New Advanced Higher Subject Implementation Events Qualifications Update:

Geography

Development Process Curriculum Area Review Group Qualifications Design Team Ashbrook report – July 2013 Extended Subject Working Group (50+):

– Principal Assessor– Principal Verifier– Current Assessment Team

Further consultation with subject/policy experts as necessary

Internal QA review and sign-off

Key Messages Building on strengths of current Course Clearer descriptions of Unit competence Minimal change needed to teaching

(materials/resources will still be relevant) Refreshed/reorganised mandatory content and Course

skills Updated command words for source-based questions in

the Question Paper Greater clarity in marking instructions (Question Paper

and Coursework)

Key messages from Verification 2013-14

Some centres provided clear evidence of quality assurance processes, including cross-marking, blind marking and comparing and sampling.

Internal verification processes and policies were identified and submitted by some centres

Some high-quality examples of assessor comments on candidate work, use of judging evidence tables and clear feedback to candidates

Good assessor comments for borderline candidates Some good practice in assessor records of evidence

generated orally by candidates, e.g. flash cards used by the candidate, assessor notes etc

CfE ‘Reflections’ report Report from CfE Management Board on first year of

implementation Recommendations for Government, schools/teachers, local

authorities, Education Scotland, SQA In response to SQA recommendations we have:

– Produced Higher Exemplar Question Papers (Advanced Higher exemplars will be published in December 2015)

– Continuing to work via verification and Understanding Standards to support teachers in internal assessment

– Working with ADES on a tool to support internal verification– Provided advice – in Unit and Course assessment documents

– on combined/holistic assessment– Produced Log of Changes spreadsheets and marked up

versions of Course documents, where changes have been made.

Assessment Support Schedule 2014/15 Oct 14 Unit Assessment Support (Package 1)

Jan 15 CfE Advanced Higher Subject Update Letter

Jan 15 Subject Course Comparison (National 5 – Advanced Higher)

Feb 15 Unit Assessment Support (Package 2)

Feb 15 Advanced Higher Specimen Question Paper + Marking Instr.

Mar 15 Coursework Assessment Information

Apr 15 Unit Assessment Support (Package 3)

Apr 15 Update Mandatory Documents as required

May 15Update Unit Assessment Support as required (Course Support Notes, Unit Assessment Packs 1 and 2)

Dec 15 Advanced Higher Exemplar Question Paper

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