ABOUT THIS COURSE

This course is aimed for all teachers looking to maximise the attainment of their students into the top-level grades.

The course focuses on meeting the demands of the higher-level marking bands across all of the specification components, examining the characteristics of work produced by students working at the highest levels.

Delegates will take away a range of teaching approaches, ideas and activities designed to ensure students achieve 7-9 in AQA GCSE Biology.

BENEFITS OF ATTENDING

• Understand the assessment demands of the AQA GCSE Biology specification
• Develop practical strategies for meeting the requirements of the higher bands across all components
• Explore exemplar materials to identify characteristics of outstanding work
• Increase confidence in preparing candidates to achieve Grades 7-9
• Consider Examiner’s Reports from previous exam sessions

PROGRAMME

Achieving Grades 7 – 9 in AQA GCSE Biology: what does it involve?

• Review characteristics of Grades 7 – 9 students
• Grades 7, 8, and 9: what are the differences between these?
• Going from a grade 5 grade to grade 9
• A 2-year course overview with the focus on top grades
• Key messages from the most recent examination series for able students

Strategies to achieve grades 7-9 in Paper 1

• Examining strong exemplar responses for Cell Biology, Organisation, Infection and Response and Bioenergetics
• Exploring practical activities for teaching paper 1 topics with able students
• New and innovative ways to help the higher ability students to scaffold their extended answers

Aiming for grades 7-9 in Paper 2: stretching and challenging able students for a top grade

• Examining strong exemplar responses for Homeostasis and Response, Inheritance, Variation, Evolution and Ecology
• Exploring practical activities for teaching paper 2 topics with able students
• What is excellent – unpicking the descriptors for a top band performance
• Teaching techniques that challenge and push the most able students
• What does a top band Paper 2 performance look like?
• It’s the little things that count – focusing on the detail
• Creative methods and approaches which engage higher ability students

Applying Knowledge in Practicals – Exam Questions and Question types

• Key messages from Summer 2022 Exams and preparation for 2023
• Where do students struggle and how to support them
• Practical based exam question examples
• How students develop students’ written technique to gain maximum marks.
• How to overcome difficulties and avoid pitfalls.

Strategies to really stretch top end students

• Discover ways to take a good GCSE scientist and make them a great scientist
• Challenges that face your more able students in exams
• Practical solutions to proficiently assess able students both formatively and summative in the lead up to the exams.
• Focus on the extended questions: what does a grade 7/9/ candidate need to do?