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Posts archived in Exam updates


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The A2 Exam Companion is on its way!

February 6, 2012 by .

A2 Exam CompanionWe wanted to share our good start to the week with you… our new AQA A2 Exam Companion has gone to print this morning. It is out in March and is publishing in perfect time for us to make sure it also matches the 2012 specification, so you can rest assured that it will help with preparation for the exams. Take a peek at the some preview material here.

For more information or to order an inspection copy of the AQA A2 Exam Companion or any of the rest of the Complete Companions for AQA A series, please email me at claire.beatt@oup.com with your school or college address.

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Complete Companions news

January 27, 2012 by .

Back in September we gave you new free spreads to support you with the changes to the specification, now we’re about to publish Third Editions of the Complete Companions for AQA A matched to the revised 2012 specification. Out this summer, these new editions of the AS and A2 Complete Companions for AQA A Student Books, Exam Companions and Mini Companions, match the revised 2012 specification.

Written by the same author team, Mike Cardwell and Cara Flanagan, these essential companions provide a range of resources for every learning style. They can be used independently or together to support everyone teaching and studying the AQA A Psychology 2012 specification.

But, what about our new A2 Exam Companion out this March? It just so happens that the A2 Exam Companion is publishing in perfect time for us to make sure it also matches the 2012 specification as part of the Third Editions series, so you can rest assured that this book will help with preparation for the exams. Take a peek at some preview material here.

For more information about the new editions or to order inspection copies, please email me at claire.beatt@oup.com with your school or college address.

 

 

 

 

 

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AQA A new mark scheme for A2

August 19, 2011 by .

I have been informed by AQA that the new AO1 mark scheme for A2 (changing from 9 to 8 marks) will be:

 

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Gender – the biosocial approach

July 25, 2011 by .

I was a bit uncertain about a comment in the AQA guide to specification changes regarding gender dysphoria. The topic of gender dysphoria has now been moved to be included with the biosocial approach (the new specification says ‘The biosocial approach to gender development including gender dysphoria’). The AQA guide to the specification changes points out that ‘This may require re structuring your delivery to emphasise links to biosocial approach’.

Feeling a bit concerned about the implications I wrote to AQA for clarification. They say that the biosocial approach in general does not refer to any specific theory but simply assumes an interaction between biological (e.g. genetic) and psychosocial factors.

“If a candidate describes genetic and psychosocial contributions to gender development and how they might interact, this would be an ideal approach to the question. Of course, it would be equally acceptable for a candidate to describe a specific theory of biosocial interactions in gender development.”

When it comes to gender dysphoria I think it might be difficult to make biosocial theories relevant (in our A2 book we have discussed two specific theories). Students should simply emphasise the biological + the psychosocial in their answers. In exam questions on the biosocial approach, the theories would provide a good basis for an answer.

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AQA A: New A2 spreads and explanation of changes

June 23, 2011 by .

OUP has published free support materials to help with the changes to the AQA A specification. You can access these here. There are grids which explain the implications of changes to each topic area and nine new spreads for A2 topics that have changed considerably. When on the OUP site you just click on the links to download.

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AQA A specification update

June 16, 2011 by .

We have sent two queries to AQA asking for clarification of two of the specification changes – one related to the Media section in PSYA4 and one related to the relationships section in PSYA3.

1. Query: In the new specification the section on media has a changed entry. Previously it said ‘The effects of video games and computers on young people’. It now says ‘The positive and negative effects of computers and video games on behaviour’. I just want to double check that these are two separate things ‘computers’ and ‘video games’ and that it is not meant to be ‘computer games’ and ‘video games’?

As a further question, the term ‘computers’ has such a potentially wide meaning (e.g. use of word processors, use of chat rooms, Facebook, gaming’). Is all of that acceptable?

From AQA: The response from the Principal Examiner for PSYA4 to your enquiry is as follows:

As the section focuses on media psychology, questions on computers could focus on situations where Read the rest of this entry »

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AQA A specification changes now published

January 11, 2011 by .

Most of you will know that there are changes in the AQA A specification for teaching from September 2011. The new specification has now been published (see here). I have produced a word document summarising the changes Changes from Sept 2011

The specification does not cover changes to the exam – but the letter from AQA sent out last term did say that, from January 2012, questions on Units 3 and 4 (except research methods) will be marked out of 24 (8 marks AO1 and 16 marks AO2/3).

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Comparing specifications

September 7, 2010 by .

The table below shows exam statistics for all 5 boards. Interesting reading!

(Data taken from exam board websites (search ‘exam statistics’) and from JCQ website.)

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Making sense of IDA, synopticity and AO3

July 23, 2010 by .

I have received a few questions recently about the synoptic aspect of the A2 papers and thought I would pass on my views!

SYNOPTICITY

The synoptic criteria has been dropped from the mark scheme. It is essentially equivalent to IDA.

ISSUES, DEBATES AND APPROACHES (IDA)

  • The AO2 mark scheme includes a criterion regarding IDA.
  • IDA is not credited in Psychopathology, nor in AO1 (if a question is parted and a student puts IDA in the AO1 part there is no credit). Read the rest of this entry »
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New look answer booklet

January 9, 2010 by .

AQA have announced a new look answer booklet (see example here). It is essentially similar to the older-style ones, just with lines, though there are special spaces to insert the number of the question being answered. This is just for the A2 papers.

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