Key messages from Verification 2013-14 Use valid and reliable assessments

SQA-produced Unit Assessment Support Packs Centre devised assessments that have been prior verified Your own assessments – strongly advise you have these prior verified Advise staff to go back and look at subject verification comments for N5

Making assessment judgements SQA packs are designed on a pass/fail basis Use Judging Evidence Tables to make assessment judgments against Assessment

Standards, and have commentary on how to meet each Assessment Standard A task/activity can meet most or all of the Unit Outcomes and Assessment Standards Indicate on candidate’s work that Unit Assessment Standards have been met Unit Assessment complementing learning and teaching Unit Assessment is open and flexible Assessment should allow you space to prepare for Added Value/Course Assessment

New Advanced Higher Subject Implementation Events Classical Studies:Advanced Higher Course Assessment

Course Assessment at Advanced Higher Course Assessment at National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher

assesses Added Value

Courses at Advanced Higher are normally assessed by one or two Components

Courses at Advanced Higher are graded A – D, as at present

Controlled Assessment of setting, conducting and marking

For Classical Studies there are 2 Component/s – a Question Paper and a Project - Dissertation

Different approaches for different subjects

Consider issues arising from external assessment reports

No dual running at Advanced Higher in session 2015-16

Question Paper

3 hours 100 marks Classical Literature 50 marks; Classical Society

50 marks Externally set and marked Build on successful approach of current paper Revised command words/question formats

Question Paper

Classical Literature:4 source-based questions:

– Source analysis– Source evaluation– Comparison of different sources– Comparison between Classical and modern

worldsGreek and Roman sources

Question Paper

Classical Society25-mark essay questions on aspects of Classical SocietyTwo questions from a choice of fourBuilding on questions in current papers

Project - Dissertation

Justify a topic for research (retain list of current titles, plus option to choose a new issue/topic)

Research the issue using a wide range of sources of information

Analyse the issue Compare the classical/modern worlds Evaluate the ongoing significance of the classical world Synthesise information to develop a sustained and

coherent line of argument Organise, present and reference findings using

appropriate conventions

Project - Dissertation

As at National 5 and Higher:Coursework General document contains advice on conditions, quality assurance and general marking principlesCoursework Task document contains detailed marking instructions and advice to candidatesBoth documents essential for assessors

Marking instructions (Dissertation and Question Paper)

As at National 5 and Higher:Marking instructions based on clear descriptions of skillsSkill definitions and requirements aligned across Unit Assessment Support Packs, Question Paper and CourseworkQuestion Paper command words/phrases focus on specific skills, as appropriateMarking instructions in greater detail, but space left for marker/PA judgement

Workshop 2Course Assessment

Using the materials provided, in small groups of 2-3, discuss: Identify subject-specific topics for discussion

 Workshop Aims To understand the requirements of Advanced Higher Course

Assessments

Using the materials provided, in small groups of 2-3, discuss: How will the greater clarity and detail in marking instructions for

Course Assessment help? What challenges might this present? Is the relationship between definitions of skills in Unit Assessment

Support Packs/Question Paper/Coursework clear? 

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