National Schools’ Observatory
GCSE Astronomy
Notes on Unit 2 Assessment Criteria
The following notes are intended to help you understand what might be required in terms of the
assessment criteria for the GCSE Astronomy.
Please Note: NSO is not in a position to comment officially on Edexcel’s assessment criteria, and
what follows is a guide to help ensure that your students can get the most out of using the NSO
resources for Unit 2. Official advice should always be obtained directly from Edexcel.
Mark Range
Descriptor
Comments
Design
0
No procedure designed.
1
Outline a simple procedure for the
observations, using basic astronomical
terminology.
2-3
4-5
Astronomical knowledge and
understanding used to decide on the most
appropriate site, time, equipment for
observations.
Information about the equipment available
to students via NSO is available on the
NSO website. This information could be
used as part of the design process and
should be included in the student’s write
up.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar used
with reasonable accuracy. Limited use of
astronomical terminology.
NSO will provide a range of observing
programmes for each of the Unit 2 tasks.
Students should demonstrate that they
understand why they picked one
programme over another, and why they
chose to obtain data in the way that they
did.
Detailed astronomical knowledge and
understanding used to design the most
appropriate observing programme with a
range of sites, times and instruments
evaluated.
For the highest marks students should be
able to justify, using astronomical
knowledge, why they chose the Liverpool
Telescope or other NSO equipment that
they will use for their investigation.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar used
with considerable accuracy. Good range of
astronomical terminology used correctly.
Typically they would compare a number of
facilities available to them and possibly
even refer to preliminary data obtained.
Observation
0
1
No observations completed.
Simple observations completed, providing
some data.
A few observational details included.
All NSO observations come with full details
of the parameters used for each
observation in the FITS header of each
image.
Mark Range
2-3
Descriptor
Sound observations completed and
recorded, providing adequate data for the
task.
Clear and accurate observational details
included.
4-5
Excellent programme of observations
completed and recorded, providing
conclusive data for the task.
Full observational details included clearly
and accurately.
Comments
Conditions at the observing site in La
Palma are included on the NSO website for
each image obtained. This includes data
about the weather as well as the
Students should clearly present any
measurements made from images.
Software that can be used to analyse
images is provided on the NSO website.
This includes LTImage which can perform
most of the functions you will need.
Analysis
0
No analysis on the observations.
1
Simple comments on what is shown by the
observations, using basic astronomical
terminology.
Conclusions or calculations derived from
observational data used to address the task
set.
2-3
Spelling, punctuation and grammar used
with reasonable accuracy. Limited use of
astronomical terminology.
Full analysis of the observational data,
resulting in clear conclusions related to the
task set.
4-5
Spelling, punctuation and grammar used
with considerable accuracy. Good range of
astronomical terminology used correctly.
NSO data can be analysed using any
standard astronomical software that can
handle FITS files. The data provided by
NSO is the same as the data used by
astronomers.
LTImage can provide the majority of
functions needed to complete the analysis
of the data obtained by students, and other
software that can also be used in detailed
on the NSO website.
Students should include full details of how
their data supports the task they were
aiming to complete, and make note of any
anomalous results that were not expected.
Evaluation
0
No evaluation of the observation.
1
Simple comment on the accuracy of the
observations, using basic astronomical
terminology.
Supported statement of the accuracy of the
observational data obtained.
2-3
Feasible suggestions for improvements or
extensions to the observations.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar used
with reasonable accuracy. Limited use of
astronomical terminology.
Evaluation can often be difficult, especially
if everything goes according to plan.
However, with the comprehensive data
supplied by the NSO for each observation,
it should be possible for students to
evaluate how good the data is that has
been obtained, and possibly suggest how
the data could have been better.
They may also be able to suggest how the
design of their procedure could have been
improved.
Mark Range
Descriptor
Clearly reasoned quantitative assessment
of the accuracy of the observational data
obtained.
4-5
Detailed suggestions for improvements or
extensions to the observations.
Spelling, punctuation and grammar used
with considerable accuracy. Good range of
astronomical terminology used correctly.
Comments
During the evaluation the student might
want to consider how they could extend the
task, and whether the facilities offered by
the NSO are suitable for the extended task.