An Ofqual consultation over proposed examination reforms across 14 A level subjects closes tomorrow (Friday, January 17).
Its current proposals will see coursework assessments no longer counting towards A level grades in biology, chemistry and physics. Practical skills will still be assessed, but the results will be reported separately.
The new A levels will be taught in schools from September 2015 and Ofqual proposes that an understanding of experimental methods will be assessed in exams. The consultation states: “We propose that the development of conceptual and theoretical understanding of experimental methods should be assessed in the written exams.”
However, a statement from OCR this week has urged the regulator to rethink its plans, arguing for more, not fewer, experiments in the classroom across all three science A levels.
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