Feedback on GCSE Chemistry and Science Double Award

Feedback on GCSE Chemistry and Science (Double Award)

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Foundation Tier Contact Details Liane Adams Maximum mark = 80 Biology Subject Officer C 029 2026 5126 liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Grade 40 boundary Lowri Evans Cumulative 50. 5 Subject Support Officer % at grade 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk Mean mark = 38. 1 Entry = 1091 D E F G 34 28 23 18 63. 7 75. 2 83. 0 90. 4

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Foundation Tier ITEM LEVEL DATA

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Foundation tier only questions Contact QUESTIONDetails 3 – Group 1 metals Liane Adams Biology Subject Officer 029 2026 5126 liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk (b)(ii) Weak answers talked about reaction becoming more ‘dangerous’ rather than more vigorous/explosive

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Foundation tier only questions QUESTION 3 – Group 1 metals Big emphasis on chemical formulae and equations in this new specification – surprising that even selecting the correct formula and equation was beyond many

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Foundation tier only questions QUESTION 4 – PISA-style question based on water supply (a)(iii) Vague answers referring to litter or disposal of general waste were not accepted. One mark was awarded for a given pollutant such as sewage or fertiliser and the second for a plausible way that it could have reached the water e. g. by leakage from a septic tank, an accident at a factory or run-off from agricultural land.

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Foundation tier only questions QUESTION 4 – PISA-style question based on water supply (b) Information presented in an unusual format. Many failed to read the question carefully enough and tried to calculate the total water usage rather than using the value given – 450 litres. The scale on the graph was challenging for many candidates.

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Foundation tier only questions QUESTION 4 – PISA-style question based on water supply (b) Examiners will be re-looking at ‘error carried forward’ in questions such as these. In this particular case, the second mark was awarded when the calculation was based on a ‘near miss’ for the amount of rainwater used (>150 litres). No marks should be awarded for a randomly calculated percentage. Similar issues on questions requiring calculation of Mr values.

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Foundation tier only questions Contact QUESTIONDetails 5 – Solubility and percentage by mass Liane Adams Biology Subject Officer 029 2026 5126 liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk (a)(ii) Although most could read values from the graph, many didn’t know what to do with them.

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Foundation tier only questions Contact QUESTIONDetails 5 – Solubility and percentage by mass Liane Adams (b) Candidates were required to find relative atomic mass data from the Periodic Biology Subject Officer Table. Some used atomic numbers instead! 029 2026 5126 liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Issues with error carried forward and penalising the same error multiple times. Lowri Evans Examiners will consider whether it is best to give values as with previous Subject Support Officer specification … certainly at FT? 029 2026 5140 Also saw many interpreting the formula as one potassium atom, one carbon lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk atom, one iodine atom and three oxygen atoms. This was not penalised. (c) Another equation mark where many candidates could do no more than guess!

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Foundation tier only questions QUESTION 6 – Hard water Questions based on the same type of practical have been set previously and many candidates reproduced answers to those questions rather than that set here.

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Foundation tier only questions Contact QUESTIONDetails 7 – Limestone Liane Adams Biology Subject Officer 029 2026 5126 liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer (a)(iii) I. Poor recall of observations. 029 2026 5140 II. The incorrect formula Ca. OH 2 was commonly seen. lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk (c) Percentage yield was poorly understood.

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Common questions Contact QUESTIONDetails 8/1 – The Periodic Table Liane Adams Biology Subject Officer 029 2026 5126 liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk An example here of where candidates didn’t read the question carefully enough. Reference to these particular isotopes was required for full credit.

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Common questions Contact QUESTIONDetails 9/2 – Rate of reaction (a) Adams Incredible how few candidates correctly read the value of 62 cm 3. Liane Biology Subject Officer 029 2026 5126 liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk (b) Plotting good but candidates still need to improve their skills in drawing lines of best fit.

