AS/A Level GCEGeology - H087 H487
FAQs
Please find below the most frequently asked questions for this qualification. If you have a question that is not answered here or elsewhere on the website please contact the OCR Customer Contact Centre.
Your regional Customer Support Manager is on hand to provide continued support, advice and guidance on what is happening with A Levels from an OCR prospective. This can include, an overview of our assessment approach or signposting to support and training to help you progress with our new A levels. To arrange a support call or visit, please email 14-19alevels@ocr.org.uk.
FAQs - Geology
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Will there be a change in the amount of coursework?
Yes, there will be less coursework.
Tasks will be set by OCR and marked by teachers using mark schemes provided by OCR.
Will fieldwork be accepted as coursework?
Very much so. We would expect that schools will make fieldwork an integral part of their GCE Geology course.
Generic mark schemes will be published and centres can then prepare work to make best use of the sites available to them.
Plans for coursework will have to be submitted to OCR for approval at least six weeks before the proposed visit.
Is fieldwork mandatory?
No. It is perfectly possible to carry out sufficient practical activities at the centre.
Will there be a change in the number of minerals that must be remembered?
There will be less learning of minerals. A data table will be supplied with question papers.
Will there be a lot of fossil morphology to remember?
There will be less rote-learning of fossil morphology. The emphasis is on inferring lifestyles and palaeoenvironments.
Will dinosaur evolution be in the new specification?
Yes.
What else is new?
- Overview of planetary geology.
- Palaeoclimates and climate change over geological time.
- An emphasis on evidence-based learning.
General FAQs
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Will OCR make past papers available?
Yes. In response to centre demand, OCR will be publishing past papers for live specifications on the website. These will be free of charge. Question papers from the latest series will be available to download from OCR Interchange only.
What support can we expect from publishers?
OCR is working in partnership with individual publishers for different subject groups. Comprehensive resources are being developed by these Publishing Partners and others to support the specification and complement the support available from OCR.
What Support Materials are being produced by OCR for the revised GCEs?
Schemes of work and lesson plans can be downloaded for each qualifcation. The materials are available in PDF format, and Word format. Teachers can adapt the materials for their own use.
Can a candidate be awarded an A* grade if they re-sat one or more of their units?
Yes, the A* grade is calculated arithmetically based on the units used for aggregation, irrespective of whether or not they are re-sits.
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