as sociology feedback 2010 david bown - chair of examiners joanna lewis - subject officer principal...
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AS Sociology Feedback 2010
David Bown - Chair of Examiners Joanna Lewis - Subject Officer
Principal Examiners Barbara GreenallJanis Griffiths
Assessment processes
External changes to assessment processes include:
– Statistical screening
– Requirement for challenge
January series
• Large entry for SY 1
• Some for SY 2
• Generally well tackled, despite ongoing problems with some aspects of the specification
June series
• Larger entries for both SY1 and SY 2
• Larger entry than for previous series, so more centres new to WJEC coming on board.
General observations
• Fewer rubric errors or candidates attempting answers for which they had not been prepared in January.
General observations
• Some centres are relying on studies and evidence that is desperately dated.
• Candidates who misread questions fail to respond appropriately.
Knowledge
• Many candidates had knowledge but less understanding
• Research methods needs to be understood for candidates to score highly
The impact of psychology
Candidates had difficulty contextualising their answers and this needs to be addressed.
Tackling the new specification
• The ability to answer the question directly is very significant.
• Understanding of key terminology is important.
• Essay writing skills will need to be emphasised.
Specific weaknesses
• Mis-reading of questions
– Clear understanding of command words is essential and many candidates failed to fulfil the success criteria because they failed to respond to the command words.
Specific weaknesses
• Mis-reading of questions
– No reference to the item in the responses which required this
• Time allocation for answers; still evidence of over and underwriting.
Structuring answers
• Some weaknesses in the organisation and planning of answers
– Not defining key terms– Limited deployment of paragraphs– Repetition – Limited use of evidence and AO 1– Dated studies
Style
• Most wrote well in whichever language was used. However …
• Use of personalisation – ‘I think…’
• Use of rhetorical questioning – ‘Marxists believe that … but is this correct? Is it true? Do we believe it?’
Knowledge of key terms
• Some basic terminology not fully understood:
Options
• Few attempted ‘Community and culture’ or ‘Understanding Religion’
• Some centres appear to be offering more than one option – gain breadth but lose depth in some cases.
• Limited transfer of AO1 so candidates mentioned studies in options but not in Research Methods where it is a requirement.(AS)
Research design
• A significant number of candidates failed to design the research using qualitative methods.
• Many decided to employ structured or semi structured interviews and appeared to have decided this before seeing the design brief.
For further information, please contact the subject officer at the WJEC
Joanna Lewis245 Western AvenueCardiffCF5 2YX