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Common questions Contact QUESTIONDetails 9/2 – Rate of reaction (c) Adams Most correctly drew a graph to the left of graph X but many did not Liane appreciate the quantitative aspect i. e. that graph Y too should become Biology Subject Officer horizontal at 90 cm 3. 029 2026 5126 liane. adams@wjec. co. uk (d) Most foundation tier candidates stated that the reaction rate increases but Lowri Evans most were unable to explain why. Higher tier candidates answered well. Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 (e) Most candidates gained the first mark for a downward curve from 179. 80 g and most higher tier candidates also brought the curve to the horizontal at lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk the correct value at 40 minutes.

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Higher Tier Contact Details Liane Adams Maximum mark = 80 Biology Subject Officer A* 029 2026 5126 liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Grade 49 boundary Lowri Evans Cumulative 31. 0 Subject Support Officer % at grade 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk Mean mark = 40. 8 Entry = 5601 A B C D 40 31 22 13 53. 2 76. 2 91. 1 98. 5

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Higher Tier ITEM LEVEL DATA

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Higher tier only questions Contact QUESTIONDetails 3 – PISA-style question based on water purification (a) Adams Text must be read and diagram studied carefully to answer both parts. Liane Biology Subject Officer (b) An example of increased mathematical demand – requires selection of the 029 2026 5126 correct data and the ability to express the answer using standard form. liane. adams@wjec. co. uk (c) Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk More precision required in the use of language.

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Higher tier only questions QUESTION 4 – Limestone and simplest formula (a) ‘Explain’ command word here requires some kind of linking of points or development of an idea e. g. habitat destruction causes loss of wildlife. (b) Even at higher tier, a number of candidates were unable to give correct formulae for all the compounds in the equation. (c) The mass of each element must be divided by its Ar.

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Higher tier only questions QUESTION 5 – Solubility and number of moles (a) Perhaps this is slightly different to questions previously set on solubility but clear evidence that candidates did not truly understand the concept. (i) Very few were able to give a clear definition of a saturated solution. (ii) Multiplication by 2 rather than 4 was a common error – reading carefully. (iii) This proved difficult for candidates who had not carried out a similar experiment. (b) This was reasonably well answered considering that number of moles is a new concept at GCSE. Significant figures caused an issue for many.

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Higher tier only questions Contact QUESTIONDetails 6 – Group 1 and Group 7 elements (b) (i)Adams Correct observations often given but with no explanation – points must be Liane linked in order to gain full credit e. g. both metals float … because they are Biology Subject Officer less dense than water; potassium ignites but lithium doesn’t … because 029 2026 5126 the reaction of potassium is more exothermic. liane. adams@wjec. co. uk (ii) Li. O and Li. O 2 often seen – balancing mark could not be awarded. (iii) Weaker candidates answers lacked clarity. Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Higher tier only questions Contact QUESTIONDetails 7 – Hard water (a) This was primarily straight recall and Liane Adams the full range of marks were awarded. Biology Subject Officer The diagram with labelled resin/sodium 029 2026 5126 ions was included as a prompt but this liane. adams@wjec. co. uk did not help weaker candidates who made no reference to calcium or Lowri Evans magnesium ions in their answers. Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk (b) Candidates are encouraged to spend some time planning their answers where extended writing is required in order to ensure logical sequencing of points.

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Higher tier only questions Contact QUESTIONDetails 8 – Chemical analysis (a) (i)Adams Very surprising that some candidates did not know the significance of the Liane observations in the table. Biology Subject Officer (ii) This was very poorly answered – most didn’t know where to start. 029 2026 5126 Good knowledge of formulae and equations gives access to around 10% liane. adams@wjec. co. uk of the marks on this paper. Good teaching time investment? Lowri Evans (b) Halide ions given instead of halogens. Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 (c) More formulae marks … lots of ‘F’ rather than ‘F 2’ seen here. lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk

GCSE Chemistry Unit 1 Higher tier only questions Contact 9 Details QUESTION – Plate tectonics Liane Adams This is familiar content and straight recall. Many excellent answers were seen. Biology Subject Officer Candidates failed to score higher band marks when they confused the two processes 029 2026 5126 or when they referred to conservative plate boundaries. liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Foundation Tier Maximum mark = 60 Grade boundary Cumulative % at grade Mean mark = 19. 2 Entry = 13562 C D E F G 23 19 16 13 10 32. 2 50. 2 65. 0 79. 2 90. 2

