GCSE Criteria Review

1
GCSE Criteria Review
Subject Criteria are agreed by the UK Regulatory
authorities. Once they are agreed they are
framework within which Awarding Bodies must draw
up specifications in that subject.
What do the regulators want feedback on?

• Aims and learning outcomes consistent with needs
  of learners?
• Subject content appropriate to the subject?
  Reflect learning outcomes?
• Assessment Objectives (AOs) assessable,
  manageable, appropriate? Do they allow content to
  be assessed?
• Scheme of Assessment content which must be
  assessed
• Grade descriptions
• External/controlled Assessment appropriate
  weightings

2
GCSE Criteria Review
English Literature

• 25 Controlled Assessment / 75 Exam
• Up to 20 of exam could be allocated to unseen
  material
• AOs similar to current specifications
• Content Study of 6 texts must incl poetry,
  prose and drama
• 3 literary heritage (incl Shakespeare) (45-55
  of assessment)
• different cultures and traditions (15-30 of
  assessment)
• contemporary writers (15-30 of assessment)
• Assessment overview
• individual study exam 50 (2 texts)
• comparative study exam 25 (2 texts)
• linked study controlled assessment 25 (2
  texts)

3
GCSE Criteria Review
English Language

• 60 Controlled Assessment / 40 Exam
• No crossover of assessment with Literature
  though possible use of same text/stimulus
• Content studying language (45) and using
  language (55)
• Studying language
• written (35) non-fiction, multi-modal texts
  (20 - exam) and
• response to an extended literary text (15 -
  CA) and
• spoken language (10 - CA) exploring,
  analysing, evaluating variations and changes
• Using language
• writing (35) persuasive writing in more than
  1 form (20 - exam)
• creative writing in more than 1 form (15 -
  CA) and
• speaking listening (20 - CA) individual
  presentation, group and role play interactions

4
GCSE Criteria Review
English Language assessment overview

• Exam 40
• 20 Studying written language analysing and
  evaluating non-fiction texts incl media, digital,
  multimodal
• 20 Using language presenting information and
  ideas on complex subjects logically and
  persuasively in more than one non-fiction text

• Controlled Assessment 60
• 20 Speaking and Listening
• 15 Studying written language responding to an
  extended literary text
• 15 Using language creative writing in more than
  one form
• 10 Studying spoken language exploring,
  analysing and evaluating reasons for variations
  and changes in spoken language, and speakers
  choices.

AOs have changed in line with changed content. Do
they match the assessment requirements?
5
GCSE Criteria Review
English

• 60 Controlled Assessment / 40 Exam
• Cannot be combined with study of another
  English
• Content English in the daily world (55) and
  English in the world of the imagination (45)
• English in the daily world
• reading (20 - exam) non-fiction, multi-modal
  texts
• writing (20 - exam) - persuasive writing in
  more than one text and
• speaking listening (15 - CA) individual
  presentation, group interaction
• English in the world of imagination
• reading (20 - CA) literary texts
• writing (20 - CA) creative writing in more
  than one form and
• speaking listening (5 - CA) drama and role
  play

6
GCSE Criteria Review
English assessment overview

• Exam 40
• English in the daily world (40)
• 20 Reading non fiction analysing and evaluating
  non-fiction texts incl media, digital, multimodal
• 20 Writing information and ideas presenting
  information and ideas on complex subjects
  logically and persuasively in more than one
  non-fiction text

• Controlled Assessment 60
• English in the daily world (15)
• 15 Speaking and Listening individual and group
  interaction
• English in the world of the imagination (45)
• 5 Speaking and Listening drama and role-play
• 20 Reading literary texts developing and
  sustaining an independent interpretation of texts
  (characters, events, ideas setting)
• 20 Creative writing creative writing in more
  than one text varied in form

AOs have changed in line with changed content. Do
they match the assessment requirements?
7
GCSE Criteria Review
Recap what feedback is needed?

• Aims and learning outcomes consistent with needs
  of learners?
• Subject content appropriate to the subject?
  Reflect learning outcomes?
• Assessment Objectives (AOs) assessable,
  manageable, appropriate? Do they match content
  and allow it to be assessed?
• Scheme of Assessment content which must be
  assessed, consistent with aims and learning
  outcomes, appropriate to subject, appropriate
  weightings?
• Grade descriptions are they appropriate,
  realistic, consistent with AOs?
• External/controlled Assessment appropriate
  weightings?