Following an Ofqual consultation, we have made changes to a number of our qualifications.
The changes are designed to reduce the pressure on teachers and students in the 2021/22 academic year, and to safeguard against ongoing public health concerns.
Overview of changes for A Level Sciences
- All written examinations remain the same.
- Advance information will be provided about the content of the written examinations.
- 15% of the marks on the written examinations will still test practical skills as outlined in Module 1.1 of the specification, including apparatus and techniques covered through the course of the Practical Endorsement.
- For the practical endorsement, the requirement to complete a minimum of 12 practical activities is removed, but students will still need to complete enough practical activities for them to routinely and consistently cover the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) and 1.2.1 criteria in the specifications. You should also aim to cover all of the 1.2.2 apparatus and techniques, though students can still receive a pass if they have covered the majority of these.
- Exam boards can carry out remote practical endorsement monitoring visits.
Advance information
To help students prepare, advance information will be provided about the content of the written examinations. This will be released no later than 7 February 2022.
A Level Sciences for academic year 2021/22
The content of the written examinations will remain the same. However, prior to the examinations, advance information will be provided about the content of the exams, to allow students to direct their revision. The advanced information will be released no later than 7 February.
For the practical endorsement, the requirement to complete a minimum of 12 practical activities has been removed for the coming academic year. Students should still aim to complete enough practical activities to cover the CPAC requirements and the 1.2.1 section of our specifications.
You should also aim to cover all of the 1.2.2 apparatus and techniques, though students can still receive a pass if they have covered the majority of these. It is important that you still teach students about any apparatus and techniques they are unable to cover, as they will still be expected to answer questions about these in the examinations.
You will still need to sign a 2022 version of the NEA Centre Declaration Form as you will still be expected to confirm that reasonable steps have been taken to ensure that students have had the opportunity to carry out practical activities.
Practical endorsement monitoring visits will continue to be carried out remotely, though this may be subject to a review later in the academic year.
Overview of changes for AS Level Sciences
- All assessments remain the same.
- Advance information will be provided about the content of the written examinations.
- 15% of the marks on the assessments will still test the practical skills as detailed in module 1 of the specifications.
- Students on an AS-only pathway taking an AS Level in Biology, Chemistry or Physics in summer 2022 can observe demonstrations and/or simulations of practical activities to cover the required apparatus and techniques if they are unable to carry out practical work.
Advance information
To help students prepare, advance information will be provided about the content of the written examinations. This will be released no later than 7 February 2022.
AS Level Sciences for academic year 2021/22
The content of the written examinations will remain the same. However, prior to the examinations, advance information will be provided about the content of the exams, to allow students to direct their revision. The advanced information will be released no later than 7 February.
If you are unable to meet the fieldwork requirements, you still need to teach the relevant techniques to your students as they will still be expected to answer questions about these in the examinations.
Students on an AS-only pathway taking an AS Level in Geology in summer 2022 can observe demonstrations and/or simulations of practical activities to cover the required apparatus and techniques if they are unable to carry out practical work. You still need to teach relevant apparatus and techniques to your students as they will still be expected to answer questions about these in the examinations.
It’s important to note that the changes to the practical endorsement requirements apply specifically to students on an AS Level only pathway. Year 12 students on the first year of the A Level pathway should still be completing practical work towards the normal requirements for the Practical Endorsement.
Contact us
You can contact us by email science@ocr.org.uk, Twitter @OCR_Science or call on 01223 553998.