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Foundation Tier ITEM LEVEL DATA

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Foundation Tier GENERAL COMMENTS FROM PRINCIPAL EXAMINER • Short answer questions usually answered well but candidates struggled with extended answers • Quality of expression was an issue for many • Lack of revision/ preparation was an issue for some • Failure to use comparative responses resulted in many lost marks • Avoid the word amount • Mathematical skills were poor • Practical style questions were done well by a minority of candidates

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Foundation tier only questions Contact QUESTIONDetails 1 – Separating mixtures (b) Adams Liane Biology Subject Officer 029 2026 5126 liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk (i) Purple and blue was a common incorrect answer. (ii) A significant number drew only one dot.

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Foundation tier only questions Contact QUESTIONDetails 2 – Chemical formulae and percentage by mass Based on the chemical formula K Liane Adams 2 CO 3. Familiar question type. Biology Subject Officer (a) (i) Many stated that there are three carbon atoms. 029 2026 5126 (ii) Many gave five … by adding the numbers in the formula? liane. adams@wjec. co. uk (b) Significant number did not attempt this. Lowri Evans Would have been better done if Ar values had been given in the question? Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Foundation tier only questions QUESTIONDetails 3 – Water supply and hard water Contact (b) (i) Some thought that the hardest water gave most lather. Liane Adams (ii) Very few referred to distilled water having a boiling point of exactly 100°C Biology Subject Officer (iii) Some candidates referred to variables such as ‘type of soap solution’ and 029 2026 5126 temperature here – awarded 1 mark. Reference to shaking was required liane. adams@wjec. co. uk for access to the second mark. (iv) Simple chemical formula – poorly answered with Ca. F often seen. Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Foundation tier only questions QUESTIONDetails 4 – Reactions of metals and rate Contact (a) Most gained a mark for ‘bubbles’ but few referred to magnesium disappearing. Liane Adams No credit for ‘hydrogen forms’ as this is not what is seen. Biology Subject Officer 029 2026 5126 (b) Poorly answered – more formulae and equations marks. liane. adams@wjec. co. uk (c) (i) Plotting good; no credit for joining points with a ruler. Lowri Evans (ii) I Conversion of 90 seconds to minutes caused a problem for some. Subject Support Officer II Poorly answered; some lost the mark for omission of units. (iii) Most sketched a steeper curve, fewer ensured that this too reached 50 cm 3 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Foundation tier only questions QUESTIONDetails 5 – PISA-style questions based on the halogens Contact Liane Adams Biology Subject Officer 029 2026 5126 liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 (c) Wide range of values accepted; explanation was poor; requires precise use of lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk language and correct terminology. (d) Surprisingly poorly answered. . . recognition of relevant text? (e) Requires following the pattern in properties – well answered.

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Foundation tier only questions QUESTIONDetails 6 Chemical analysis Contact Very disappointing performance for an accessible question. Liane Adams Biology Subject Officer Not attempted by 1 in 4 candidates. 029 2026 5126 liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Most scored lower band marks; a reasonable number middle band. Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer Many described flame test – lilac colour for potassium well-known. 029 2026 5140 Middle band mark generally awarded when all flame colours were known. lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk Silver nitrate test was given by only a small proportion of candidates. Both tests including correct precipitate colours required for top band.

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Common questions QUESTIONDetails 7/1 The Earth’s atmosphere Contact Liane Adams Biology Subject Officer 029 2026 5126 liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk (a) (i) Many stated that carbon dioxide levels had increased due to global warming! (ii) Some did not mention a flame in the hydrogen test; ‘putting out’ a flame is not an acceptable test for carbon dioxide.

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Common questions QUESTIONDetails 7/1 The Earth’s atmosphere Contact Liane Adams Biology Subject Officer 029 2026 5126 liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk (b) (i) A number of recent questions have required candidates to consider whether a change is steady or whether it is getting larger over time as is the case here. A demanding (ii) Many candidates did not work out the increase and came up with meaningless percentages.

