What is the future of assessment? How big a part will technology play? And what headway is already being made? Craig Barton speaks to Ben Stafford, AQA’s head of assessment design, and head of research and development Ruth Johnson about the strategies that might be considered for future exams. Dimitrios Georgalis is a maths teacher at Leeds City College, and Darren Coogan is curriculum Lead for GCSE Maths at Peterborough Regional College, they tell Craig how they use innovative technologies in the classroom.

What is the future of assessment? How big a part will technology play? And what headway is already being made? Craig Barton speaks to Ben Stafford, AQA&rsquo;s head of assessment design, and head of research and development Ruth Johnson about the strategies that might be considered for future exams. Dimitrios Georgalis is a maths teacher at Leeds City College, and Darren Coogan is curriculum Lead for GCSE Maths at Peterborough Regional College, they tell Craig how they use innovative technologies in the classroom.

Future of exams: all Star Trek and holodecks?

How does online marking of exam papers work? What processes make marking is accurate and consistent? And what tools are markers given to ensure quality control? Pete Hawcroft, AQA’s head of marking, tells Craig Barton how each question paper is marked. Craig also meets Juliet Park, director of languages for a West Yorkshire trust. She discusses innovative alternatives to traditional classroom marking.

Take a look at the most common marking myths: https://store.aqa.org.uk/content/inside-exams/AQA-INSIDE-EXAMS-S2-EP7-MYTHBUSTING.PDF

How does online marking of exam papers work? What processes make marking is accurate and consistent? And what tools are markers given to ensure quality control? Pete Hawcroft, AQA&rsquo;s head of marking, tells Craig Barton how each question paper is marked. Craig also meets Juliet Park, director of languages for a West Yorkshire trust. She discusses innovative alternatives to traditional classroom marking.
Take a look at the most common marking myths: https://store.aqa.org.uk/content/inside-exams/AQA-INSIDE-EXAMS-S2-EP7-MYTHBUSTING.PDF

Exam marking: planting seeds to hit the mark

How is malpractice investigated? And how can school staff and students help in the process? Bill Johnston and Lalita Handford are both exams integrity leads at AQA; they talk through how potential cases of malpractice reach them, who investigates, and what kind of resolutions cases can come to.

How is malpractice investigated? And how can school staff and students help in the process? Bill Johnston and Lalita Handford are both exams integrity leads at AQA; they talk through how potential cases of malpractice reach them, who investigates, and what kind of resolutions cases can come to.

Exam rules: investigations integral to integrity

Who writes exam questions? And how does the process ensure the integrity of exams? Craig Barton talks to AQA’s Assessment Banking Manager Oli Woodfield, and Engagement and Communications Lead Jenni Midgley about how question papers are created. Ellie Upton is a science teacher at Chace Community School in Enfield; she explains how her team creates robust mock exams.

Visit Exampro to find out more about creating tests from previous question papers: https://www.exampro.co.uk

 

Who writes exam questions? And how does the process ensure the integrity of exams? Craig Barton talks to AQA&rsquo;s Assessment Banking Manager Oli Woodfield, and Engagement and Communications Lead Jenni Midgley about how question papers are created. Ellie Upton is a science teacher at Chace Community School in Enfield; she explains how her team creates robust mock exams.
Visit Exampro to find out more about creating tests from previous question papers: <a href="https://www.exampro.co.uk">https://www.exampro.co.uk</a>
&nbsp;

Creating assessments: taking stock and setting mocks

Why are some exam questions written in context? And how do writers make sure those contexts won’t advantage certain students over others? Mike, one of AQA’s Lead Assessment Writers for GCSE Physics, tells Craig Barton how he comes up with interesting contexts, and Laurie Luscombe, a maths teacher at The Blue Coat School in Oldham, explains how he cleverly teaches them in the classroom.

