Regulation

GCE subject-level conditions and requirements for science (2022)

Published 11 November 2021

Applies to England

Introduction

About this document

This document is part of a suite of documents which sets out the regulatory requirements for awarding organisations offering reformed A levels and AS qualifications in 2022.

We have developed all our requirements for GCE qualifications with the intention that AS and A level qualifications should fulfil the purposes set out below.

For A levels:

• define and assess achievement of the knowledge, skills and understanding which will be needed by students planning to progress to undergraduate study at a UK higher education establishment, particularly (although not only) in the same subject area
• set out a robust and internationally comparable post-16 academic course of study to develop that knowledge, skills and understanding
• permit UK universities to accurately identify the level of attainment of students
• provide a basis for school and college accountability measures at age 18
• provide a benchmark of academic ability for employers

For AS qualifications:

• provide evidence of students’ achievements in a robust and internationally comparable post-16 course of study that is a sub-set of A level content
• enable students to broaden the range of subjects they study

Requirements set out in this document

This document sets out the GCE Subject Level Conditions for Science subjects (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) in 2022. These conditions will come into effect at 09:30 on 12 November 2021 for the following qualifications:

• All GCE A levels in Science subjects (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)
• All standalone GCE AS qualifications in Science subjects (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)

for Learners completing the qualification in 2022, except where the General Qualifications Alternative Awarding Framework applies.

It also sets out our:

• requirements in relation to interpretation of the content document - an awarding organisation must comply with these requirements under Condition GCE(Science)1.1(c)
• assessment objectives - awarding organisations must comply with these assessment objectives under Condition GCE(Science)1.2
• requirements in relation to practical assessments - awarding organisations must comply with these requirements under Condition GCE(Science)3.2
• certificate requirements - awarding organisations must comply with these requirements under Condition GCE(Science)4.3 and General Condition I3.1

With respect to the qualifications listed above in 2022, awarding organisations must also comply with:

• our General Conditions of Recognition, which apply to all awarding organisations and qualifications
• our GCE Qualification Level Conditions
• all relevant Regulatory Documents

With respect to all other GCE qualifications in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, taken by Learners completing the qualification in 2023 and after, an awarding organisation must continue to comply with the GCE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics).

Subject Level Conditions

GCE Subject Level Conditions for Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)

Condition GCE(Science) 1: Compliance with content requirements

GCE (Science)1.1

In respect of each GCE Qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must -

1. (a) comply with the requirements relating to that qualification set out in the document published by the Secretary of State entitled ‘GCE AS and A level subject content for biology, chemistry, physics and psychology’ DFE-00356- 2014,
2. (b) have regard to any recommendations or guidelines relating to that qualification set out in that document, and
3. (c) interpret that document in accordance with any requirements, and having regard to any guidance, which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

GCE (Science)1.2

In respect of each GCE Qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must comply with any requirements, and have regard to any guidance, relating to the objectives to be met by any assessment for that qualification which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

Condition GCE(Science) 2: Practical skills

GCE (Science)2.1

In respect of each GCE A level qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must -

1. (a) require each Learner to complete practical activities, and
2. (b) ensure that, taken together, those practical activities provide opportunities for each Learner to -
   1. (i) develop all of the skills specified in relation to the qualification in appendix 5a to the content document, and
   2. (ii) use and be assessed in relation to some or all of the skills, apparatus and techniques specified in relation to the qualification in appendices 5b and 5c to the content document.

GCE (Science)2.2

In respect of each GCE A level qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must -

1. (a) review the practical activities which it requires each Learner to complete following any revision by the Secretary of State to the skills, apparatus or techniques specified in respect of that qualification, and
2. (b) revise those practical activities if appropriate.

GCE (Science)2.3

In respect of each GCE A level qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics which it makes available, or proposes to make available, an awarding organisation must -

1. (a) set out in the specification for that qualification -
   1. (i) the practical activities which each Learner must complete, and
   2. (ii) in particular, the skills and techniques which those practical activities must allow each Learner to develop or demonstrate, and the apparatus which those practical activities must allow each Learner to use, and
2. (b) promptly amend that specification when the awarding organisation makes any revision to those skills, techniques or apparatus, or those practical activities, and
3. (c) where such an amendment has been made to the specification, publish that specification as amended.

GCE (Science)2.4

In respect of each assessment cycle for each GCE A level qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics which it makes available, an awarding organisation must -

1. (a) require each Centre to provide a practical science statement to the awarding organisation, and
2. (b) treat any failure by a Centre to provide a practical science statement to the awarding organisation in a timely manner as malpractice and/or maladministration (under General Condition A8 (Malpractice and maladministration)).

