Gcse new linear format and CAs

[hellsbells99]

Hi. I've seen various posts on different threads re: gcse results and commenting on welcoming the new linear gcses for our DCs just going into yr10 and no more controlled assessments etc. However it is my understanding that the CAs remain as does all the current syllabus. All that changes is that the actual exams are sat at the end and the CAs sent in then too. E.g for Wjec English Language the two papers worth 20% each will be sat at the end of Yr11 and the course work worth 60% will be moderated/cashed-in then as well. If I have understood this right, then this seems the worst of both worlds as in still lots of pressure over the 2 years but unable to know how you are doing officially (grade boundaries not avail etc) until the end so no redoing an assessment marked low etc. Sorry for the essay! Am i understanding this correctly? Just had 1 DD finishing yr10 so some modules completed (incl new science ones) plus maths, DD2 just starting yr10 so new linear gcses.

Bump!

You are right. That's exactly the course DS1 just did and the pressure was truly relentless.
DS2 just going in to Y10 and will do exactly the same course, though apparently with higher grade boundaries as well.
I hate CAs.

Modular maths means 3 lots of exams taken over two years, linear maths is just 2 longer exams (one calc, one non-calc) taken at the end of the course.

I don't know whether other subjects have different exam arrangements for linear over modular but you are correct that controlled assessment will stay exactly as it is now, but only be graded at the end.

DD1 did linear maths but ecerything else modular. For DD2 everything will be linear. But Gove changing everything to linear does not fix the problem of having to do CAs - he seems to be 'forgetting' about these!

No, he didn't forget about controlled assessment, he only said they're staying for the time being. He could demand that exams be made linear at short notice but to remove controlled assessment would require an awful lot of work and rewriting of exam syllabuses.

What do they actually have to do for CAs.

DD1 is dyslexic and going into Y10.
She had to do some sort of CA for a science course last year and she absolutely hated it. Loads of writing, nothing like a proper exam as far as I could make out.

She's good at ordinary exams and very very good at multi choice ones (has a couple of adult science hobby ones, one with a better mark than the adult and the 17y).

I'm worried that If CAs are sort of course work in class, rather than course work she can get someone to proof read she's going to be at a dreadful disadvantage unless she can swing a scribe.

Linear she'll like. Very good at understanding things and seeing the whole picture. Also much easier to allot time from easy bits to hard bits in a long exam.

Not sure why, but I could complete 3hr exams in 2-2.5 hrs, but really struggled to finish short ones. Probably because longer exams generally offered a much wider choice of questions.