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Understanding Standards: Nominee Training Event. Biology National 3 – Advanced Higher. Aims of the day. To support Nominees in their understanding of national standards by: reviewing candidate evidence discussing this evidence and associated assessment s tandards with colleagues
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Understanding Standards: Nominee Training Event Biology National 3 – Advanced Higher
Aims of the day To support Nominees in their understanding of national standards by: • reviewing candidate evidence • discussing this evidence and associated assessment standards with colleagues • asking questions and seeking clarification about national standards To support Nominees in their understanding of: • the nominee role • the Biology Review Report
Verification Activity 2016 - 17 • 21st September – Understanding Standards event with Nominees • February 2017 Round 1 Unit Verification • May 2017 Round 2 N4 Added Value Unit Verification • March – May 2017 Visiting Verification – Advanced Higher
Round 1 Verification: February 2017 Unit assessment at all levels up to and including Advanced Higher(but not the Investigative Biology Unit). Selection criteria: • centres which received not accepted outcomes within the qualification group in 2015/16 • centres entering candidates within the qualification group for the first time • centres entering candidates within the qualification group which have not previously been verified *For one year only there will be no ‘random sample’ for this round of verification.
Round 2 Verification: May 2017 National 4 Added Value Unit Selection criteria: • Same three criteria as before plus • ‘random sample’ selection
Visiting Verification: March – May 2017 Investigative Biology Unit – Advanced Higher Outcome 1 and Outcome 2 (Principal Verifier, Depute Principal Verifier & Visiting Verifier Team Leaders)
Purpose of Verification All verification activities Look at each centre’s: 1. approach to assessment and 2. their ability to make sound assessment judgements.
National 4 Added Value Unit
What’s changed? • marks introduced • a cut-off score introduced • revised Judging Evidence Table (in guidance note – Understanding the next steps for session 2016-17 – National 4)
Outcome 1 – Key Messages • National 3 candidates are not expected to devise a procedure. • Candidates at all other levels must be involved in the planning aspect of the experiment/investigation.
Outcome 2 – Key Messages • Discuss the marking guidance prior to using the assessment and annotate it, detailing alternative acceptable answers as well as unacceptable answers • Rigorous, accurate and consistent application of a marking scheme is essential. • Effective internal verification procedures make a difference. • Annotate the candidate evidence.
Biology Review Report • SQA Biology homepage • Published in May 2016 • Key issues • duplication and overlapof assessment • complete mastery required • tracking and monitoring of assessment • mandatory content
Biology Review Report: Action plan 2016/17 • All levels • introduce threshold for Outcome 1 • revise Unit Assessment Support Packs to introduce a single assessment with marks and a cut-off score • provide guidance on how to adapt current unit assessment support packs as an interim measure
Biology Review Report: Action plan 2016/17 • National 3 & 4 • remove Assessment Standards 2.2 & 2.3 • National 4 • introduce marks and a cut-off score for the Added Value Unit • investigate alternative assessment strategies for the Added Value Unit • introduce threshold for Outcome 1 • Higher • investigate the introduction of a half-credit Researching Unit
Biology Review Report: Action plan 2016/17 cont. • National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher • review the mandatory content of units during this session to ensure that they are manageable
Biology Review Report: Action plan 2016/17 cont. Course Assessment: Coursework • word count penalties • willnot be applied at National 5 and Higher levels • will be applied at Advance Higher level • Marking Instructions • revise to reflect new guidance document on presenting data in graphs, charts • revise to take into account any issues identified during Diet 2016 • update exemplification materials
Biology Review Report: Action plan 2016/17 cont. • Course Assessment: General • investigate the nature of Course assessment including question paper and Coursework and report during session 2017/18 • SQA are developing a plan to streamline the documentation associated with the National Courses
Biology Review Report: benefits • A reduction in the number of candidates who need to be re-assessed. • Tracking attainment in units should be easier to log, releasing more time for teaching and learning. • More time released for completion of the Coursework task and/or preparation for the question paper.