A Harrison (Duckworth/BCP) ISBN 086292149X

Section B: Selections from Euripides Ion

1-75 and 95-154
The text will be taken from Euripides, Ion
Four Greek Authors ed E C Kennedy (Duckworth/BCP) ISBN 0333063872

The Section A set texts listed in this notice are for examination in June 2012 and June 2013.

The Section B set texts listed in this notice are for examination in June 2013 and June 2014.

• FAO: Head of Science
• Date: June

Availability of assessment

Please note there is an error in the new GCSE Gateway Additional Science B specification on page 136.

The first assessment for Unit B721 is incorrectly shown in the table as being available from January 2012. The first assessment for this unit is in fact from June 2012.

The specification on the OCR website will be amended to reflect this.

• FAO: Exams Officer / Head of Languages
• Date: May 2011

Asset Languages is phasing out the use of cassettes in recording Speaking tests during 2011/12. With effect from the November 2011 series, Asset Languages will send out cassette(s) and CD(s) for the recording of Speaking tests for the academic year 2011/12. Centres must use either the cassette(s) or CD(s) to record Speaking tests and send to OCR via the moderator.

Cassette(s) and CD(s) will be sent out in the normal way, based on final entries. There is no change to the process of making entries or requesting Speaking test materials. The deadline for requesting Speaking materials is 5 October 2011.

In the following academic year, 2012/13, with effect from the November 2012 series, cassettes will not be sent out and must not be used to record Speaking tests. All Speaking tests must, from then on, be recorded on CDs, which will be provided by OCR. The CDs must be able to be played on any standard CD player.

• FAO: Head of Classics
• Date: May 2011

Section A: Extracts from the section entitled 'Prophecies and Portents' in OCR Latin Anthology for GCSE (OUP) ISBN 9870198329329

Higher Tier
Pliny: Do you believe in ghosts?, Letters 7.27
Livy: The mysterious death of Romulus, A History of Rome 1.16
Suetonius: Omens, portents and the murder of Julius Caesar, Divine Julius 81, 88

Foundation Tier
Pliny: Do you believe in ghosts?, Letters 7.27
Livy: The mysterious death of Romulus, A History of Rome 1.16

Section B: Selections from Cambridge Latin Anthology (CUP) ISBN 9780521578776

Higher Tier
Apuleius: sagae Thessalae, Metamorphoses 2.21-30
Pliny: Regulus, Pliny, Letters 2.20

Foundation Tier
Apuleius: sagae Thessalae, Metamorphoses 2.21-30

Section A: Extracts from the section entitled 'Prophecies and Portents' in OCR Latin Anthology for GCSE (OUP) ISBN 9870198329329

Higher Tier
Lucan: Caesar crosses the Rubicon, Civil War 1.183-205, 223-227
Persius: Praying for profit, Satires 2.44-52
Horace: A sign from heaven, Ode 1.34
Virgil: The Shield of Aeneas, Aeneid 8.608-629, 671-731

Foundation Tier Lucan: Caesar crosses the Rubicon, Civil War 1.183-205, 223-227
Persius: Praying for profit, Satires 2.44-52
Virgil: The Shield of Aeneas, Aeneid 8.608-629, 671-713

Section B: Selections from Virgil Aeneid 12

The Latin text will be taken from Two Centuries of Roman Poetry, eds E C Kennedy and A R Davis (Duckworth/BCP) ISBN 9781853995279

Higher Tier
Lines 697-765, 887-952

Foundation Tier
Lines 697-727, 887-952

The Section A set texts listed in this notice are for examination in June 2012 and June 2013.
The Section B set texts listed in this notice are for examination in June 2013 and June 2014.

• FAO: Head of Classics
• Date: May 2011

Amendments have been made to the marking grids for units A403, A404, B403 and B404. These grids will be used for marking in June 2011.

• The marking grids for 10-mark questions have been revised to allow credit to be given for valid answers which do not necessarily give equal coverage to all three of the bullet points included in the question.
• The Quality of Written Communication descriptors for 10-mark and 8-mark questions have been revised to make it clear that candidates are not required to use complex technical vocabulary in their answers.

The Specimen Assessment Materials for Units A403, A404, B403 and B404 have been updated to include the revised marking grids. The updated Specimen Assessment Materials are available under GCSE Classics.

• FAO: Dutch teacher / Head of Languages
• Date: 31 May 2011

The Dutch grammar content in appendix B of the GCE Modern Foreign Languages specification has been updated. There are now separate lists for AS and A2.

The content of the list has not changed, but it has been divided up to show which grammar and structures are more appropriate to each level.

• FAO: Exams Officer / Head of Languages
• Date: May 2011

Asset Languages is phasing out the use of cassettes in recording Speaking tests during 2011/12.