GCE (Science)2.5

For the purposes of this condition, the content document is the document specified in Condition GCE(Science)1.1(a).

GCE (Science)2.6

For the purposes of this condition, a ‘practical science statement’ is a true and accurate written statement made by a Centre to an awarding organisation which confirms that it has taken reasonable steps to secure that each Learner to which that Centre has delivered the assessments to be taken in a particular assessment cycle for each A level qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics which the awarding organisation makes available has -

1. (a) completed practical activities as required by the awarding organisation, and
2. (b) made a contemporaneous record of the work which that Learner has undertaken during those practical activities.

Condition GCE(Science) 3: Practical Science Assessments

GCE(Science)3.1

In respect of a practical science assessment for each GCE A level qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics that an awarding organisation makes available or proposes to make available -

1. (a) Condition H2 does not apply,
2. (b) Condition GCE4.1 does not apply, and
3. (c) that assessment must not be an Assessment by Examination.

GCE(Science)3.2

An awarding organisation must ensure that in respect of each practical science assessment for each GCE A level qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics which it makes available it complies with any requirements, and has regard to any guidance, which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

GCE(Science)3.3

For the purposes of this condition, a ‘practical science assessment’ is an assessment-

1. (a) of a Learner’s competency in the skills outlined in appendix 5b, and the use of some or all of the apparatus and techniques outlined in the relevant section of appendix 5c, to the document published by the Secretary of State entitled ‘GCE AS and A level subject content for biology, chemistry, physics and psychology’, document reference DFE- 00356-2014,
2. (b) as evidenced by the Learner’s performance in practical activities as required by the awarding organisation under Condition GCE(Science)2.1.

Condition GCE(Science) 4: Marking and results

GCE(Science)4.1

In respect of each GCE A level qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics which it makes available an awarding organisation must calculate and publish the following two separate results for each Learner -

1. (a) a result for the Assessments by Examination to be taken for that qualification, and
2. (b) a result for the practical science assessment.

GCE(Science)4.2

In respect of each GCE A level qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics which it makes available, an awarding organisation must ensure that an Assessor does not have any regard to a Learner’s-

1. (a) result for the practical science assessment in calculating that Learner’s final mark and result for the Assessments by Examination, and/or
2. (b) final mark or result for the Assessments by Examination in determining that Learner’s result for the practical science assessment.

GCE(Science)4.3

In respect of each practical science assessment an awarding organisation must ensure that it complies with any Certificate Requirements in relation to that assessment which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

GCE(Science)4.4

In respect of each GCE A level qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics which it makes available, an awarding organisation must ensure that-

1. (a) a Learner may use the result for a practical science assessment which he or she has taken for a GCE A level qualification in the same science subject made available by the awarding organisation or another awarding organisation, and
2. (b) that Learner is not required to take a further practical science assessment before being awarded the qualification.

GCE(Science)4.5

For the purposes of this condition, a practical science assessment’ has the same meaning as in Condition GCE(Science)3.3.

Subject content requirements

Requirements in relation to subject content for GCE Science

The subject content for GCE Qualifications in Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) is set out in the Department for Education’s GCE AS and A level subject content, document reference DFE-00356- 2014 (the ‘Content Document’).

Condition GCE(Science)1.1(c) requires awarding organisations to interpret the Content Document in line with any requirements, and having regard to any guidance, published by Ofqual.

We set out our requirements for the purposes of Condition GCE(Science)1.1(c) below.

Practical activities

An awarding organisation must interpret the Content Document as if -

1. (a) the requirement for a Learner to complete 12 practical activities has been disapplied, and
2. (b) the Common Practical Assessment Criteria are assessed using the minimum number of practical activities required to demonstrate competence.

Requirements in relation to practical science assessments

Requirements in relation to practical science assessments

Condition GCE(Science)3.2 allows us to specify requirements and guidance in relation to practical science assessments (as defined in Condition GCE(Science)3.3) for GCE Science qualifications in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

We set out our requirements for the purposes of Condition GCE(Science)3.2 below.

Form of the practical science assessment

An awarding organisation must ensure that each practical science assessment is designed and set in such a way as to allow a Learner who has demonstrated the competencies outlined in Table 1 below to reach a Pass.

Marking of practical science assessments

Evidence generated by a Learner in a practical science assessment may be marked

1. (a) by a Centre,
2. (b) by the awarding organisation or a person connected to the awarding organisation, or
3. (c) through a combination of (a) and (b).