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Common questions Contact QUESTIONDetails 8/2 Structure of the atom Liane Adams (a) (iii) Only a minority of candidates recognised the isotopes and explained their reasoning correctly. Biology Subject Officer 029 2026 5126 (b) (ii) Many gave a neutral answer here by saying that both elements are in the liane. adams@wjec. co. uk same group – reference to them having full outer shells was required for credit to be awarded Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Higher Tier Contact Details Liane Adams Maximum mark = 60 Biology Subject Officer A* 029 2026 5126 liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Grade 35 boundary Lowri Evans Cumulative 9. 7 Subject Support Officer % at grade 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk Mean mark = 21. 8 Entry = 6048 A B C D 28 21 15 9 25. 3 50. 8 78. 0 95. 2

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Higher Tier ITEM LEVEL DATA

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Higher tier only questions QUESTIONDetails 3 PISA-style question based on hard water Contact A significant amount of general information about hard water along with some Liane Adams experimental data. Careful reading of this and the questions essential. Biology Subject Officer 029 2026 5126 Question requires some thought in selection of the information relevant to various liane. adams@wjec. co. uk question parts – not generally required in many questions. Satisfactory facility factor of 50%. Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer Parts (a) and (c) were less well answered than parts (b) and (d). 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk Part (e) was straightforward but there had to be a clear implication, if not a definitive statement, of the candidate’s opinion as to whether advantages outweigh disadvantages.

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Higher tier only questions QUESTIONDetails 4 Reaction rate and practical design Contact (a) Plotting good as usual; no mark awarded for the curve when its shape was Liane Adams changed to hit all points or when the points were joined using a ruler. Biology Subject Officer 029 2026 5126 (b) Most drew a less steep curve for first mark; many didn’t realise that half the liane. adams@wjec. co. uk volume of gas would be produced this time. (c) Greater kinetic energy at higher temperature is well understood; fewer Lowri Evans appreciate that a greater proportion of all collisions therefore have an energy Subject Support Officer greater than the activation energy. 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk (d) Very few referred to calculating a mean based on repeatable results or discarding anomalous results. (e) This question was intended to test candidates’ knowledge of the limitations of simple practical set-ups. It was a demanding question and not well answered. No credit was awarded for vague references to accuracy or time taken to set assemble apparatus.

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Higher tier only questions QUESTIONDetails 5 Group 7 reactions and simplest formula Contact (a) (i) Names given by many – awarded 1 mark only for all three correct. Liane Adams (ii) Surprisingly poorly answered for a very straightforward question. Biology Subject Officer (iii) Many recognised that iodine would not react with sodium bromide. 029 2026 5126 Only the very best candidates showed an understanding of the difference liane. adams@wjec. co. uk between bromine and bromide. (b) Weaker candidates divided Ar by the mass rather than the mass by Ar. Lowri Evans Subject Support Officer (c) (i) Very poorly answered. Ionic equations for precipitation reactions should 029 2026 5140 include only the species taking part i. e. two aqueous ions and a solid lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk product. (ii) Ca. I and Ca. NO 3 commonly seen incorrect formulae.

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Higher tier only questions QUESTIONDetails 6 Chemical calculations Contact (a) A very wide range of incorrect answers here suggest that many candidates had Liane Adams little idea how to approach this question. Biology Subject Officer 029 2026 5126 (b) (i) Candidates who applied the correct method using an incorrect answer liane. adams@wjec. co. uk from part (a) were awarded the mark. The most common error was to divide one of the values given in the question by the other. Lowri Evans (ii) Candidates showed little awareness of the possibility that the reaction was Subject Support Officer not complete. Vague comments such as ‘the product has reacted’ and 029 2026 5140 ‘some of the product remained in the container’ gained no credit. lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk

GCSE Science (Double Award) Unit 2: Chemistry 1 Higher tier only questions QUESTIONDetails 7 Trend in Group 1 reactivity Contact Most candidates made a reasonable attempt at the QER question. Liane Adams Biology Subject Officer Many attained middle band marks with good descriptions of the observations and 029 2026 5126 the trend in reactivity. liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Reference to electronic structures was generally vague in middle band answers but candidates who scored 5 or 6 marks explained the increasing reactivity on Lowri Evans descending the group in terms of the outer electron being further from the nucleus Subject Support Officer and therefore easier to lose. 029 2026 5140 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk

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