New assessment specification

[John Watson]

Hi
I am sure all teachers are aware of the updated physics assessment
specification;

Within each paper all questions will provide opportunity for all grades of
performance - Achievement, Achievement with Merit and Achievement with
Excellence; there are no stand-alone questions for lower achievement grades.
Candidates should attempt all questions.

Unlike the other sciences we have not been given any examples of what these
might look like, just the following statement:

The question format will appear the same to candidates as in previous years
with each question containing a number of part-questions. While in previous
years each part-question received a grade, this year there will be a single
grade for each question overall.

I assume that to get an M grade a student must must first answer the A part
correctly.

   - If this is so, does it mean questions asking for the correct number of
   sig figs or units will no longer be set?
   - What happens in a situation where a student correctly answers the M or
   E sections of a question but messes up the A part - would they be graded as
   N for that question?
   - Will criterion 1 and 2 questions have equal weight in the final grade?

If anyone can clarify the situation for me I would certainly appreciate it.

regards

John Watson
Head of Science Faculty
St Bede's College
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