Syllabus aims and assessment objectives

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2. Syllabus aims and assessment objectives

2.1 Syllabus aims The aims below are not listed in order of priority. The aims of a course based on this syllabus should be to: 1. provide, through well-designed studies of experimental and practical biological science, a worthwhile educational experience for all learners, whether or not they go on to study science beyond this level. In particular, it should enable them to: • become confident citizens in a technological world, with an informed interest in scientific matters • recognise the usefulness, and limitations, of scientific method and its application in other subjects and in everyday life • be suitably prepared for studies in biological science beyond Cambridge International A Level, in further or higher education, and for professional courses. 2. develop abilities and skills that: • are relevant to the study and practice of biological science • are useful in everyday life • encourage efficient and safe practice • encourage effective communication using universal scientific conventions. 3. develop attitudes relevant to biological science such as: • a concern for accuracy and precision • objectivity • integrity • a spirit of enquiry • initiative • inventiveness. 4. stimulate interest in, and care for, the local and global environment and help learners to understand the need for conservation. 5. promote an awareness that: • scientific theories and methods have developed, and continue to develop, as a result of groups and individuals working together, and that biological science overcomes national boundaries • the study and practice of biology are affected and limited by social, economic, technological, ethical and cultural factors • the applications of biological science may be both helpful and harmful to the individual, the community and the environment. • The use of information technology is important for communication, as an aid to experiments and as a tool for interpreting experimental and theoretical results. 6. stimulate learners and create a sustained interest in biology so that the study of the subject is enjoyable and satisfying. 13 Back to contents page www.cie.org.ukalevel 2.2 Assessment objectives The assessment objectives listed below reflect those parts of the syllabus aims that will be assessed in the examination. AO1 Knowledge with understanding Candidates should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: • scientific phenomena, facts, laws, definitions, concepts and theories • scientific vocabulary, terminology and conventions including symbols, quantities and units • scientific instruments and apparatus used in biology, including techniques of operation and aspects of safety • scientific quantities and their determination • scientific and technological applications, with their social, economic and environmental implications. The subject content defines the factual knowledge that candidates may be required to recall and explain. Questions testing these assessment objectives will often begin with one of the following words: define, state, name, describe, explain using your knowledge and understanding or outline see Glossary of command words in Section 5. AO2 Handling information and solving problems Candidates should be able to handle information and solve problems, using, written, symbolic, graphical and numerical forms of presentation, to: • locate, select, organise and present information from a variety of sources • translate information from one form to another • manipulate numerical and other data • use information to identify patterns, report trends and draw conclusions • give reasoned explanations for phenomena, patterns and relationships • make predictions and hypotheses • apply knowledge, including principles, to new situations • demonstrate an awareness of the limitations of biological theories and models • solve problems. These assessment objectives cannot be precisely specified in the syllabus content because questions testing such skills may be based on information which is unfamiliar to the candidate. In answering such questions, candidates are required to use principles and concepts that are within the syllabus and apply them in a logical, reasoned or deductive manner to a new situation. Questions testing these assessment objectives will often begin with one of the following words: discuss, predict, suggest, calculate, explain give reasoned explanations and explain the processes of using information and solving problems or determine see Glossary of command words in Section 5. 14 www.cie.org.ukalevel Back to contents page AO3 Experimental skills and investigations Candidates should be able to: 1. plan experiments and investigations 2. collect, record and present observations, measurements and estimates 3. analyse and interpret data to reach conclusions 4. evaluate methods and quality of data and suggest possible improvements. 2.3 Relationship between assessment objectives and components The approximate weightings allocated to each of the assessment objectives are summarised below. The table shows the assessment objectives AO as a percentage of each component. Component AO1 AO2 AO3 Paper 1 52 48 Paper 2 52 48 Paper 3 100 Paper 4 52 48 Paper 5 100 2.4 Relationship between assessment objectives and qualifications The approximate weightings allocated to each of the assessment objectives are summarised below. The table shows the assessment objectives AO as a percentage of each qualification. Assessment objective Weighting in AS Level Weighting in A Level AO1 40 40 AO2 37 37 AO3 23 23 The weighting table gives a general idea of how marks are allocated to assessment objectives in the different components. However, the balance on each paper may vary slightly. 15 Back to contents page www.cie.org.ukalevel Candidates receive 15 of the total marks for awareness of the social, economic, environmental and technological implications and applications of biology. These marks are awarded within the ‘Knowledge with understanding’ AO1 and the ‘Handling information and solving problems’ AO2 categories. Teachers should note that there is a greater weighting of 60 for skills including handling information, solving problems, experimental skills and investigations compared to 40 for knowledge and understanding. Teachers should make sure that their schemes of work and the sequence of learning activities reflect this balance so that the aims of the syllabus are met and the candidates are suitably prepared for the assessment. 16 www.cie.org.ukalevel Back to contents page

3. Syllabus content