With effect from the November 2011 series, Asset Languages will send out cassette(s) and CD(s) for the recording of Speaking tests for the academic year 2011/12. Centres must use either the cassette(s) or CD(s) to record Speaking tests and send to OCR via the moderator.

Cassette(s) and CD(s) will be sent out in the normal way, based on final entries. There is no change to the process of making entries or requesting Speaking test materials. The deadline for requesting Speaking materials is 5 October 2011.

In the following academic year, 2012/13, with effect from the November 2012 series, cassettes will not be sent out and must not be used to record Speaking tests. All Speaking tests must, from then on, be recorded on CDs, which will be provided by OCR. The CDs must be able to be played on any standard CD player.

• FAO: The Exams Officer, the Head of ICT
• Date: May 2011

To maintain the integrity of coursework and pre-release tasks, authentication is required from candidates and teachers to confirm that the work submitted is the candidates’ own.

If this isn’t provided, the result for that candidate’s unit will be withheld, and a result of ‘Pending (Q)’ will be issued until authentication is provided.

You can avoid this by ensuring that your centre returns the relevant forms for each unit, as shown in the table below.

Copies of these forms can be downloaded from the GCE Applied ICT qualification page.

• FAO: Exams Officers and Heads of Department for IT, Business, Health and Social Care, Public Services, Leisure, Travel and Tourism, Sport, Science, Art and Design, Media
• Date: May 2011

We have agreed with Ofqual to bring the accreditation dates for all of our Nationals* in to line as we prepare to review this suite of qualifications.

The accreditation dates for all OCR Nationals at Levels 1, 2* and 3 are now:

• Last entry date 31 August 2012
• Last certification date 31 Dec 2014**

This means that you can continue to enter candidates for individual units or for the full qualification up to, and including, 31 August 2012. This also enables you to plan the delivery of your Nationals programme with confidence until then and to make certification claims up to the end of 2014.

Review is only one of the stages within the lifecycle of a qualification and we do this routinely to ensure the qualification continues to meet the needs of learners, education providers and employers and that it supports progression within education or into employment.

We are committed to providing high quality, relevant qualifications that suit the needs of learners and teachers. We are working to map the future for our popular OCR Nationals suite and we look forward to sharing news on these developments with you.

(* Excluding OCR Level 2 Nationals in ICT legacy qualifications: 06325, 06276, 06324 and 06299. Entries can no longer be made for the legacy qualifications and the last certification date remains as 31 July 2012.)

(** The duration between last entry date and last certification date will often vary depending on the level of the qualification but all levels have a certification end date of 31 December 2014.)

• FAO: Exams Officer, Head of Art and Design
• Date: May 2011

A guide to the postal moderation requirements for the new Art and Design Entry Level Certificate R300–R306 is now available from the qualification page of the OCR website (www.ocr.org.uk). We recommend that you read this guide as soon as possible, as it contains some important information for the moderation process.

Here is a summary of the key processes involved. Please access the guidelines on the OCR website for more detail.

• Submitting your marks – Centres must submit marks to OCR by 15 May. Your Exams Officer will be sent address labels to send the marks and forms to the moderator. (You will also be sent enough copies of the labels to send candidate work to the moderator.) If you have still not received your labels three days before the mark submission deadline, you can request emergency moderator address information from Interchange.
• Receiving a sample request – Once we have received your marks, you will receive an email requesting a sample for moderation. Emails will be sent to the Exams Office email address we hold for you within your centre records. It is therefore essential that this email address is correct and is monitored regularly.
• Preparing the sample – The teacher/another designated person or the candidate (under supervision) must photograph the work so that the moderator can clearly see the sequence and outcomes. Photographs can be submitted on paper within each candidate’s folder or altogether on one CD. If work is submitted digitally, it must be appropriately captioned or chaptered so that individual candidates’ work can be easily identified.
  

  If candidate work is large, fragile or 3D, at this stage, we only require photographs, plus one or two A1 size sheets with mounted supporting work; there is no need to submit the work itself. If we require the work in addition to the photographs and supporting work, we will arrange for this to be collected.

• Returning the samples – Sample candidate work will be returned in the autumn term to arrive in your centre by December at the latest. In some circumstances, we may contact you in October or November to let you know that we will be keeping the work beyond this point for standardisation or training purposes.

