External Evaluation of the European Baccalaureate (Annexes)

Comparison Table for comparison of assessment models
Use this table to make direct comparisons between the syllabuses in the following areas:
42. structure of the assessment model, including the format of assessment for the specification/syllabus
43. whether coursework is assessed, the kinds of coursework assessed and contribution to overall grade
44. whether oral assessment is part of the assessment model, and the extent and format of oral assessment
45. whether the assessment model is unit-based or requires candidates to take a synoptic view of the topics, and to what extent
NOTE: the prose commentary on the assessment models should draw attention to significant differences in the requirements for the European baccalaureate
and A Level or IB.
Assessment
structure,
format and
timings
European Baccalaureate OCR GCE A Level / IBD (H)
The EB is not a modular course.
Marks from Biology contribute to the final baccalaureate as
follows:
‘A’ marks given by teachers at the end of each semester in Year 7.
The marks are given for performance in class work. The final ‘A’
mark is the average of the marks for the two semesters.
A ‘B’ mark for a 2 ¼ hour examination set by the teacher (the ‘Pre-
Bac’) and taken at the end of the first semester in Year 7.
A 3 hour written examination or a 20 minute oral examination
taken in May of Year 7 (the ‘Bac’).
The examination paper is divided into three sections: P, G and E.
There are two questions of 40 marks each in sections P and G.
The questions in section E are out of 20 marks each The
candidates choose one question from each section.
P addresses section 7.1 of the syllabus covering cell membranes
and energetics. G addresses section 7.2 covering genetics. E
addresses section 7.3 covering evolution.
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OCR GCE A level is a modular course.
Divided into AS (usually taken in Year 12) and A2 (Year 13). AS and
A2 contribute 50% each to the final aggregated mark.
AS – three Units:
2801 Biology Foundation (60 minutes) written paper
2802 Human Health and Disease (60 minutes) written paper
2803 Transport (45 minutes) written paper and either coursework or
a practical examination (90 minutes)
A2 – three Units:
2804 Central Concepts (90 minutes) written paper
2805 One option chosen from five (90 minutes) written paper
2806 Unifying Concepts in Biology (75 minutes) written paper and
either coursework or a practical examination (90 minutes)
Candidates are not required to write discursive essays.
Point mark schemes are used for all examinations. Marking points
are separated by semi-colons in the mark schemes.
Marks for quality of written communication (QWC) are awarded for
some extended-response questions. 90 minute papers have two and
60 minute papers have one.