Posts archived in Exam updates


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Making sense of IDA, synopticity and AO3

July 23, 2010 by Cara Flanagan.

I have received a few questions recently about the synoptic aspect of the A2 papers and thought I would pass on my views!

SYNOPTICITY

The synoptic criteria has been dropped from the mark scheme. It is essentially equivalent to IDA.

ISSUES, DEBATES AND APPROACHES (IDA)

  • The AO2 mark scheme includes a criterion regarding IDA.
  • IDA is not credited in Psychopathology, nor in AO1 (if a question is parted and a student puts IDA in the AO1 part there is no credit). Read the rest of this entry »
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New look answer booklet

January 9, 2010 by Cara Flanagan.

AQA have announced a new look answer booklet (see example here). It is essentially similar to the older-style ones, just with lines, though there are special spaces to insert the number of the question being answered. This is just for the A2 papers.

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AQA A A2 Exam update

November 29, 2009 by Cara Flanagan.

AQA have recently clarified the way that AO1 and AO2 will be represented on the Unit 4 exam paper. It says on the website:

General point regarding exam papers – Unit 4 (PSYA4) January 2010 onwards

Questions that assess a combination of AO1 and AO2/AO3 skills will have the breakdown of assessment objectives indicated on the exam paper.For example:

  1. Outline clinical characteristics of one anxiety disorder. (5 marks)
  2. Explain issues associated with classification and diagnosis of anxiety disorders. (10 marks)
  3. Outline and evaluate one or more explanations of the anxiety disorder outlined in your answer to question 1(a). Refer to research evidence in your answer. (4 marks + 6 marks)

Not sure what will happen on Unit 3??

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Exam boards’ statistics

October 9, 2009 by Cara Flanagan.

I have assembled the latest statistics from all the Psychology exam boards showing the percentage passes for the June 2008 and June 2009 series. This document can be accessed here. You can view the JCQ statistics for all A levels here.Makes interesting reading … certainly challenges some of the assumptions teachers make about which boards are easiest – though to some extent this is influenced by the kind of students directed at the different boards.Any comments?

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AQA A2 Exam Update

June 24, 2009 by Cara Flanagan.

We believe that there is an intention to provide more parted questions on the A2 exam papers than previously. Indeed this has been shown on some of the sample papers. The result is some very undecipherable marks. For example sometimes 10 marks breaks down to 3 AO1 marks and 7 AO2 marks or sometimes 5 AO1 marks and 5 AO2 marks.
As a result we have been advised that, in certain questions the exam will show the breakdown of marks, so that an ‘outline and evaluate’ question might have (5 marks + 9 marks) instead of just (14 marks) after it to show the proportions of marks for description and evaluation.
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AQA Exam Update

by Cara Flanagan.

Item published in the AQA Examinations Update 3: June 2009GCE Examinations
Psychology Specification A (2180) Advanced Level (New Specification)
Unit 3 (PSYA3) and Unit 4 (PSYA4) – January 2010 and beyond
Please note that the rubrics for PSYA3 for January 2010 and all following series will contain the instruction:
“Where appropriate, refer to theories and/or studies, approaches, issues and debates in your answer.”
Please note that the rubrics for PSYA4 for January 2010 and all following series will contain the following instructions:
For Section A: “Where appropriate, refer to theories and/or studies in your answer.”
For Section B: “Where appropriate, refer to theories and/or studies, approaches, issues and debates in your answer.”