皇冠体育app

Students studying reformed biology A level have shown stronger practical skills than those pre-reform, an Ofqual study has shown.

皇冠体育app study, published today (10 May 2018) by the exams regulator, saw students who studied the reformed biology A level show stronger practical skills than their counterparts who studied the pre-reform qualification. 皇冠体育app practical skills of pre- and post-reform students studying chemistry and physics remained broadly similar and there had been no deterioration.

皇冠体育app 1,750 students who took part in the study also responded to a questionnaire, which encouragingly shows that the post-reform group reported doing practical work more often and feeling more confident than the pre-reform group.

Practical skills for science A levels are now assessed indirectly, by exam, at the end of A level courses where such questions make up at least 15% of the overall mark. Students must complete at least 12 practical activities during the course and will receive a separate endorsement that they have done so satisfactorily (a pass or an unclassified grade). Pre-reform science A levels involved students completing practical tasks under 鈥榗ontrolled conditions鈥� and responding to written questions on them. This approach presented logistical problems as well as concerns about adequately differentiating between students鈥� abilities.

Reformed science A level exams were taken for the first time in summer 2017, after first teaching began in September 2015.

Sally Collier, Chief Regulator, said:

I am encouraged by this study, which suggests that the reformed A levels in biology, chemistry and physics have continued to see practical skills prioritised as important parts of the qualifications. I hope that it will provide some early reassurance that practical skills have not been unintentionally devalued in the reformed A levels. 皇冠体育appse are, however, early findings and we and will continue this research to include a new cohort of post-reform students later this year