a parents’ guide on gcse controlled assessment & exams · a parents’ guide on gcse...
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A Guide for Parents, 2014-2015. ARG
The purpose of this booklet is to provide you with information on the assessments and exams that your child will be sitting during their GCSEs at St James: How many pieces of Controlled Assessment and coursework there are on the GCSE course What percentage of the final grade is awarded to Controlled Assessment When Controlled Assessments are due to be completed How many exams they will sit at the end of the GCSE course What percentage of the final grade is awarded to the exam(s) If a subject says that Controlled Assessment is continuous, this means that every lesson students are compiling evidence of their understanding to put in their portfolio which forms part of their final grade. Parents and their children have access to ShowMyHomework where all homework and controlled assessment details are added by teachers. You can login at www.showmyhomework.co.uk. If you have any problems with logging in, or have any questions about the website, please email Mr Farmer on [email protected]. In a political landscape where there are significant changes being made to educational policy and the exam system on an annual basis, GCSEs are frequently being modified in terms of their structure and assessment. This document will therefore be updated and released annually (or more frequently if required) to ensure that you are aware of the full picture and the impact of any of these changes on the GCSE course your child is studying. If you have any further questions on assessment, please contact Miss Robins, Assistant Headteacher, on [email protected] or 01392 209922 ext. 287.
A Parents’ Guide on
GCSE Controlled
Assessment & Exams
St James School, Summer Lane, Exeter EX4 8NN
Tel: 01392 209922 email: [email protected] www.stjamesexeter.co.uk
Applicable to the Classes of 2015 & 2016 (year 10 & 11 as of September 2014.)
Co
ntr
olle
d A
sse
ssm
en
t Subject
Number during the course
% of final grade
Details
Art 3 60% Project 1 - Self-image Project 2 - Surfaces Project 3 - The joining of two cultures
Catering 2 20% 40%
Task 1: Practical exam and portfolio of evidence Task 2: Practical exam and portfolio of evidence
Computing 2 60%
A452 Practical Investigation - 20 hours in lessons A453 Programming Project - 20 hours in lessons Students will have five tasks to choose from for each assessment.
Drama 2 30% 30%
Unit 1 Page to Stage. Unit 2 Documentary Drama. Each unit involves three CA essays.
Engineering Continuous 75% Portfolio of evidence.
English Language/English 4 40% Each Controlled Assessment involves preparation in lessons before a two hour exam .
English Literature 2 25% Each Controlled Assessment involves preparation in lessons before a two hour exam .
Geography 1 25% 20 hours during lesson time of low/high order control, analysing and presenting data.
French 4 x Speaking 4 x Writing
60% 2 x writing assessments and 2 x speaking assessments are submitted.
Health & Social Care Continuous 75% Portfolio of evidence.
History 1 25%
Hospitality Continuous 75% Portfolio of evidence.
iArt 3 60% Unit 1 - Personal portfolio
Music 3 80% Unit 2 Composition Unit 4 Composition Unit 3 Performance
PE 5 4 x 10% 1 x 20%
4 x Practical Assessments 1 x Analysis of Performance
BTec Sport Continuous 75% Portfolio of evidence
Product design 1 60% Project comprising practical and written elements.
Core GCSE Science 1 piece of practical
work & an exam 25%
Students plan a method under exam conditions, complete their practical, then do a second exam analysing data.
Additional GCSE Science As above 25% As above
Chemistry/Physics/ Biology As above for each science
25% As above
BTec Principles of Science Continuous 75%
Statistics 12.5% Students write a statistical report.
When completed How can parents support their child during this time?
Throughout years 9-11 Monitor student’s design briefs and checklists.
Throughout yr 10 and 11 Ensure students have the correct ingredients for practical lessons. Proofread their portfolio of evidence. Provide opportunities for practice at home.
End of year 9 and throughout year 10.
Allow students access to a computer where they can install Python (https://www.python.org/) and other necessary software. All software is free and from a trusted supplier. Students can BBC Click every week and follow the latest technology news on the course wiki www.stjamescomputing.wikispaces.com
Unit 1 year 10 summer term Unit 2 Spring term year 11
Ensure good attendance. Support by checking planning tasks and student’s project booklets during the three units. Help your child to learn lines. Check they prepare for each Controlled Assessment exam.
Continuous assessment Ensure students have the correct materials for practical lessons.
Throughout year 10 & Autumn term of year 11
Ensure homework is completed and make sure that attendance in lessons is excellent.
Summer term year 9 Autumn term year 10
Ensure homework is completed and make sure that attendance in lessons is excellent.
Year 11 October Familiarise your child with the Quantock Hills, rock types, height of land and the River Holford.
Year 9 Spring term to Year 11 Autumn term
Support your child to revise using : www.linguascope.com. Username: ex48nn. Password: french2014
Throughout yrs 9-11 Make sure students complete their homework and revision tasks.
Summer term year 10 Help with research and source gathering one week before the write up once the question has been released to students.
Throughout yrs 9-11 Ensure students have the correct ingredients and practice at home.
Summer term yr 9 - Jan year 11 Via iArt wikispaces.
Spring/Summer year 10 (20%) Autumn term year 11 (20%) Spring term year 11 (40%)
Support students in completing their composition logbook for appraisal. Monitor student’s individual private practice at home.
Throughout years 9-11 Encourage your child to participate in extra-curricular sporting activities at school or at clubs outside of school.
Throughout years 9-11 Revise key terminology. Support your child to do their homework.
During year 10 and the Autumn term of year 11
Ensure students have the correct materials for practical lessons.
Dec-Jan year 11 Revise key words like variables, risk assessments, anomalies, preliminary experiments. Ensure good attendance.
Dec - Jan year 11 Revise key words like variables, risk assessments, anomalies, preliminary experiments. Ensure good attendance.
Oct - March year 11 Revise key words like variables, risk assessments, anomalies, preliminary experiments. Ensure good attendance.
Throughout years 9 - 11 Ensure excellent attendance and provision of equipment. Watch the news and read newspapers to gain an insight into applications in the world we live in.
Year 10 Spring term 1 Revise from coursework
Exam
s Subject Number of exams When
% of final grade
Art 1 March/April of year 11 40%
Catering 1 End of year 11 40%
Computing 1 End of year 11 40%
Drama 1 10 hour performance to the examiner in May at the end of year 11
67%
Engineering 1 End of year 11 25%
English Language/English 1 End of year 11 60%
English Literature 2 End of year 11 75%
Geography 2 End of year 11 75%
French 2 (Listening, Reading) End of year 11 40%
Health & Social Care 2 End of year 10 25%
History 2 End of year 11 75%
Hospitality 1 End of year 11 25%
iArt 1 March/April of year 11 40%
Languages, e.g. Persian 1 End of year 11 100%
Maths 2 End of year 11 100%
Additional Maths 1 End of Year 11 100%
Music 2 April year 11 Composition appraisal End of year 11 Listening exam
20%
PE 1 End of year 11 40%
BTec Sport 1 End of year 11 25%
Product design 1 End of year 11 40%
Psychology 2 End of year 11 100%
Core GCSE Science 3 End of year 11 75%
Additional GCSE Science 3 End of year 11 75%
Chemistry/Physics/Biology 3 per science = 9 End of year 11 75%
BTec Principles of Science 1 TBC 25%
Statistics 1 End of year 11 87.5%
World Issues 2 End of year 11 100%