YEAR-10

Key stage 4 - OCR Gateway B Year 10

The primary objective of this specification is to interest and engage candidates in science.
This is achieved by:

Identifying activities and experiences which will excite their interest, and linking these to scientific ideas and their implications for society;

Providing opportunities to develop science explanations and theories;

Providing a scheme of assessment which gives regular feedback.

This approach will appeal to candidates of all abilities. The specification emphasises the teaching and learning activities of the course, from which emerge the learning outcomes.

This specification aims to give candidates opportunities to:

Develop their interest in, and enthusiasm for, science;

Develop a critical approach to scientific evidence and methods;

Acquire and apply skills, knowledge and understanding of how science works and its essential role in society;

Acquire scientific skills, knowledge and understanding necessary for progression to further learning.

The assessment of skills involves a variety of approaches to avoid the "done that before" response.
It provides regular feedback to candidates to ensure a sense of achievement and continuous motivation. It contains assessment targets that are achievable by the least able candidates, but differentiation to challenge and reward the most able.
Skills assessment comprises a set of Can-Do tasks and a report on Science in the News.

Can-Do tasks provide opportunities to demonstrate practical capabilities and explore the ways in which scientific evidence is collected. These are assessed and recorded throughout the course as the candidate fulfils them. The marks are recorded on the Candidate Record Card.

The report on Science in the News aims to motivate candidates and give them an insight into how science is reported to the public, the validity of underlying research and claims or recommendations made based on the research. Candidates are required to use stimulus material provided by OCR and other sources of information to research the way in which scientific data and ideas are dealt with by the media. The number of reports attempted is at the discretion of the centre, but the
results of only one may be submitted.

The portfolio of work done during the course accounts for one third of the marks for this specification. Portfolio work is assessed by teachers, internally standardised and then externally moderated.