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Overview

This course has been designed to motivate candidates to take charge of their own learning and to develop practical skills in Environmental and Land-Based Science. OCR's GCSE Environmental and Land-Based Science is available for teaching from September 2006 and first certification in June 2008. This is a wholly e-assessed qualification.

The course combines experiences in the classroom, laboratory and field with technical knowledge, skills and understanding needed for further study and vocational opportunities in the Land and Environment sector. Candidates consider and evaluate their own data and conclusions and use ICT to research, present and organise information while making both pragmatic and ethical judgements, evaluating evidence and considering the implications for society. The course involves candidates in a range of practically-based activities which enable them to build an electronic portfolio of their achievements.

The course consists of 6 units - 2 mandatory units (Units 3 and 6) and 4 optional units. The units chosen need to relate to the facilities and resources available at the centre and/or in the locality, and opportunities in the locality for relevant work experience. Questions are set for three levels of demand, candidates are entered for either the Foundation or Higher Tier, but they may be entered for units at different tiers.

Candidates taking this course should normally have taken or be taking a course in GCSE or Entry Level Science. Candidates gaining grades C to A* at GCSE are prepared for qualifications at Level 2 or appropriate qualifications at Level 3 within the NQF e.g. vocational qualifications within the Land and Environment sector.

All unit examinations are taken at computers. This is known as Computer Based Testing (CBT). There is a checklist in Appendix F of the ELBS specification. This is for centres to check what they need in order to run the tests. Centres can download the test software and technician guide from Interchange. CBT practice tests and sample assessment material can be downloaded from the All documents page.