GCSE Gateway and Twenty First Century Science Suites

We’ve made minor changes to all specifications to add an Assessment Objectives elements table and a table of command word definitions. We’ve also clarified circuit components in the Physics and Combined Science specifications.

Modifications to the specifications in both the Gateway and Twenty First Century Science Suites:

• We’ve added an Assessment Objective (AO) elements table to section 3b of all specifications. This table shows a breakdown of the AOs into their component elements. This will help teachers analyse question papers and mark schemes. This information is also available in the ‘Exploring our question papers’ booklet we published in 2018.

• We’ve added a Command words table to section 3b of all specifications. This table gives a key list of command words used in our exams with definitions to guide teachers and learners as to what a candidate will be expected to do when these words are used in the examination. This information is also available in the ‘Exploring our question papers’ booklet we published in 2018.

Modifications to Gateway Science Suite only:

• We’ve updated the ‘To include’ column, in J249 page 32 of the online specification, learning outcome P3.2b, and in J250, page 97 of the online specification, learning outcome P3.2b, to provide clarity to:
  
  

  cells, power supply, diodes, LDRs, NTC thermistors, filament lamps, ammeter, voltmeter, fixed and variable resistors and switch.

Modifications to Twenty First Century Science Suite only:

• We’ve updated J259, assessable learning outcome P3.2.7, page 23 of the online specification, and J260, assessable learning outcome P3.1.7, page 98 of the online specification, to provide clarity to:
  
  

  represent circuits with the conventions of positive and negative terminals, and the symbols that represent common circuit elements, filament lamps, diodes, LDRs, thermistors, switches and fixed and variable resistors.

If you have any questions, please contact the science subject team on 01223 553998 or at science@ocr.org.uk.

Qualifications

• Gateway Science Suite - Biology A (9-1) - J247 (from 2016)
• Gateway Science Suite - Chemistry A (9-1) - J248 (from 2016)
• Gateway Science Suite - Physics A (9-1) - J249 (from 2016)
• Gateway Science Suite - Combined Science A (9-1) - J250 (from 2016)
• Twenty First Century Science Suite - Biology B (9-1) - J257 (from 2016)
• Twenty First Century Science Suite - Chemistry B (9-1) - J258 (from 2016)
• Twenty First Century Science Suite - Physics B (9-1) - J259 (from 2016)
• Twenty First Century Science Suite - Combined Science B (9-1) - J260 (from 2016)