edexcel update august 2013

Edexcel Update August 2013

Dr David DaviesEducation ConsultantPearson

Curriculum reform update and International Advanced level2

Establish objectives and educational policies

Determine standards to achieve educational objectives

UK Government

• Implement QCA standards

• Design and develop qualifications in conjunction with employers, professional associations and educators

• Obtain accreditation from QCA for qualifications

• Approve, train and support educators to deliver our qualifications

• Quality control educators and learning programmes

Educators

(schools, colleges and universities)

National training authorities

Employers

(business and Gov)

Professional Associations

Largest awarding body in the UK

Stakeholders

• Accredit 3rd party qualifications

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Edexcel qualifications: The Complete Solution

* Currently in development. First UK teaching September 2011.

QCF Level Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ)

Edexcel Qualifications

Academic Vocational (BTEC)

Level 7 M (masters) Masters degrees, postgraduate certificates and diplomas

BTEC Professional

Level 6 H (honours)Bachelor degrees, graduate certificates and diplomas

BTEC Higher National Graduate Diploma*

Level 5 I (intermediate) Diplomas of higher education and further education, foundation degrees and higher national diplomas

BTEC Higher National Diploma

Level 4 C (certificate) Certificates of higher education

BTEC Higher National Certificate

BTEC Specialist

Level 3 GCE (A) Levels (A* - E)

BTEC Nationals

Level 2 GCSE (A*-C) / International GCSEs

BTEC Firsts

Level 1 GCSE (D-G) / International GCSEs

BTEC Foundation Learning

Entry Level Basic skills BTEC Foundation Learning

Edexcel Academic Qualifications

• Edexcel offers two main suites of academic qualifications- GCE A levels and International GCSEs

• GCE A levels are two-year courses designed for students aged 16-18

• The first year of the GCE A level is known as the AS and can be separately certificated if required

• Edexcel’s GCE A levels are regulated by the UK Regulator Ofqual

• GCE A levels are accepted for university entry by all universities in the UK and many universities around the world, e.g. USA (Harvard, Yale), Australia, New Zealand, Canada etc.

• International GCSEs are two-year courses designed for students aged 14-16 which prepare students for GCE A levels

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Edexcel GCE A Levels – the specifics

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Immediate Changes to existing Edexcel A levels from September 2013


A level Reform from September 2015


Introduction of revised Edexcel A levels from September 2015


Introduction of revised Edexcel AS Specifications from September 2015


International Advanced Level Qualifications – the specifics

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Introduction of new International Advanced level and AS Specifications from September 2013


New Advanced level and AS Specifications from September 2013- continued

Presentation Title runs here l 00/00/0013

New International Advanced level and AS - Subjects Available


New International Advanced level and AS Specifications - Timeline


Students who need to complete their A levels in January 2014

Ofqual has agreed that we can offer the same exams we currently offer in these subjects in January for one more sitting in January 2014 in the following subjects:

• Mathematics• Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) • Economics• Business Studies• Accounting • Students can cash in as planned to complete their A levels• NB The specification and assessment remain unchanged.• Students will be awarded an Edexcel International Advanced level,

regulated by Pearson. • For other subjects examinations will be available in June only.


Students wishing to complete their Edexcel GCE A levels in June 2014

• Students who are planning to complete their A levels in June 2014 will not be able to sit an examination in January 2014

• They will be able to complete their courses in June 2014 as planned• Centres entering for Accounting, Law and the written paper options

for Biology, Chemistry and Physics will receive an International Advanced Level in place of an A level.


Edexcel GCE A level Mathematics and Edexcel International Advanced level Mathematics

• The Edexcel International Advanced level Mathematics will have three specifications: Mathematics, Pure Mathematics, Further Mathematics

• The following units will be available from January 2014:• Core Mathematics 1 and 2 (available as one unit) • Core Mathematics 3 and 4 (available as one unit)• Further Pure Mathematics 1, Mechanics 1, 2 and 3, Statistics 1 and 2

and Decision Mathematics 1• In addition, the following units will be available from June 2014:

Further Pure Mathematics 2 and 3 and Statistics 3• Further information is available at:• www.edexcel.com/quals/ial


Edexcel International Advanced level Economics and Business Studies

• There will be some new content added in the International Advanced level Economics specification.

• All four units in the International Advanced level Economics specification will be equally weighted.

• The content of the International Advanced level Business Studies will be updated with an international synoptic unit.

• All four units in the International Advanced level Business Studies specification will be equally weighted.

• Both specifications will be available in the January and the June examination series with effect from January 2014

• Further information is available on: www.edexcel.com/quals/ial .


University Recognition of International Advanced Levels

• A large number of universities in the United Kingdom and elsewhere have recognised International Advanced Levels for entry purposes in the same way that they accept Edexcel A levels, including the following:

• Hong Kong: The University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology

• United Kingdom: University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh,• King’s College, London, and more than 40 others• Also leading universities in the United States, Australia, Canada, New

Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland etc • More universities are being added to the list on a weekly basis• The full list of university recognition is available here:• ial-recognition4.pdf


Recognition of International Advanced Levels by UK NARIC

• UK NARIC, the National Recognition Centre for the United Kingdom, is the national agency responsible for providing information and expert opinion on qualifications and skills worldwide

• UK NARIC has compiled a draft Report on ‘Benchmarking the Edexcel International A level against the GCE A level’

• The study looked at the following IAL subjects: Accounting, Business Studies, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Law, Physics and Mathematics

• Using NARIC’s well-established methodology for benchmarking qualifications, the Report considered: programme design, entry requirements and progression, course content and structure, learning outcomes, assessment framework, including assessment objectives, methods and performance descriptors


Recognition of International Advanced Levels by UK NARIC- 2

• A review of quality assurance processes was also conducted, taking into account external marking, standardisation, certification, and examination and assessment development.

• The study found that the assessment frameworks in Biology, Chemistry and Physics align with Edexcel GCEs in these subjects, the core content of the Mathematics aligns to that covered in the Edexcel GCE Mathematics, and that the design and structure of the IALs in Law, Accounting, Economics and Business Studies, related closely to the Ofqual Subject Criteria, but also included additional topics appropriate for international candidates

• The study concluded overall that ‘the Edexcel International A levels is considered comparable to the overall GCE A level standard’


Our promise to you


Pearson GCE and IAL Helpdesk

•Tel number: 8129 0100•Email: [email protected]


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edexcel update august 2013

Documents

edexcel update

international gcsesgce

edexcel gce

diplomas of higher education

existing edexcel

requirededexcels gce

foundation degrees

masters masters degrees