GCE Biology Autumn 2017 CONTACT DETAILS Contact Details

GCE Biology Autumn 2017

CONTACT DETAILS Contact Details Liane Adams Biology Subject Officer 029 2026 5126 liane. adams@wjec. co. uk Lowri Evans Matthew Roberts Subject Support Officer 029 2026 5140 029 2026 5380 lowri. evans@wjec. co. uk matthew. roberts@wjec. co. uk

AGENDA Schedule 9. 30 Welcome and introduction 9. 45 General feedback on Unit 5 monitoring visits and administration 10. 30 Feedback on Unit 5 practical examination 11. 00 Coffee 11. 20 Feedback on AS Units 1 and 2 12. 30 Lunch 1. 15 Feedback on A 2 Units 3 and 4 2. 30 Resources and questions 3. 00 Close

REGULATORY CHANGES TO EXAMINATION PAPERS • Assessment Objectives • Range of mathematical skills demand (minimum 10%) • Practical skills assessment (minimum 15%) • Quality of extended response (QER) • Inclusion of “issues” questions

ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES AO 1 (30 / 35%) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures AO 2 (45%) Apply knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures: • in a theoretical context • in a practical context • when handling qualitative data • when handling quantitative data AO 3 (20 / 25%) Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific information, ideas and evidence, including in relation to issues, to: • make judgements and reach conclusions • develop and refine practical design and procedures

KEY POINTS FROM SUMMER 2017 • Many candidates had been prepared well for the examinations and were able to apply their own knowledge to the context given. Some excellent scripts were seen. • Simple recall of knowledge was an issue for some candidates, especially in some new areas of the specification. • Although candidates on the whole performed well in Unit 5, they did not transfer this to practical questions on the other units. • Simple mathematical skills were lacking in some candidates, with many losing marks on graph work and the conversion of units. • Some administrative issues with candidates continuing answers elsewhere on page or continuing on additional pages but not correctly identifying the question they were answering. TOP TIPS • Highlight key information in the stem of the question and refer back to it • Keep examination paper open at the double page spread

AS BIOLOGY 2017 Cumulative % of candidates at each grade Grade Wales 2017 Wales 2016 A 20. 3 18. 6 B 36. 7 33. 3 C 54. 6 49. 7 D 72. 7 67. 7 E 85. 6 81. 8 Number of candidates cashing-in 3532 2973

UMS CONVERSION - AS BIOLOGY 2017 Grade Unit 1 Raw mark /80 Unit 2 Raw mark /80 Grade For both units Uniform marks /100 A 40 42 A 80 B 34 35 B 70 C 28 29 C 60 D 22 23 D 50 E 17 17 E 40

A 2 BIOLOGY 2017 Cumulative % of candidates at each grade Grade Wales 2017 All AOs 2016 A* 10. 1 6. 9 A 27. 5 23. 7 B 48. 6 45. 3 C 69. 2 68. 1 D 86. 5 85. 1 E 96. 5 95. 6 Number of candidates cashing-in 1824 2216

UMS CONVERSION - A 2 BIOLOGY 2017 Grade Unit 3 Raw mark /90 Unit 4 Raw mark /90 Unit 5 Raw mark /50 Grade For Units 3 and 4 Uniform marks /125 For Unit 5 Uniform marks /50 A* 54 52 38 A* 100 A 46 45 32 A 100 40 B 40 39 29 B 88 35 C 34 34 26 C 73 30 D 28 29 23 D 63 25 E 23 24 20 E 50 20

AWARDING OF A* • At A level, Grade A* will be awarded to candidates who have achieved a Grade A (400 uniform marks) in the overall A level qualification and at least 90% of the total uniform marks for the A 2 units (270 uniform marks).

MAKING ENTRIES / RE-SITTING • Candidates may re-sit an individual unit ONCE ONLY. The better UMS score from the two attempts will be used. • A qualification may be taken more than once. However if all units have been attempted twice, candidates will have to make a fresh start i. e. retake all units. • If a candidate wishes to sit any unit for a 3 rd time then all units will have to be retaken even if all the units haven’t been sat twice i. e. they will have to have a fresh start.

Any Questions?