October 2024 Teaching Science update
This update includes news about the recent Ofqual consultation on equation sheets for GCSE Physics and Combined Science for exams in 2025, 2026 and 2027. You can also get information about our new A level Practical Endorsement support, view training opportunities and obtain BTEC news which includes AAQ ‘Getting Started’ events.
GCSE Science news
Ofqual has launched a consultation on extending the use of equation sheets for GCSE Physics, Combined Science, and Mathematics exams for the 2025, 2026, and 2027 exam series. For more information and to share your views, you can access the consultation through the link below.
Please note that this consultation will close on 17 October 2024 at 11:45 PM.
15 October 2024 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT
This training is for teachers of the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Chemistry specification and will provide feedback and insights on the May/June 2024 exam series.
The session will focus on the performance of some of the key questions in the series and provide analysis to support.
The session will point out key statistical performance data that may help with your planning for the year ahead. Delegates will:
- receive feedback on the performance of candidates in the May/June 2024 exam series
- consider the variation of candidates’ performance on different questions and explore why performance varies
- receive key points from the Examiner’s Report
- address common issues and FAQs. Please note the Examiner report/s will be available on the Pearson website on Results Day.
23 October 2024 at 16:00-17:30 GMT
This training is for teachers of the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Combined Science Physics specification and will provide feedback and insights on the May/June 2024 exam series.
The session will focus on the performance of some of the key questions in the series and provide analysis to support.
The session will point out key statistical performance data that may help with your planning for the year ahead. Delegates will:
- receive feedback on the performance of candidates in the May/June 2024 exam series
- consider the variation of candidates’ performance on different questions and explore why performance varies
- receive key points from the Examiner’s Report
- address common issues and FAQs. Please note the Examiner report/s will be available on the Pearson website on Results Day.
04 November 2024 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT | Free | Event Code 1SC0-24O4/01
This training session repeats the content from last year's 'Running and Marking Mocks' event. This online event is designed for teachers who are delivering, or about to deliver, the Pearson Edexcel GCSE Science qualifications.
The session provides an opportunity to look at a mixture of exam questions from previous papers and to see student exemplars and how they should be credited using guidance from examiners and presented by one of Pearson Edexcel's credible specialists. Delegates will:
- discuss the different approaches to running, marking and moderating mock exams
- look at a variety of sample assessment questions and discuss marking
- discuss marked exemplars of exam responses
You can access a collection of GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics one-mark starter questions that can be used, for example, as a lesson starter activity.
These are available to download from the Science Emporium in the 'Classroom Resource' folders for GCSE Combined Science and GCSE separate sciences.
On our Professional Development Academy training page you can search for upcoming training sessions. You can also access pre-recorded events, including our 'New to Edexcel' session. A link to the Professional Development Academy training page is provided below.
A level news
As part of continuous improvement, we have reviewed our CPAC FAQs document and updated it to ensure they address questions we receive about the Endorsement.
Updates include:
- How to use the video materials shown in the playlist of videos for Core Practicals.
- Where to find guidance on interpreting CPAC criteria.
- Guidance on selecting criteria for practical assessments
- Guidance on how students should work when completing the Practical Endorsement.
- Where to find the Head Teacher’s Declaration form.
- How to ensure that learners meet the specification requirements for the Practical Endorsement.
- How monitoring visits are arranged.
- Guidance for International Centres.
The revised FAQs can be found below with the updates highlighted in red.
Heads of Department are required to complete the 'Understanding CPAC Training Materials', and it is highly recommended for all department staff, especially new teachers, to also complete it.
To access the training simply follow the instructions provided in the document titled ‘Understanding CPAC – Training Materials’. You can find this document on the qualification pages in the 'Teaching and Learning materials’ section under the ‘CPAC guidance and tracking’ dropdown. Alternatively, the document is included below for your convenience.
We have made some new additions to this document compared to previous years. One addition is a form that needs to be completed to confirm your completion of the CPAC training. Once you have submitted the form, you will receive a certificate of completion via email. This is a new feature introduced from this year.
Pearson Science are developing their teacher training and support of the practical endorsement for A Level Sciences. It is very important to us that you feel prepared and knowledgeable in the delivery and assessment of the core practicals within our Biology, Chemistry and Physics A Level qualifications.
As part of these improvements, we are designing an interactive online platform to help teacher engagement and better your understanding of the core practical assessment criteria (CPAC).
We would be very grateful if you could complete our survey to help us design these materials in a way that you want. This should take no more than 10 minutes of your time and will provide us with invaluable insights to improve our practical endorsement offer, so we can better support you.
Please note that we will only use the information you provide in connection to this piece of research, and we will not publish or share this information with any third party.
This Autumn we have been running 'Exam Insight' events for teachers that will provide feedback and insights on the May/June 2024 exam series for Pearson Edexcel A Level Sciences. Links to the remaining sessions are provided below.
The sessions will focus on the performance of some of the key questions in the series and provide analysis to support. It will also point out key statistical performance data that may help with your planning for the year ahead.
In summary delegates will:
- receive feedback on the performance of candidates in the May/June 2024 exam series
- consider the variation of candidates’ performance on different questions and explore why performance varies
- receive key points from the Examiner’s Report
- address common issues and FAQs.
Date and times of the remaining events are as follows:
A level Biology A: 17 October 2024 at 16:00-17:00 BST
A level Physics: 21 October 2024 at 16:00-17:00 BST
You can look out for more events on our training page.