In any event, the awarding organisation must demonstrate to Ofqual’s satisfaction in its assessment strategy that -

1. (a) it has taken all reasonable steps to identify the risk of any Adverse Effect which may result from its approach to marking practical science assessments, and
2. (b) where such a risk is identified, it has taken all reasonable steps to prevent that Adverse Effect or, where it cannot be prevented, to mitigate that Adverse Effect.

The specified level of attainment in practical science assessments

In relation to each practical science assessment, an awarding organisation must ensure that -

1. (a) the only specified level of attainment is a Pass,
2. (b) the criteria used by Assessors to determine whether each Learner will be awarded a Pass are those set out in Table 1 below, and
3. (c) a Learner who does not meet the criteria to be awarded a Pass, or who has not been exempted on grounds of disability from the assessment but who does not take that assessment, is issued a result of Not Classified .

Under Condition H1.1, an awarding organisation must have in place arrangements to ensure that, as far as possible, the criteria set out in Table 1 are -

1. (a) understood by Assessors and accurately applied, and
2. (b) applied consistently by Assessors, regardless of the identity of the Assessor, Learner or Centre.

The criteria for a Pass

In order to be awarded a Pass a Learner must, by the end of the practical science assessment, consistently and routinely meet the criteria in respect of each competency listed below. A Learner may demonstrate the competencies in any practical activity undertaken as part of that assessment throughout the course of study.

Learners may undertake practical activities in groups. However, the evidence generated by each Learner must demonstrate that he or she independently meets the criteria outlined below in respect of each competency. Such evidence -

1. (a) will comprise both the Learner’s performance during each practical activity and his or her contemporaneous record of the work that he or she has undertaken during that activity, and
2. (b) must include evidence of independent application of investigative approaches and methods to practical work.

Table 1: The criteria for a Pass

Competency	Assessment criteria
1 – Follows written procedures	a) Correctly follows written instructions to carry out experimental techniques or procedures
2 – Applies investigative approaches and methods when using instruments and equipment	a) Correctly uses appropriate instrumentation, apparatus and materials (including ICT) to carry out investigative activities, experimental techniques and procedures with minimal assistance or prompting. b) Carries out techniques or procedures methodically, in sequence and in combination, identifying practical issues and making adjustments where necessary. c) Identifies and controls significant quantitative variables where applicable, and plans approaches to take account of variables that cannot readily be controlled. d) Selects appropriate equipment and measurement strategies in order to ensure suitably accurate results.
3 – Safely uses a range of practical equipment and materials	a) Identifies hazards and assesses risks associated with those hazards, making safety adjustments as necessary, when carrying out experimental techniques and procedures in the lab or field. b) Uses appropriate safety equipment and approaches to minimise risks with minimal prompting.
4 – Makes and records observations	a) Makes accurate observations relevant to the experimental or investigative procedure. b) Obtains accurate, precise and sufficient data for experimental and investigative procedures and records this methodically using appropriate units and conventions.
5 – Researches, references and reports	a) Uses appropriate software and/or tools to process data, carry out research and report findings. b) Cites sources of information demonstrating that research has taken place, supporting planning and conclusions.

Monitoring of practical science assessments

In respect of each GCE A level qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics which it makes available, an awarding organisation must have in place clear and effective arrangements to monitor the delivery and, where relevant, the marking of practical science assessments by Centres.

As part of those arrangements, an awarding organisation must ensure that each Centre which delivers practical science assessments receives a monitoring visit at least every two years (a ‘Monitoring Visit’).

This requirement may be met by way of a Monitoring Visit conducted by another awarding organisation which makes available a GCE A level qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics. Such a Monitoring Visit conducted by another awarding organisation may relate to practical science assessments in any of Biology, Chemistry or Physics. An awarding organisation must ensure that, over time, the practical science assessments for the GCE A level qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics which it makes available are the subject of a Monitoring Visit.

An awarding organisation may only rely on a Monitoring Visit undertaken by another awarding organisation where it has reasonable grounds to believe that the Monitoring Visit has included the activities outlined at (a) - (e) below. Where an awarding organisation does not have reasonable grounds for such a belief it must take action to ensure that it satisfies its obligations in respect of the monitoring of practical science assessments.

An awarding organisation must take reasonable steps to ensure that each Monitoring Visit it conducts, and must have reasonable grounds to believe that each Monitoring Visit undertaken by another awarding organisation on which it wishes to rely, includes the following activities -

1. (a) Observation of one or more practical activities being undertaken.
2. (b) Steps to ensure that, where evidence generated by a Learner in the practical science assessment is marked by the Centre, Teachers are applying the criteria outlined above accurately and consistently.
3. (c) Steps to ensure that Learners have been provided with opportunities to undertake practical activities.
4. (d) A review of samples of records of Learners’ practical activities and Centres’ documentation in relation to those activities to ensure that all relevant requirements in relation to the practical activities and practical science assessments are being met.
5. (e) Where appropriate, the provision of advice and guidance to the Centre.

