KS4 Parents Forum Supporting Documents

KS4 Parents Forum Supporting Documents

Contents Exams Page 1 Controlled Assessments Page 4 KS4 Tracker Page 7 Information for Candidates written exams Page 10 Information for Candidates controlled assessments Page 11 Information for Candidates on screen tests Page 13 Information for Candidates social media Page 14

Exams 9 to 1 grades All subjects will be graded 9 to 1 apart from Business Studies and Technology (Graphics, Resistant Materials and Textiles) BTEC Engineering and Catering will be worth 1 GCSE and award with grades Distinction* (A*/8.5), Distinction (A/7), Merit (B/5.5) or Pass (C/4). The only subjects which will have tiers will be Maths, Languages and Science Combined. All other subjects will have only 1 paper for each unit. The table below shows the relationship between the new 9 to 1 grades and the A* to G grades GCSE Foundation GCSE Higher Current Grade G F/E D C C/B B A A* A*+ New Grade 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 New grades explained: Grade 9: Grade 8: Grade 7: Top half of current grade A* pupils. Bottom half of current grade A* pupils. Equivalent to an A grade pass. Grade 6: Covering the top two thirds of a grade B. Grade 5: Covering the top third of a grade C and the lower third of a grade B. International benchmark. Grade 4: The bottom two thirds of a grade C. Grade 3: Equivalent to a grade D. Grade 2: Equivalent to a grade E and F. Grade 1: Equivalent to grade a G. For QES purposes each grade will be split into 3 levels e.g. 3-, 3, 3+. These will be reported home during Year 10 and Year 11 as predicted and target grades. There are now no modular exams during KS4. Therefore in order to prepare for the final exams in the Summer of Year 11 there are exams in both Year 10 and Year 11. Monday 6 th March 2017 to Wednesday March 15 th 2017 (Year 10) Assessment in all exam subjects. There will probably be just one exam for each subject. October Assessment (Year 11) An assessment in each subject to review Year 10 work. February Year 11 (1 week either side of half term) Mock exams in all exam subjects. 1

The table below shows the number of exams which will be taken at the end of Year 11 for each subject. Subject Number of exams Length of exam Percentage of GCSE Business Studies (A* to G) 2 Paper 1 60 minutes Paper 3 90 minutes Catering (on screen) 1 90 minutes Computing 2 Paper 1 90 minutes Paper 2 90 minutes Dance 1 90 minutes Drama 1 90 minutes BTEC Engineering (D, M, P) 1 On Screen test (2 units) 12 1 / 2 % each English Language 2 Paper 1 105 minutes Paper 2 120 minutes 60% English Lit 2 Paper 1 120 minutes Paper 2 150 minutes 60% Food and Nutrition 1 105 minutes French 3 Paper 1 Listening 45 minutes Paper 3 Reading 60 minutes Paper 4 Writing 75 minutes Geography 3 Paper 1 90 minutes Paper 2 90 minutes Paper 3 75 minutes 35% 35% 30% German 3 Paper 1 Listening 45 minutes Paper 3 Reading 60 minutes Paper 4 Writing 75 minutes Graphics 1 120 minutes History (B) 3 Paper 1 75 minutes Paper 2 105 minutes Paper 3 80 minutes 30% 30% ICT Nationals 1 75 minutes 2

Subject Number of exams Length of exam Percentage of GCSE Latin 1 75 minutes 67% Maths 3 Paper 1 Non Calculator 90 minutes Paper 2 Calculator 90 minutes Paper 3 Calculator 90 minutes Music 1 90 minutes 33 1 / 3% 33 1 / 3% 33 1 / 3% PE 2 Paper 1 60 minutes Paper 2 60 minutes 30% 30% Philosophy 2 Paper 1 105 minutes Paper 2 105 minutes Resistant Materials 1 120 minutes Separate Science Biology 2 Paper 1 105 minutes Paper 2 105 minutes Chemistry 2 Paper 1 105 minutes Paper 2 105 minutes Physics 2 Paper 1 105 minutes Paper 2 105 minutes Combined Science 6 Paper 1 Biology 75 minutes Paper 2 Biology 75 minutes Paper 3 Chemistry 75 minutes Paper 4 Chemistry 75 minutes Paper 5 Physics 75 minutes Paper 6 Physics 75 minutes Spanish 3 Paper 1 Listening 45 minutes Paper 3 Reading 60 minutes Paper 4 Writing 75 minutes Textiles 1 120 minutes 16.7% 16.7% 16.7% 16.7% 16.7% 16.7% World History (A) 3 Paper 1 105 minutes Paper 2 60 minutes Paper 3 105 minutes 20% 3