International Science qualification news
You can find answers to frequently asked questions for Pearson Edexcel International GCSE and International A Level science courses in a recent update available to read on the Science News page. It includes FAQs on the following:
- Curriculum (teaching) time
- Double Award and Single Award Science International GCSEs
- Textbooks and other paid-for resources
- Assessment of practical skills in International GCSE and International A Level courses
- Assessment support and equipment lists for practical activities
- Modular and Linear options for International GCSEs
- UMS marks and grade boundaries for modular International GCSEs and International A Level qualifications
- iPrimary, iLowerSecondary qualifications
- Training available
- examWizard to construct mock exams and tests
- Equations / formulae for International GCSE physics
The Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level Biology Unit 5 (WBI15) pre-release scientific article for the Autumn 2024 series is now available on our website. A direct link to the article has also been provided below.
The article should be given to students so they can study and annotate it in preparation for the Unit 5 examination paper. Students are not allowed to take their annotated copy into the examination room - there will be a fresh copy enclosed inside the Unit 5 written examination paper. In the unlikely event that this is missing, or if you do not have enough copies, you can download the article from the website. If you have any private/external candidates registered to sit this examination, please also provide them with a copy too.
Please note, you will require an Edexcel Online (EOL) account to securely download the article. Your Exams Officer will be able to create an EOL account for you if you don't already have one.
Equation sheets will be available for November 2024 exams as they were in Summer 2024 exam series as mentioned on the qualification page.
You can find upcoming training opportunities this term via our Professional Development Academy page.
Modular Intenational GCSE Science qualifications are for first teaching from September 2024 with first assessment May/June 2025. Information on modular International GCSEs and specifications can be obtained from our website - see links provided below.
The present linear specifications are not being removed and will continue to be available. There will simply be a choice between the existing specifications following the linear assessment route, or the new specifications that will follow a modular assessment route. Please note, the modular assessment route will not be available for students based in the UK.
This October we are hosting Getting Started events for AAQ qualifcations in Applied Science and Medical Science. Times and dates are provided for you below along with a description of what the sessions will cover.
Getting Started: Ways to Plan and Teach BTEC National (AAQ) in Applied Science (2025) 21 October 2024 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT
Getting Started: Ways to Plan and Teach BTEC National (AAQ) in Medical Science (2025) 22 October 2024 at 16:00 - 17:30 GMT
These free sessions are aimed at UK based teachers preparing to deliver the BTEC National (2025) in Applied Science. The live sessions will meet the following objectives:
- Centres can confidently plan the delivery of the new qualifications at Level 3, based on their and their learners' needs.
- Centres have a clear view on the underpinning knowledge required to deliver the units.
- Centres identify how to use internal assessment support materials to inform teaching and learning and understand the standard.
- Centres know where to find support, via the website or specific roles within Pearson.
The training provides a general run through of internal and external assessment. These areas are covered in greater detail in our BTEC National (2025) ‘Getting Ready to Assess Internal Units’ and ‘Preparing Your Learners for External Assessment’ events. These live events will follow in early 2025.
This event can count as 1.5 Hours of CPD. You will receive a certificate of attendance the next working day after the live event. Please be aware that this event will be recorded and may be shared publicly.
In the welcome back September update for BTEC Science you can find information on the following:
- BTEC reform news, links to new AAQ specifications, study programmes, funding and FAQs regarding the reforms.
- Quality assurance support, timetables and link to the Teaching, learning and assessment page
We have a Teaching, Learning and Assessment 2024/25 web page which will contain the most up-to-date information and key dates on vocational assessment for this academic year.
We send out regular Vocational Qualification Bulletins to keep centres informed of our support and services. You can sign-up for these and also read previous bulletins on our website.
Sign-up to receive regular vocational qualification bulletins
Read previous vocational qualification bulletins on our website
Other support
You can get access to free qualification support resources via the Science Emporium. To gain membership you will need an Edexcel Online (EOL) Account. Once you have this you can then register with the Emporium with your EOL email address. If you don't have an EOL account, your Exams Officer will be able to create one for you.
On our general qualifications assessment support page you can find news, information and updates from Ofqual, the DfE, JCQ and Pearson relating to exams and assessments for our GCSE, AS and A level qualifications.
It will be updated regularly with the latest announcements, news, and support materials to enable you to teach our qualifications and help your students with assessments and post-results support.
We’re excited to introduce our enhanced Qualifications Support Portal, designed to make getting help quicker and easier than ever.
A new contact-us journey enables you to connect quickly with our support teams in the way that suits you; via live-chat for real-time assistance, or webform, as well as traditional phone or email routes. You can use your Pearson Portal (Edexcel Online) credentials to access secure personalised support even faster, and view your existing cases.
Our comprehensive support article library has also been restructured with sections specific to teachers, as well as stronger search functions, to resolve your own queries quickly and easily.
We’re delighted to share that we’re hosting two new webinars on our Professional Development Academy focusing specifically on pre-exam support and post-exam support.
Whether you’re a seasoned teacher, new to teaching, new to teaching Pearson Edexcel, or a recent switcher to one of our qualifications, these webinars are for you. We'll cover our full range of support, products, and services available to enhance your teaching journey and better support you and your students.
Just like our Spotlight on Assessment series for Senior Leaders, these sessions zoom in on the resources and guidance you need for effective teaching and continuous professional development (CPD). Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about all the support available to you, engage directly with us, and share your ideas on how we can better support you.
Book your place today via the Professional Development Academy page- links below:
Assessment Services Pre-Exam Qualifications Support 21 October 2024 at 16:00-17:00 GMT
Assessment Services Post-Exam Qualifications Support 23 October 2024 at 16:00-17:00 GMT
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Subject advisor
Irine Muhiuddin
Science
