Discussion 2 - teaching and learning of the required practicals - Apparatus and Techniques (AQA specification) - AT 1-8

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by moss~

Discussion 2 outlines teaching and learning approaches for required practicals, focusing on which practicals have already been taught and how apparatus and techniques (AT) and required practicals (RPs) are integrated with wider science teaching. It prompts analysis of teacher-driven learning outcomes, departmental conclusions, and student contemporaneous records. The document then specifies AQA apparatus and techniques AT1–AT7 for combined science and AT8 for Biology, Chemistry, or Physics only, listing safety, measurement, identification, sampling, and observational drawing requirements.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time45 min

AccessFree to download

Discussion 2: Teaching and learning of required practicals

Which practicals have been taught so far?

How ATs and RPs are approached

Learning outcomes and departmental conclusions

Students’ contemporaneous record

Apparatus and techniques – AQA specification

AT 1-7 common with Combined Science

AT 8 Biology only / Chemistry only / Physics only

Discussion 2: teaching and learning of the required practicals • Which practicals have been taught so far? Consider the positives and challenges. • How have you approached the teaching and learning of AT and RPs? For example: • are the ATs the starting point? • are the ATs and RPs fully integrated into the teaching of WS and content? • are they taught separately from the teaching of WS and other content? • How are learning outcomes determined by individual teachers? • What conclusions have arisen as a result of department discussion about this? • What are students recording for their ‘contemporaneous’ record? AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX. Apparatus and Techniques – AQA specification AT 1‒7 are common with Combined Science. AT 8 is Biology only. | | Apparatus and techniques | | --- | --- | | AT 1 | Use of appropriate apparatus to make and record a range of measurements accurately, including length, area, mass, time, temperature, volume of liquids and gases and pH (links to A-level AT a) . | | AT 2 | Safe use of appropriate heating devices and techniques including use of a Bunsen burner and a water bath or electric heater (links to A-level AT a) . | | AT 3 | Use of appropriate apparatus and techniques for the observation and measurement of biological changes and/or processes. | | AT 4 | Safe and ethical use of living organisms (plants or animals) to measure
physiological functions and responses to the environment (links to A-level AT h) . | | AT 5 | Measurement of rates of reaction by a variety of methods including production of gas, uptake of water and colour change of indicator. | | AT 6 | Application of appropriate sampling techniques to investigate the distribution and abundance of organisms in an ecosystem via direct use in the field (links to Alevel AT k) . | | AT 7 | Use of appropriate apparatus, techniques and magnification, including microscopes, to make observations of biological specimens and produce labelled scientific drawings (links to A-level AT d and e) . | | AT 8
(Biology only) | Use of appropriate techniques and qualitative reagents to identify biological molecules and processes in more complex and problem-solving contexts including continuous sampling in an investigation (links to A-level AT f) . | AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX. 2 of 18 AT 1–7 are common with Combined Science. AT 8 is Chemistry only. | | Apparatus and techniques | | --- | --- | | AT 1 | Use of appropriate apparatus to make and record a range of measurements accurately, including mass, time, temperature and volume of liquids and gases (links to A-level AT a) . | | AT 2 | Safe use of appropriate heating devices and techniques including use of a Bunsen burner and a water bath or electric heater (links to A-level AT b) . | | AT 3 | Use of appropriate apparatus and techniques for conducting and monitoring chemical reactions, including appropriate reagents and/or techniques for the measurement of pH in different situations (links to A-level AT a and d) . | | AT 4 | Safe use of a range of equipment to purify and/or separate chemical mixtures including evaporation, filtration, crystallisation, chromatography and distillation (links to A-level AT d and g) . | | AT 5 | Making and recording of appropriate observations during chemical reactions including changes in temperature and the measurement of rates of reaction by a variety of methods such as production of gas and colour change (links to A-level AT a and l) . | | AT 6 | Safe use and careful handling of gases, liquids and solids, including careful mixing of reagents under controlled conditions, using app

FAQs

Which practicals are discussed as being taught so far, and how are positives and challenges assessed?

The discussion asks which required practicals have already been taught and to evaluate both positives and challenges. It also focuses on how conclusions are reached through departmental discussion.

How should ATs and RPs be taught in relation to wider science content (WS)?

The document prompts whether ATs are the starting point and whether ATs and RPs are fully integrated into teaching of WS and content. It also asks if they are taught separately from WS and other content.

What do AT1–AT7 and AT8 cover in the AQA specification?

AT1–AT7 are common with Combined Science, covering measurement, safe heating, observation of biological changes, safe and ethical living organisms use, rates of reaction, ecological sampling, and microscope work with scientific drawings. AT8 is Biology only, Chemistry only, or Physics only, focusing on advanced identification and analysis methods relevant to that discipline.

Oct 20, 2026

Uploaded by moss~