GCSEs
A Rough Guide
General Certificate of Secondary Education
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Most students take 9 GCSEs
6 from the Option Columns
Maths, English, English Literature
Latin as an extra
Pass GCSE grades are considered to
be from A*-C
Grades D, E, F, G and U are
considered to be ‘fail’ grades
GCSE Results 2014
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90% A* - C
A*/A = 45%
B = 24%
C = 21%
20% of cohort clean sweep of A*/A
Target for 2016
Exam Boards
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The exam boards we use are:
AQA - Assessment and Qualifications Alliance
AQA – International GCSE Level 1/2 Certificates
Edexcel – Education for Excellence
Edexcel International GCSE
OCR – Oxford, Cambridge & RSA Examinations
CIE – Cambridge International Examinations
Course Types
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The Heads of Department do the
research and choose the courses they
think are best for our students
All courses are examined at the end.
However, some courses include
controlled assessment and/or
coursework.
Four types of course to choose from
Type 1: Final Exam
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These courses have no coursework or
controlled assessment
Examined at the end of two years
Mathematics (Edexcel)
Religious Studies (AQA)
Latin (OCR)
Type 2: International GCSEs
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These courses have no coursework
or controlled assessment
Examined at the end of two years
Chemistry (CIE)
History (Edexcel)
Physics (CIE)
Business Studies (CIE)
Type 3: AQA Level 1-2
Certificate (IGCSE)
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English Language
English Literature
Biology (End of course exam)
Language possibly January Year 11
Literature proviso (secure C)
(Exam + Coursework + Speaking and Listening)
(Exam + Coursework)
Type 4: Exam / Controlled Assessment
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Art (Edexcel)
Geography (AQA)
ICT (AQA)
Modern Languages (Edexcel)
Music (Edexcel)
PE (OCR)
Design & Technology (OCR & AQA)
What is Controlled Assessment?
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It is a form of internal assessment
It replaces coursework in that it has
greater controls
It is designed to measure subject
specific skills
Tasks are assigned different levels
of control by the exam boards
Levels of Control
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High = Students are supervised; must
work independently; must not
communicate; must not be assisted.
Medium = Students do not have to be
directly supervised, but the teacher
must be able to ensure the work is their
own. Limited teacher input. Students
may work together.
Low= Work may be done outside of the
classroom, students may receive teacher
guidance, students may work together.
When does it happen?
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Throughout the 2 years
At home – especially research
In timetabled lessons
Under examination conditions
Courses have between 7 and 25
hours plus of controlled
assessment
Deadlines and Attendance
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Controlled Assessments are key
elements to the GCSEs
Deadlines must be met
High control assessments should
not be missed
Departments co-ordinate their own
timetable and will inform pupils
which lessons constitute controlled
assessment
Most assessments are in Year 11
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However, ICT has a form of
controlled assessment in every
timetabled double lesson
PE practical lessons also form part
of the controlled assessment
process
Absence
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If a pupil misses an element of
controlled assessment, the department
will try to make alternative
arrangements
However, too many missed assessments
may jeopardise the GCSE
All absences therefore need to be kept
to a minimum
If there are planned absences it would
be wise to ensure there are no
controlled assessments taking place
Am I too late to change my
options?
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The answer is ‘no’
But if you are having concerns
about your choices – speak to your
tutor
Any change MUST include either a
telephone call with me or a note
from home
PSHCE
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Personal, Social, Health, Citizenship
Education!
The year group is split into groups
and for half of the year there is a
rotation of:
University choices/Careers/CVs
Cooking
Managing personal finances: credit
cards/bank accounts etc.
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The other half of the year includes
a comprehensive course on issues
related to health and personal
development.
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Latin is taught against these
lessons, but hand-outs will be
available for those students who
would like them.
The Website
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Under the label ‘Academic’ the following
can be found:
Homework Timetable
The Option Columns
Examination Administration
Controlled Assessments: timetable for
different subjects (!)
The Academic calendar which includes:
The Reporting Schedule
Parents’ Evenings
School Exam dates
Key dates
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Half-term grades uploaded Tuesday
11th November
First Parents’ Evening: Tuesday 25th
November
First Exams:
• Monday 19th January to Friday 23rd
January 2015– no study leave
Exam results uploaded Wednesday 4th
February 2015
Full school report at end of Spring term
Key dates (continued)
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Summer Exams – Friday 15th May
to Friday 22nd May 2015 – study
leave
Second Parents’ Evening:
Monday 8th June 2015
2016
Provisional Results Day:
Thursday 18th August!!