Science GCSE

New WJEC GCSE Sciences

21 April 2010

We are pleased to announce that WJEC science specifications and specimen assessment materials have been forwarded to the regulators today for accreditation.  These are draft materials, and may be subject to change as a result of feedback from the regulators.

You'll find the relevant draft materials via the links below.

Science A and Additional Science

• WJEC GCSE Science A specification
• WJEC GCSE Science A specimen assessment materials
• WJEC GCSE Additional Science specification
• WJEC GCSE Additional Science specimen assessment materials

Biology, Chemistry and Physics

• WJEC GCSE Biology specification
• WJEC GCSE Biology specimen assessment materials
• WJEC GCSE Chemistry specification
• WJEC GCSE Chemistry specimen assessment materials
• WJEC GCSE Physics specification
• WJEC GCSE Physics specimen assessment materials

Science B and Additional Applied Science (vocational approaches)

• WJEC GCSE Science B specification
• WJEC GCSE Science B specimen assessment materials
• WJEC GCSE Additional Applied Science specification
• WJEC GCSE Additional Applied Science specimen assessment materials

Please note that Biology, Chemistry and Physics incorporate units from Science A and Additional Science. 

QCF units for Applied Science

WJEC will also be offering QCF units for Applied Science related to the working environment. This is a new qualification.

Continuing Professional Development

CPD meetings are planned for the following dates:

• 7 October 2010 - Cardiff
• 8 October 2010 - Carmarthen
• 11 October 2010 - Cwmbran
• 12 October 2010 - Reading
• 13 October 2010 - Birmingham
• 18 October 2010 - Mold
• 19 October 2010 - Gwynedd

Uniform Marks (UMS)

Information on how raw marks are converted to uniform marks may be found in the following document - Uniform Marks.

Internal Assessment

• A circular regarding the G.C.S.E Science Coursework is being sent out to centres and is also available to download here.
• 2010 Coursework forms are available here. 
• Please note, the coursework sample sizes have changed for 2010. More information can be found in the Coursework Manual (page 7)
• Please note that the GCSE Science Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Internal Assessment Science, Additional Science, Biology, Chemistry and Physics statistical tables have been updated following the June 2009 award.
• Guidance for Practical Assessments 2010 are available here.
• All internal assessment practical tests for 2010-2011 are available from the Secure Website in English and Welsh.

Submission dates

The deadline for submitting GCSE Science / Additional Science / Separate Science is Friday, 23rd April 2010. Moderator details will be despatched to Examination Officers in early April.

Resources

• Support material and additional resources can be found free of charge on NGfL-Cymru.
• Past papers and marking schemes are available free of charge to teaching staff on our Secure Website.
• Further resources are available through our online Shop. 
• There is a textbook accompanying WJEC’s Science specifications published by Hodder Murray.
• Material linked to the Physics content of the specification can be found on the Schoolphysics website.
• Subscribe to the WJEC GCSE Science e-mail bulletin here.

For further information, contact:

Janet Jones - Biology Subject Officer
Telephone: 029 2026 5126
E-mail: janet.jones@wjec.co.uk

Jonathan Owen - Chemistry Subject Officer
Telephone: 029 2026 5057
E-mail: jonathan.owen@wjec.co.uk

Gareth Kelly - Physics Subject Officer
Telephone: 029 2026 5081
E-mail: gareth.kelly@wjec.co.uk

Rhian Naish - Subject Support Officer
Telephone: 029 2026 5140
E-mail: rhian.naish@wjec.co.uk