The British Library teaching resources: https://www.bl.uk/teaching-resources

20 ideas for enriching students' cultural capital: https://www.teachitenglish.co.uk/resources/ks3/20-teaching-ideas-for/planning-and-assessment/20-ideas-for-enriching-students-cultural-capital/35070

The National Theatre teaching resources: https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learning/schools/secondary-and-fe/resources

The National Portrait Gallery teaching resources: https://www.npg.org.uk/learning/digital

Science Museum teaching resources: https://learning-resources.sciencemuseum.org.uk/resources/?keystage=ks4

 

Why are some exam questions written in context? And how do writers make sure those contexts won&rsquo;t advantage certain students over others? Mike, one of AQA&rsquo;s Lead Assessment Writers for GCSE Physics, tells Craig Barton how he comes up with interesting contexts, and Laurie Luscombe, a maths teacher at The Blue Coat School in Oldham, explains how he cleverly teaches them in the classroom.
The British Library teaching resources: <a href="https://www.bl.uk/teaching-resources">https://www.bl.uk/teaching-resources</a>
20 ideas for enriching students' cultural capital: <a href="https://www.teachitenglish.co.uk/resources/ks3/20-teaching-ideas-for/planning-and-assessment/20-ideas-for-enriching-students-cultural-capital/35070">https://www.teachitenglish.co.uk/resources/ks3/20-teaching-ideas-for/planning-and-assessment/20-ideas-for-enriching-students-cultural-capital/35070</a>
The National Theatre teaching resources: <a href="https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learning/schools/secondary-and-fe/resources">https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/learning/schools/secondary-and-fe/resources</a>
The National Portrait Gallery teaching resources: <a href="https://www.npg.org.uk/learning/digital">https://www.npg.org.uk/learning/digital</a>
Science Museum teaching resources: <a href="https://learning-resources.sciencemuseum.org.uk/resources/?keystage=ks4">https://learning-resources.sciencemuseum.org.uk/resources/?keystage=ks4</a>
&nbsp;

Writing questions: setting the setting

What makes an assessment valid? What factors can undermine that validity? And how do exams validly assess the whole grade range 1-9? Craig Barton gets the answers from AQA’s Director of Assessment and Curriculum Dave Mellor. Plus, Julia Smith, a teacher trainer and former maths teacher, explores how to motivate and prepare students for resits.

Our tips for avoiding common pitfalls in exams: https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/mathematics/AQA-8300-POSTER-TIPS.PDF

Post-16 one year resit seminar: https://www.aqa.org.uk/resources/mathematics/gcse/mathematics-8300/plan/prepare-to-teach-post-16-one-year-resit-webinar

National numeracy video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDP-ZYAxFbs&feature=youtu.be

Basic skills questions (All About Maths): https://allaboutmaths.aqa.org.uk/basicskillsquestions

 

What makes an assessment valid? What factors can undermine that validity? And how do exams validly assess the whole grade range 1-9? Craig Barton gets the answers from AQA&rsquo;s Director of Assessment and Curriculum Dave Mellor. Plus, Julia Smith, a teacher trainer and former maths teacher, explores how to motivate and prepare students for resits.
Our tips for avoiding common pitfalls in exams: <a href="https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/mathematics/AQA-8300-POSTER-TIPS.PDF">https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/mathematics/AQA-8300-POSTER-TIPS.PDF</a>
Post-16 one year resit seminar: <a href="https://www.aqa.org.uk/resources/mathematics/gcse/mathematics-8300/plan/prepare-to-teach-post-16-one-year-resit-webinar">https://www.aqa.org.uk/resources/mathematics/gcse/mathematics-8300/plan/prepare-to-teach-post-16-one-year-resit-webinar</a>
National numeracy video: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDP-ZYAxFbs&amp;feature=youtu.be">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDP-ZYAxFbs&amp;feature=youtu.be</a>
Basic skills questions (All About Maths): <a href="https://allaboutmaths.aqa.org.uk/basicskillsquestions">https://allaboutmaths.aqa.org.uk/basicskillsquestions</a>
&nbsp;

Assessment: exercising validity and re-visioning resits

What is standardisation? How are examiners trained to mark exams? And should we be standardising our own marking in the classroom and within departments? Craig Barton learns about the standardisation process with Ian White, AQA’s preparation and support manager, and preparation coordinator Jo Harland. Plus, former head of English Ryan Wilson explains how he feels marking class work differs from marking assessments.