Controlled Assessments All subjects now fall into three categories. A subject has an exam at the end of Year 11 and controlled assessments during KS4 (these may be taken in Year 10 or 11). Controlled assessments can only be moderated at the end of Year 11even though they can be taken anytime during KS4. There are no controlled assessments and the subject is exam only such as Maths and Philosophy. A subject is 100% teacher assessed (Art) The number of subjects which have controlled assessments has fallen considerably this year. For controlled assessments pupils will need to research, analyse and write up a particular task set by their teacher. There are three levels of controlled assessments and it is very important everyone understand the significance of them. Low Level: Medium Level: Under limited supervision the requirements are clearly specified by the awarding body and work may be completed without direct supervision. Research or data collection may take place outside of the classroom. Under informal supervision, the use of resources is not tightly prescribed and group work is normally permitted provided that any assessable outcomes can be attributed to individual candidates. Candidates do not need to be under direct supervision at all times. However, the centre must ensure that: all candidates participate in the assessment; plagiarism does not take place; sources used by a candidate are clearly recorded; each candidate s preparation for the final production of the work is his/her own. High Level: Under formal supervision the candidate must be under direct supervision at all times. The use of resources by the candidate and his/her interaction with others will be directed by the awarding body; in particular access to e-mail, the internet and mobile phones must not be permitted. Candidates may be required, as an example, to produce an extended piece of work or submit their responses to a series of structured questions under controlled conditions. Throughout the Key stage the pupils will be taking controlled assessments as the next page shows. 4

Art Subject Level of controlled assessment Low High Timing of controlled assessment Ongoing through the two years May Year 11 Percentage of GCSE Business Studies High April/May Year 10 Catering High Jan to May Year 11 60% Computing High Nov to Feb Year 11 20% Dance High May Year 11 60% Drama High Devised Perf Dec Year 11 Scripted Perf March to May Year 11 BTEC Engineering Medium Ongoing through the two years 75% 60% 20% EMS (Enterprise and Manufacturing Skills) Level 1 project Low Year 11 100% Food and Nutrition High Investigation June Year 10 Preparation Feb to March Year 11 French High Speaking practice Oct Year 11 15% 35% Speaking exam May Year 11 German High Speaking practice Oct Year 11 Speaking exam May Year 11 Graphics Medium June Year 10 to May Year 11 60% ICT Nationals Medium Ongoing through the two years 75% Latin High April Year 10 33% Music Medium Composing May Yr 10 to Oct Yr 11 Composing Oct Yr 11 to Feb Yr 11 Performing March Year 11 PE Medium May Year 10 & March Year 11 Resistant Materials Medium June Year 10 to May Year 11 60% 15% 15% 30% Spanish High Speaking practice Oct Year 11 Speaking exam May Year 11 Textiles Medium May Year 10 to May Year 11 60% 5

Controlled Assessments The following subjects are 100% teacher assessed: Art The following subjects have no controlled assessments: English Language English Literature Geography History Maths Philosophy Science Combined Science Biology Science Chemistry Science Physics World History 6

KS4 Tracker 7

KS4 Tracker 8

KS4 Tracker 9

Information for Candidates Written Exams 10

Information for Candidates Controlled Assessments 11

Controlled Assessment 12

Information for Candidates On Screen Tests 13

Information for Candidates Social Media 14