• FAO: Exams Officer, Head of Art and Design
• Date: May 2011

Moderation visits for GCSE and GCE Art and Design will start on the following dates:

• GCSE Art and Design – 16 May
• GCE Art and Design – 1 June

To ensure that you are fully prepared for your visit(s), we’d like to take this opportunity to remind you of some of the key practices and procedures involved in the moderation process:

• Visiting moderation dates – Whilst we make every effort to accommodate moderation dates requested by centres, it may not be possible for all centres to have the dates they would like. Please be prepared to be flexible on visit dates when contacted by your moderator.
• Quality and standards monitoring – We no longer conduct follow-in visits and have moved to accompanied visits (where visiting moderators are accompanied on the visit by senior moderators). Accompanied visits are concerned only with our quality assurance processes – your visiting moderator will carry out the moderation and give feedback as usual. When you are contacted by the visiting moderator to arrange a visit, you will be informed if they are to be accompanied by a senior moderator.
• Centre authentication (CCS160) and copyright authorisation forms – These forms are available from the qualification pages of the OCR website and must be completed and handed to your visiting moderator before moderation can take place.
• Presentation of work for moderation – Candidate work needs to be presented by each endorsement in rank order. The visiting moderator requires a quiet and undisturbed space suitable for the moderation to take place.
• Collection of work – It is a JCQ and Ofqual requirement that all awarding bodies collect work for awarding, standardisation and training purposes. If work is taken from the centre following the moderation visit, it may not be returned until the November of the following academic year. We therefore advise centres to take photographs of the work before the moderation visit. Teachers/another delegated person or candidates (under supervision) may photograph work. Centres will be sent a letter in October or November detailing what we have kept and why, including an approximate date of return.
• Re-moderation requests – Centres have four working days after the initial moderation visit to request re-moderation, which can be done via our Customer Contact Centre (01223 553998). Please note that, for this series, there is just one opportunity for re-moderation before results are issued. However, centres will still be able to access post-results services once results are issued.

• FAO: Head of Classics
• Date: May 2011

UNIT A403 LATIN PROSE LITERATURE
For examination in June 2013

Section A: Extracts from the section entitled 'Prophecies and Portents' in OCR Latin Anthology for GCSE (OUP) ISBN 9870198329329

Higher Tier
Pliny: Do you believe in ghosts?, Letters 7.27
Livy: The mysterious death of Romulus, A History of Rome 1.16
Suetonius: Omens, portents and the murder of Julius Caesar, Divine Julius 81, 88

Foundation Tier
Pliny: Do you believe in ghosts?, Letters 7.27
Livy: The mysterious death of Romulus, A History of Rome 1.16

Section B: Selections from Cambridge Latin Anthology (CUP) ISBN 9780521578776

Higher Tier
Apuleius: sagae Thessalae, Metamorphoses 2.21-30
Pliny: Regulus, Pliny, Letters 2.20
Foundation Tier
Apuleius: sagae Thessalae, Metamorphoses 2.21-30

Foundation Tier
Apuleius: sagae Thessalae, Metamorphoses 2.21-30M

UNIT A404 LATIN VERSE LITERATURE
For examination in June 2013

Section A: Extracts from the section entitled 'Prophecies and Portents' in OCR Latin Anthology for GCSE (OUP) ISBN 9870198329329

Higher Tier
Lucan: Caesar crosses the Rubicon, Civil War 1.183-205, 223-227
Persius: Praying for profit, Satires 2.44-52
Horace: A sign from heaven, Ode 1.34
Virgil: The Shield of Aeneas, Aeneid 8.608-629, 671-731

Foundation Tier
Lucan: Caesar crosses the Rubicon, Civil War 1.183-205, 223-227
Persius: Praying for profit, Satires 2.44-52
Virgil: The Shield of Aeneas, Aeneid 8.608-629, 671-713

Section B: Selections from Virgil Aeneid 12

The Latin text will be taken from Two Centuries of Roman Poetry, eds E C Kennedy and A R Davis (Duckworth/BCP) ISBN 9781853995279

Higher Tier
Lines 697-765, 887-952

Foundation Tier
Lines 697-727, 887-952

• FAO: Exams Officer / Head of Languages
• Date: May 2011

UNITS:
A403 - Latin prose literature;
A404 - Latin verse literature;
B403 - Classical Greek verse literature;
and B404 - Classical Greek prose literature.

Amendments have been made to the marking grids for units A403, A404, B403 and B404. These grids will be used for marking in June 2011.

• The marking grids for 10-mark questions have been revised to allow credit to be given for valid answers which do not necessarily give equal coverage to all three of the bullet points included in the question.
• The Quality of Written Communication descriptors for 10-mark and 8-mark questions have been revised to make it clear that candidates are not required to use complex technical vocabulary in their answers.

The Specimen Assessment Materials for Units A403, A404, B403 and B404 have been updated to include the revised marking grids. The updated Specimen Assessment Materials are available under GCSE Classics.

• FAO: Dutch teacher / Head of Languages Department
• Date: 31 May 2011

The Dutch grammar content in appendix B of the GCE Modern Foreign Languages specification has been updated. There are now separate lists for AS and A2.

The content of the list has not changed, but it has been divided up to show which grammar and structures are more appropriate to each level.