National 4 and National 5 Chemistry

Assessment Arrangements

Both courses are broken down into 3 units:Chemical Changes and Structure Nature’s ChemistryChemistry in Society

For each course all the units passed will appear on your final certificate.

• For National 5 there will also be an external exam.

• National 5 passes are graded A, B, C or D.

• There is no external exam for National 4.

• National 4 is awarded on a pass/fail basis.

• Each course has three tasks and an assignment which will be assessed in line with SQA requirements.

• Task 1 Experimental Report

• Task 2 Research Investigation

• Task 3 Set of questions

• Assignment

Task 1 Experimental Report

You will be given the chance to practise this through the course. You will also be given a ‘candidates guide’ to help you structure your report.

Only one experimental report one needs to be completed and this can be used for evidence for three units.

Task 2 Research investigation

You have to research a key area of Chemistry and its impact on the environment or society. You will be given the chance to practise this through the course. You will also be given a ‘candidates guide’ to help you structure your report.

Only one research investigation needs to be completed and this can be used for evidence for all three units.

Task 3 Set of Questions• You will be asked a set of questions for each unit testing

Knowledge and Understanding and Problem Solving.

• At least half the responses need to be correct in order to succeed in this task. There is a separate set of questions for each unit.

• You have been issued with a data book which you should use this for these tasks.

http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/ChemistryDataBookletSQPN5.pdf

Assignment

You will be given a candidates guide explaining what is required of you and advice on how to structure your report.

For National 4 this is assessed internally using

SQA criteria as pass/fail.

For National 5 this is assessed by SQA and given a mark out of 20.

Assignment information:http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/

GAInfoNational5Chemistry.pdf

National 5 External Exam

In May/June you will sit a 2 hour exam paper worth 80 marks.

The mark for this exam will be added to your mark for the assignment and the total used to grade your pass as A, B, C or D.

Specimen question paper:http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/ChemistrySQPN5.pdf

National 5 External Exam

The question paper will have two sections.

Section A will contain objective questions and will have 20 marks.

Section B will contain restricted and extended response questions and have 60 marks.

National 5 External Exam

The majority of the marks (55±5) will be awarded for demonstrating and applying knowledge and understanding.

The other marks (25±5) will be awarded for applying scientific inquiry skills.

Marks will be distributed proportionately across all three units.

A data sheet will be provided.

National 5 External Exam

You will use and practise the scientific inquiry skills throughout the course.

Details of the skills assessed can be found on page 5 of the following:

http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/CfE_CourseAssessSpec_N5_Sciences_Chemistry.pdf

As well as the work set in class and work set as homework, you will be given a test at the end of each unit and also a prelim exam to help you prepare for the external exam.

Work steadily throughout the year and you won’t need luck in the final exam.