Special Studies: assessment

A teacher asked whether there is any change in the scheme of assessment of the Special Studies in June 2002 onwards compared with the previous scheme.

All teachers of Nuffield A-level Chemistry are advised to read the Specification carefully and to note the detail of the student skills required. These skills are set out at some length and, within the limits imposed by the continued use of the existing booklets, do show some changes, mostly of emphasis.

Teachers may find it helpful to note two particular changes.

• Page 9 Unit Test 5B (Special Studies) will carry 30 marks, not 40 as in the past.
• Page 42 Students will be tested on their skills in the main activities
  B processing and interpreting experimental results arising.

Note that whilst it does not say that students will be asked to describe
the details of set experiments, they may be asked, for example, to
demonstrate understanding of methods used to investigate the browning of foods (page 47, Food Science).

April 2002