CONTROLLED ASSESSMENT
“undisputed educational value” and should assessment of the subject while ensuring controlled assessment – except modern
continue, and it urged the use of detection manageability for learners, centres and foreign languages and Welsh – candidates
software already being used in universities to awarding bodies.” should take no more than 15 hours for each
weed out the cheats. The levels of control will be different component. This includes time taken for
From September 2009, however, depending on the subject. preparation, but not teaching and learning
coursework will cease to exist in its current Where there is a weighting of 25 per time.
form. Instead, students will have to complete cent controlled assessment, students will be For subjects with 60 per cent controlled
their work under controlled conditions, with required to complete one or two pieces of assessment, awarding bodies will replace
limited help and guidance from teachers. work, which are awarded as a single entity. controlled assessment tasks every two years,
They will still be allowed to do their When controlled assessment makes up 60 as a minimum, to ensure they continue to
research and information gathering at home, per cent of the marks, candidates may have to set an appropriate challenge to students.
but the writing up of that work will have to take up to three components, each of which is For subjects with 20 per cent controlled
be done under strict supervision. moderated and awarded separately. Each will assessment, tasks will be replaced every year.
It means that “levels of control” will be have a weighting of no less than 20 per cent The new specifications will also require
introduced for each stage of the assessment of the overall assessment. students to produce their drafts to form
process: task-setting, task-taking, and task- There will also be greater controls on part of the assessment procedures, in some
marking. the time taken to complete assessments and subjects. However, where this is not the case
According to QCA guidelines: “For each in terms of word count. Students taking strict rules will apply as to the level of help
stage, to ensure reliability and authenticity, subjects with 25 per cent assessment – with teachers can give in assisting candidates with
the level of control must be set as high as the exception of Welsh as a second language re-drafting. They will be able to give general
possible for the skills assessed. However, – should write no more than 2,000 words. advice, but not detailed or specific help on
the level of control must provide for valid Where assessment comprises 60 per cent how they can improve their work.
Controlled assessment: Q&A
What is controlled assessment? example, if the school is retaining a linear for controlled assessment is for the January
Controlled assessment is replacing model then all they need to do is to ensure 2010 session and thereafter January and June
coursework from September 2009 for that the learners have completed all units by of each year. It is for centres to decide when
GCSEs. This has been introduced by the the end of the course. Following a unitised they enter candidates. For DT, controlled
QCA to address some of the issues raised approach can allow a more flexible approach assessment is in unit 1 and again in unit 3 and
in coursework reviews, such as plagiarism, to assessment, so teachers can structure the these would normally be taken in year 10 for
teacher assistance, and parental intervention. learning programme to suit their students. unit 1 and year 11 for unit 3, but the choice is
up to the teacher. If schools are delivering the
What are the benefits of controlled Who will set the tasks of the controlled course in a linear fashion then all controlled
assessment? assessment and will teachers still need to assessments are at the end of year 11.
The benefits of controlled assessment mark it?
include more straightforward marking – for It varies from subject to subject. For some, Can schools continue to teach a short
most subjects learners are provided with such as business studies GCSE, OCR course over two years?
worksheets to submit their work on – and will set the tasks and context. Centres can Yes, but they will need to be familiar with
improved reliability and validity. “contextualise” all tasks – i.e. adapt them to the rules regarding those subjects with 25
There will also be varying levels of suit their own resources and local facilities – per cent controlled assessment. Controlled
control – teachers will know at the start of so there is always a small degree of flexibility, assessment can only take place for the year
the course what is required to help them even for tasks set by OCR. that the awarding body sets the tasks and the
manage the assessments and their time more For others, centres can choose from a series tasks cannot be carried over to a second year.
easily. Greater confidence in authenticating of contexts in which to address a number of
learners’ work as their own and greater ease pre-set tasks. Task-marking is typically done When can learners start researching for the
in fitting assessments into normal teaching by the school’s centre assessor, using OCR controlled assessment and do they need to
programmes are also seen as benefits. marking grids and guidance, and then OCR keep their notes?
moderates them. Tasks will be made available on Interchange,
How will it be introduced? OCR’s free secure website, from June of the
Controlled assessment is embedded in the How long do schools need to keep the year before assessment to May of the year of
specifications and will be introduced when controlled assessment for? assessment. The time when schools pass the
the specifications become available for This will be governed by the awarding bodies’ tasks onto learners is for them to manage in
teaching in September 2009. Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) whatever way suits them and their students.
regulations when they are published. It is Learners should keep their notes to
How will it affect teachers’ workload? expected that learners’ work will need to be help them as preparation for controlled
Whether staff will see any differences in kept until all possible post-result services have assessment. The notes will not be required
workload, will depend on what they have been exhausted. For details, see www.jcq.org.uk for moderation.
experienced previously.
With the introduction of a new When can controlled assessment start? Can schools submit learners for exams in
qualification and a new model of Controlled assessment can start in year 9, 10 any exam session now?
assessment, it is possible that some or 11. However, it is important that the school Yes, but they will need to be aware of the
additional work is required in the first ensures the correct controlled assessment task QCA’s 40 per cent terminal assessment rule
occurrence of controlled assessment until is given. OCR recommends schools check the (40 per cent of assessment has to take place
they get used to the new way of working. full specification details for the qualifications at the end of the course), which is detailed in
However, OCR will be providing support they will be teaching before planning the specification.
throughout the transition process. assessment schedules. The start dates can
depend on the specific subject and how the If learners are entered for re-sits, which
Will it affect timetabling and curriculum teacher chooses to structure the course. marks are considered?
planning? For instance, with design and technology Learners can re-sit each unit once and can
This will vary from centre to centre. For (DT), the first opportunity to enter candidates count the highest mark.
SecEd
Delivering innovation
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in qualifications
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