Improve your marking with teacher online standardisation: https://www.aqa.org.uk/inside-exams-podcasts/series-2-episode-2/improve-your-marking-with-teacher-online-standardisation

What is standardisation? How are examiners trained to mark exams? And should we be standardising our own marking in the classroom and within departments? Craig Barton learns about the standardisation process with Ian White, AQA&rsquo;s preparation and support manager, and preparation coordinator Jo Harland. Plus, former head of English Ryan Wilson explains how he feels marking class work differs from marking assessments.
Improve your marking with teacher online standardisation: https://www.aqa.org.uk/inside-exams-podcasts/series-2-episode-2/improve-your-marking-with-teacher-online-standardisation

Standardisation: super-standardise me

How do exam boards review their assessments? When do reviews happen? And what kind of amendments are made for future exams? To help answer some of these questions, Craig Barton talks to Georgina, AQA’s assessment design manager, chair of examiners for biology Michelle, and head of curriculum for history Eoin. Louisa Cotterill, Alcester Academy’s head of humanities, then looks at the ways data can be used to monitor classroom progress throughout the year.

How we create question papers: https://store.aqa.org.uk/content/inside-exams/AQA-INSIDE-EXAMS-S2-E1-QP.PDF

How we continuously improve our assessments: https://store.aqa.org.uk/content/inside-exams/AQA-INSIDE-EXAMS-S2-E1-CI.PDF

 

How do exam boards review their assessments? When do reviews happen? And what kind of amendments are made for future exams? To help answer some of these questions, Craig Barton talks to Georgina, AQA&rsquo;s assessment design manager, chair of examiners for biology Michelle, and head of curriculum for history Eoin. Louisa Cotterill, Alcester Academy&rsquo;s head of humanities, then looks at the ways data can be used to monitor classroom progress throughout the year.
How we create question papers: <a href="https://store.aqa.org.uk/content/inside-exams/AQA-INSIDE-EXAMS-S2-E1-QP.PDF">https://store.aqa.org.uk/content/inside-exams/AQA-INSIDE-EXAMS-S2-E1-QP.PDF</a>
How we continuously improve our assessments: <a href="https://store.aqa.org.uk/content/inside-exams/AQA-INSIDE-EXAMS-S2-E1-CI.PDF">https://store.aqa.org.uk/content/inside-exams/AQA-INSIDE-EXAMS-S2-E1-CI.PDF</a>
&nbsp;

Reviewing assessments: a date with data

Teacher Craig Barton is back with series two of Inside Exams, the podcast that gives you an access all areas pass to snoop around behind the scenes at AQA. He’ll be meeting the people who write and mark your students’ exams, as well as pioneering teachers, to get answers to all the questions you ponder throughout the school day.

Teacher Craig Barton is back with series two of Inside Exams, the podcast that gives you an access all areas pass to snoop around behind the scenes at AQA. He&rsquo;ll be meeting the people who write and mark your students&rsquo; exams, as well as pioneering teachers, to get answers to all the questions you ponder throughout the school day.

Series two trailer

What is a relationship manager? How can they help you review the past exam series and prepare for the coming year? 

AQA’s Nick Sandeman talks through how many schools he visits in a day, what data he can provide you with, and why you’re bound to get more out of a friendly face to face chat than a quick email.

What is a relationship manager? How can they help you review the past exam series and prepare for the coming year?&nbsp;
AQA&rsquo;s Nick Sandeman talks through how many schools he visits in a day, what data he can provide you with, and why you&rsquo;re bound to get more out of a friendly face to face chat than a quick email.

One man. One seventh of England.

How are exams made accessible for students from different backgrounds? How are clever multiple choice questions written? And just how are grade boundaries awarded? 
Teacher Craig Barton meets the people involved in producing and marking exams to get the answers to your most pressing questions, as well as talking to fellow teachers about how you can apply all this new knowledge in the classroom.

Inside Exams

Social links:

Follow the podcast:

28 clip(s)