Where, during a Monitoring Visit, an awarding organisation identifies an Adverse Effect, or a risk of an Adverse Effect, relating to the delivery or marking of practical science assessments, it must ensure all other awarding organisations for whom that Centre delivers practical assessments for GCE A level qualifications in Biology, Chemistry, Geology or Physics are informed.

An awarding organisation must set out its approach to monitoring, and in particular how it will meet the above requirements, in its assessment strategy for each GCE A level qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics which it makes available, or proposes to make available.

An awarding organisation may carry out Monitoring Visits remotely in academic year 2021 to 2022.

Certificate Requirements

Certificate Requirements

Condition GCE(Science)4.3 allows us to specify Certificate Requirements in relation to the way in which a Learner’s attainment in a practical science assessment is reflected on that Learner’s certificate for the qualification.

In addition, under Condition I3.1, an awarding organisation is required to ensure that the design of each certificate in relation to a qualification which it makes available complies with the Certificate Requirements which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

We set out our Certificate Requirements for the purposes of Condition GCE(Science)4.3 and Condition I3.1 below.

These requirements must be followed together with the Additional Certificate Requirements which apply to all qualifications.

Certificate requirements for practical science assessments

A certificate will only be issued for a GCE A level Science qualification in Biology, Chemistry or Physics where a Learner has been awarded a grade A* - E in respect of the level of attainment he or she has demonstrated in the Assessments by Examination to be taken for that qualification.

Where a Learner has not been awarded a grade A* - E in respect of those Assessments by Examination, an awarding organisation must ensure that no certificate is issued in respect of that Learner’s practical science assessment, regardless of the result for that assessment.

For clarity, the result for that Learner’s practical science assessment must still be issued, together with the Learner’s result in respect of the Assessments by Examination, under Condition H6.1.

Where a certificate will be issued to a Learner in respect of the Assessments by Examination, an awarding organisation must ensure that it meets the following requirements in recording the outcome of the practical science assessment on that certificate -

1. (a) Where the Learner has been awarded a Pass, that outcome must be recorded on the certificate.
2. (b) Where the Learner -
   1. (i) has taken the practical science assessment but has not been awarded a Pass, or
   2. (ii) has not been granted an exemption on grounds of disability from taking the practical science assessment, but has not taken it,

the outcome reported on the certificate must be Not Classified.

1. (c) Where the Learner has been granted an exemption from taking the practical science assessment on grounds of disability, the outcome reported on the certificate must be in line with any requirements which may be published by Ofqual and revised from time to time.

In all cases an awarding organisation must ensure that it is clear that the above outcomes are in relation to the practical science assessment.

Assessment objectives

Assessment objectives - GCE AS and A level qualifications in Science (Biology, Chemistry and Physics)

Condition GCE(Science)1.2 allows us to specify requirements relating to the objectives to be met by any assessment for GCE Science Qualifications in Biology, Chemistry or Physics.

The assessment objectives set out below constitute requirements for the purposes of Condition GCE(Science)1.2. Awarding organisations must comply with these requirements in relation to all GCE AS and A level Science qualifications in Biology, Chemistry or Physics they make available.

Assessment objective	Description	A level weighting	AS weighting
AO1	Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures	30 to 35%	35 to 40%
AO2	Apply knowledge and understanding of scientific ideas, processes, techniques and procedures: • in a theoretical context • in a practical context • when handling qualitative data • when handling quantitative data	40 to 45%	40 to 45%
AO3	Analyse, interpret and evaluate scientific information, ideas and evidence, including in relation to issues, to: • make judgements and reach conclusions • develop and refine practical design and procedures	25 to 30%	20 to 25%

The ability to use mathematical skills at a level appropriate for GCE Qualifications in Biology, Chemistry or Physics must be tested across the assessment objectives. The weighting of mathematical skills must be at least -

• in respect of GCE Qualifications in Biology, 10 per cent
• in respect of GCE Qualifications in Chemistry, 20 per cent
• in respect of GCE Qualifications in Physics, 40 per cent

The ability to select, organise and communicate information and ideas coherently using appropriate scientific conventions and vocabulary must be tested across the assessment objectives. The following definitions apply in relation to the assessment objectives:

• knowledge includes facts, specialist vocabulary, principles, concepts, theories, models, practical techniques, studies and methods
• processes include collecting evidence, explaining, theorising, modelling, validating, interpreting, planning to test an idea and peer reviewing
• issues include those that are ethical, social, economic, environmental, cultural, political and technological