[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-618986-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-618986-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","ase-annual-conference-a-level-student-performance-in-practical-work-related-items-spring-2020","ASE Annual Conference - A-level student performance in practical work related items - Spring 2020","","ASE Annual Conference presentation by Catherine Witter (Spring 2020) explains how A-level science practical skills are assessed and why practical work is essential. It outlines Ofqual requirements for current A-level sciences, compares terminal exam assessment with direct endorsement assessment, and describes required practical activities and five teacher-assessed competencies. The session also covers the monitoring model, research methodology, and available resources for supporting teachers to assess practical work effectively in laboratories.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/ase-annual-conference-a-level-student-performance-in-practical-work-related-items-spring-2020/618986/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/ase-annual-conference-a-level-student-performance-in-practical-work-related-items-spring-2020/618986.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Logic","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.presentationml.presentation","2026-11-07","2026-10-20",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",8,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"How are A-level science practical skills assessed in the current framework?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Practical skills are assessed indirectly through terminal exams (100% terminal exam) and directly through endorsement based on a non-examined assessment (NEA) within A-level science qualifications.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What competencies do teachers use for endorsement of practical skills?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Teachers assess using five competencies: following written instructions; 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All rights reserved.\n2\nThis meeting will be recorded\nCopyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.\nExam boards have an Ofqual requirement to record event audio.\nRecordings are kept for the lifetime of the specification and not shared as an accompaniment to session resources.\nThe recording will begin now.\n3\nOutline of the session\nCopyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.\nBackground\nAQA practical work advisers have now worked face to face with teachers from over 2500 schools and colleges since monitoring visits started in January 2016. We have also been analysing how the questions on our A-level science exam papers have performed since reform, with particular focus on questions that have been designed to assess practical work indirectly.\n4\nOutline of the session\nCopyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.\nWe would like to share:\nwhat we are actively doing to support A-level science teachers as they deliver practical science in the laboratory\nour methodology behind this current and ongoing research.\n5\nMy role at AQA – operational with a need for science expertise\nCopyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.\n6\nHow are practical skills in science qualifications assessed?\nIndirectly (100% terminal exam)\nRequired practicals and a list of apparatus\nand techniques, ATs\nDirectly\nCommon Practical Assessment Criteria\n(CPAC) and the ability to use ATs\nThe direct assessment is the non-examined assessment (NEA), part of our A-level Science qualifications only\nCopyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.\n7\nOfqual rules for the current A-level Sciences\nAS and A-level decoupled.\nBoth courses are linear.\nAS\nA-level\nMinimum assessment time\n3 hours\n6 hours\nMaximum number of components\n2\n3\nCoursework/controlled assessment\nNo\nNo\nEndorsement\nNo\nYes\nPractical marks\n15%\n15%\nMaths marks\n10%(B), 20%(C), 40%(P)\nCopyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.\n8\nWhat is practical work and why is it so important?\nIt supports and consolidates scientific knowledge and understanding.\nIt develops investigative skills.\nIt builds mastery of practical skills.\nCopyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.\n9\nAssessment: For endorsement\nTeacher assesses students’ abilities in practical work through a set of competencies. Holistic judgement at the end of a two-year course.\nCopyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.\n10\nAssessment: For endorsement\nStudents’ practical skills in at least 12 practicals\n12 required practical activities\nTeacher devised practical experiences\nFive competencies:\n1. Follows written instructions\n2.  Applies investigative approaches and methods when using instruments and equipment\n3.  Safely uses a range of practical equipment and materials\n4.  Makes and records observations\n5.  Researches, references and reports\nEndorsement of practical skills\nCopyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.\n11\nThe monitoring visit\n12\nCopyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.\nWe have now completed our second monitoring cycle\nCopyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.\n13\nActivity\nWhat CPD might A-level Science teachers need in order to effectively and confidently assess practical science skills directly in the laboratory?\n10 minutes\n©istock.com/vladcirin\nCopyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.\n14\nCredit: John Holman and the Gatsby Foundation available for the teachers to freely download from: gatsby.org.uk/education/programmes/support-for-practical-science-in-schools\nUseful resources\nWe’ve developed a range of resources that support our teachers and advisers to deliver A-level practical work well and directly assess their students’ practical skills.\nCopyright © AQA and its licensors. All rights reserved.\n15\nUseful resources\nThese resources are available at:\naqa.org.uk/resource","cbCailzS0QDDetUF","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCailzS0QDDetUF","pptx",6869750,42,"English","# Welcome\n## Outline of the session\n# How are practical skills assessed?\n## Ofqual rules for the current A-level Sciences\n## What is practical work and why is it so important?\n# Assessment: For endorsement\n## Teacher assessment competencies\n## Students’ required practicals","[{\"question\":\"How are A-level science practical skills assessed in the current framework?\",\"answer\":\"Practical skills are assessed indirectly through terminal exams (100% terminal exam) and directly through endorsement based on a non-examined assessment (NEA) within A-level science qualifications.\"},{\"question\":\"What competencies do teachers use for endorsement of practical skills?\",\"answer\":\"Teachers assess using five competencies: following written instructions; applying investigative approaches with instruments; safely using equipment and materials; making and recording observations; and researching, referencing, and reporting.\"},{\"question\":\"Why is practical work important for A-level students?\",\"answer\":\"Practical work supports and consolidates scientific knowledge, develops investigative skills, and builds mastery of practical skills.\"}]","ASE Annual Conference - A-level student performance in practical work related items - Spring 2020 | PPTX",1792462216,106]