External Evaluation of the European Baccalaureate (Annexes)

Coursework
assessment
‘A’ marks (see above) could include marks from work similar to
coursework assignments in OCR GCE A level coursework and
IBD(H) internal assessment, such as laboratory reports.
There is no requirement for candidates to complete coursework in
the way in which A level candidates and their teachers would
understand the term.
Students may have the chance to take a 2-period laboratory
course in Biology but it is not a requirement of the EB.
184
OCR GCE A level:
Assessment of Experimental and Investigative Skills
For AS, candidates may submit coursework or take the AS Practical
Examination.
For A2, candidates may submit coursework or take the Practical
Examination.
This assessment comprises 20% of the final A level in Biology.
Coursework consists of Planning, Implementing, Analysing and
Evaluating. Candidates may submit several different pieces of work
or one investigation covering all four skills. One mark for each skill
only is permitted. The Practical Examination has a Planning Exercise
which is prepared over a period of 7 to 10 days before the
examination. The Practical Test has two questions which assess the
other three skills: Implementing, Analysing and Evaluating. One
question usually involves microscopy.
IBD(H):
Coursework represents 24% of the final assessment. It may come
from Practical and Research work carried out throughout the course
but may also involve assessment of candidates’ work in the Group 4
project.
IB science students are required to complete a Group 4 project
during which they must work with other students on a collaborative
task. This may be one task that all students in the school/college are
involved with or several tasks for groups of 5-10 students to tackle.
Their individual contributions to the group project may be part of the
assessment.
Throughout the practical programme their personal skills, working
alone, working with others, and their awareness of environmental
impact are assessed.