Controlled Assessments
English
Controlled Assessments (CA) in English are similar to externally assessed examinations. They comprise 60% of the total grade. There are 4 across Yr 10 and Yr11 for English GCSE students (single award) and 5 for English Language and Literature students(double award). Each CA has planning time of around 2 weeks and then the CA is completed in exam style conditions. The teacher is allowed to give generalised (but not specific) feedback in the planning stage. Candidates are allowed only 2 attempts. The re-take policy is students who have not made their target grade or higher have to re-sit. The re-sits are sat soon after the CA.
Science
Single science will have one CA, Double will have two(one in year11) and Triple 3. They are similar to English CA’s in the sense that they mimic exams. They contribute to 25% of the total grade.
Art
CA's in Art has replaced formal examinations. There is only one CA (in year 11) and Art can choose when this occurs (this year it was in March and lasted 2 days). The details are released to teachers' in January and then preparation can begin. This has advantages over the previous system when the examination specified a maximum amount of prep time (10 hrs).
History/ Geography
CA's in Humanities are more akin to the traditional coursework component of GCSE's. They equate to 25% of the final grade and are set under medium and high level conditions, depending on the component studied. All are completed between Sept and October half term in year 11.
MFL
CAs in MFL take place during 4 windows in Year 10, with the opportunity for students to sit an additional CA in Y11 if they wish to improve upon their results.
Students following the 2 year Spanish beginner-GCSE course will complete 2 CAs in Y10 and 2 CAS in Y11.
CAs equate to 60% of the total GCSE grade, with 30% completed by two written assessments and 30% in two speaking assessments.
Written Assessments: The tasks are designed by the teacher to best suit the students. Once a task has been launched there is no input from the teacher. Students have a number of sessions to prepare and then complete the assessment in controlled conditions. A rough guide is that 200-300 words in a CA equates to A*-C and 175 words and below equates to a D-G. There are a total of 30 marks available, 15 for content, 10 for range of language and 5 for accuracy.
Speaking Assessments: The tasks are designed by the teacher to best suit the students. Once a task has been launched there is no input from the teacher. Students have a number of sessions to prepare and then complete the assessment in the form of an interaction with the examiner. Students are asked a series of questions, usually around 5 or 6 plus one unpredictable. In order to gain an A*-C they must speak for between 4-6 minutes. There are a total of 30 marks available, 10 for communication, 5 for range & accuracy of language, 5 for pronunciation and intonation and 5 for interaction & fluency.
Catering
CA's in Catering occur once in year 10 and once in year 11. Again these CA's are more akin to the coursework component than the externally assessed component (unlike English/Science). Preparation time is allowed and students do receive feedback from the teacher. If students are absent there is sufficient flexibility to ensure they can complete the CA's.
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