This can be used as a teaching presentation, or set for students to work through on their own. Bronze, Silver and Gold Levels!

This resource can be used in lesson as fun activity (there are Bronze, Silver and Gold Levels) or set a student activity. Use it in class, with mini white boards perhaps, or set as a revision task to do at home.

From using the exams analysis tools on our examboard’s website, it was clear that my centre could be better when it comes to Extended Response Questions (ERQs). Our students were clearly not doing as well as they could be on the ‘6 markers’. Which also dragged down their performance with questions related to the Required Practicals. To address this, I decided to do two things, (i) make a 1,5-2hr lesson that will help build the confidence and skills our KS4 students (both the Combined Science and Separate Science pathways) in tackling these kinds of questions, and (ii) run a 1 hr CPD session with my team of Science teachers in order to improve their teaching and assesment of ERQ responses. In the pack you will recieve The presentation to teach and guide the 1.5-2hr lesson. It starts with explaining the importance of ERQs and the comman words used, then moves on to the teacher modelling a response (choice of three), students then get to be the examiners and acess real student reponses, they compare their mark with the actual, then students can try some 6 markers for themselves. Handout 1 and Handout 2, to be used during the presentation - two booklets that each student (or pair of students) need a copy of. Can be used again (non-consumable) or can be written on by the students - if your budget can stretch to it. Booklet 1 has examples of real student responses to exam questions, booklet two has the markschemes. Students work on their own/in pairs/in teams as competition to agree which mark they will give each condidates response. When ready, the presenation reveals the mark that was actually awarded by the examiners (often with their commentary). Booklet 3 has 6 practice questions. Booklets 1 and 2 have markschemes and support for thse questions. The Presentation and ressources to run your own CPD session with staff (great for TLR holders and UPS holders!) is sold separately.

From using the exams analysis tools on our examboard’s website, it was clear that my centre could be better when it comes to Extended Response Questions (ERQs). Our students were clearly not doing as well as they could be on the ‘6 markers’. Which also dragged down their performance with questions related to the Required Practicals. To address this, I decided to do two things, (i) make a 1,5-2hr lesson that will help build the confidence and skills our KS4 students (both the Combined Science and Separate Science pathways) in tackling these kinds of questions, and (ii) run a 1 hr CPD session with my team of Science teachers in order to improve their teaching and assesment of ERQ responses. In the pack you will recieve the Presentation and ressources to run your own CPD session with staff (great for TLR holders and UPS holders!) If you’d like the resources for the 1.5-2hr lesson, please see the other resource pack for purchasing.

After years of frsutration of not finding a good ‘one-stop-shop’ for teaching and assessing Science skills I decided to design my own pack of reources to be taught as a unit of work. It allows teachers to explicitly teach the skills, gets students to practice them and then also gives a formal assessment just in the skills that they must have in order to do well in their exams. For example, I definitely haven’t found a good resource yet for teaching standard form to Science students. These resources are more in-line with the AQA Trilogy/Synergy and Separate Science specs, but I’m sure they’d be totally transferrable to the specs from other boards. There are three sessions. Here’s how it works Session 1 - this should take between 2 and 4 hours, depending on the ability of the class. Each student gets the booklet and the teacher leads them through it using the teaching PowerPoint. It’s self explanatory, with lots of opportunitity for scaffolding, modelling the skills at the board and providing informal assessment for immediate feedback and follow up. This could also be delivered in a computer suite, with the students following the PowerPoint at their own individual speeds. The skills covered are; %s, ratio calculations and significant figures Constructing Bar Graphs and Lines graphs Using Graphs (including the tangent method for rate) Identifying the variables in investigations (including resolution) How to calculate the Mean and the Median Estimating uncertainty in results Types of error and how to deal with them Prefixes and Standard Form Session 2 - With the completed booklet, the students can now try a practice paper, in the appropriate tier. It’s 30 marks and takes the same format as the assessment in session 3. This can be done in pairs, groups, or under the same conditions as the actual assessment. It’s up to you! Session 3 - The students are now ready to sit the assessment. This is designed to be a Medium Control assessment. It must be done individually, but the students are allowed their booklet and there’s no time limit. Again, it’s 30 marks, so a 50-60 min lesson is ample. It can also be given as a High Control, of course, with no booklet and a time limit. All the questions are skills specific, taken from open source past exam papers from across the three sciences - it took ages to fish them out but it was worth it! I’ve also included proven grade boundaries to start you off, and a command words sheet. All of the session 1 and 2 materials can be shared electronically with students, or indeed loaded onto your own home learning platform. If you have any questions, or would like to see a sample of any of the resources before you purchase, please contact me and I’ll be happy to help. michaellake247@hotmail.com