An update on the new AS and A Level Maths and Further Maths qualifications - Darren Macey

Monday 5 September was an exciting day for the Maths Team at OCR as we were all waiting expectantly for the decision from Ofqual on our AS and A Level submissions. Along with the other awarding organisations, we found there are some aspects of our submission that we need to develop further in order to fully meet Ofqual’s requirements. Following the written outcome, we were invited to a face to face feedback meeting which took place on Wednesday 14 September, and we are now able to provide a brief update of where we are at in the accreditation process.

Firstly, I am very happy to say that our approach to the 8 qualifications submitted (AS and A Level maths and further maths, in both Spec A and Spec B (MEI)) was largely in line with Ofqual’s expectations. Areas we are addressing include how we have accounted for the assessment objectives, but the structure and emphasis of our sample assessment materials was generally on point.

Ofqual have carried out a comparability study on our AS and A Level maths specifications, and we were delighted with the outcomes. In general across the suites of papers the level of demand was considered about right and while we will be looking at easing the level of demand in some of our AS maths paper items, teachers should see little difference between the current sample assessment materials and those that we resubmit. For further maths, we are reviewing the quantity of content in some of the options and are investigating where we can ease the level of demand in some of the optional units, but again we anticipate the resubmitted sample materials looking broadly the same and without major changes to the structure.

We hope you have had a chance to review the draft specifications and we are confident in saying that there should be no major surprises following the changes we make in advance of our resubmission to Ofqual.

For further information visit ocr.org.uk/alevelmaths and if you have any queries contact our A Level Maths Subject Specialists at maths@ocr.org.uk.

About the author

Darren Macey - Subject Specialist - Mathematics

I joined OCR in April 2014 as a Subject Specialist within OCR’s Maths and Technical team. I am involved in the development of reformed A Levels in Maths and Further Maths, and commission the creation of resources and CPD events. I also look after the OCR (MEI) A Level suite (3895, 3896, 3897, 3898, 7895, 7896, 7897 and 7898), as well as the OCR Maths podcast and posting on the @OCR_Maths Twitter account.

I taught maths in a variety of secondary schools in the East of England and also taught PE after coaching rugby, cricket and football. I spend most of my spare time in training for triathlons and endurance events.