Assessment
Summary of the rationale for the 2005 course, provided by Edexcel.
For information about assessment of the new course starting September 2008 see Edexcel Biology 2008
Salters-Nuffield Advanced Biology (SNAB) is a two-year AS and A-level course examined by the Awarding Body Edexcel. You can download the specification from the Awarding Body's web site.
The old and the new specifications
The current SNAB specification will be replaced by a new specification (first teaching in September 2008 for AS and September 2009 for A2) which will be common to both the context (SNAB) approach and the concept (traditional Edexcel) route.
There will be some limited modifications and some re-arrangement affecting both current specifications to create the new one in line with current QCA guidelines but it will be possible to continue to teach in the motivating SNAB style using all the exciting SNAB support materials. There will be separate versions of the specification for the two different routes. The context route will look very similar to the current SNAB one.
There will be an overlap to allow for re-sits. The last of the current SNAB examination series will be in June 2009 (AS units) and January 2010 (A2 units). There will be no re-sit opportunity for the current SNAB specification in June 2010.
SNAB assessment: rationale
This is still about the 2005 course which will be replaced as the new specification is phased in from September 2008.
Salters-Nuffield Advanced Biology (SNAB) is a two-year AS and A-level course examined by the Awarding Body Edexcel. You can download the specification from the Awarding Body's web site.
The scheme of assessment reflects the innovative philosophy of SNAB. In a world where education tends to be driven by examination results and league tables, SNAB deserves an innovative approach to assessment which maintains its vibrancy and integrity.
A SNAB examination is intended to provide an exciting educational experience in itself! It might seem demanding to a student who has been 'spoon-fed', but analysis and comparison of SNAB results with those of other specifications suggest that students who have embraced the SNAB philosophy do not find it any more difficult than traditional Biology A-level. In fact, many students find the SNAB approach so stimulating and enjoyable that they reveal hidden depths, and perform better than their GCSE scores suggested.
Not just for high-fliers, a SNAB examination is for all candidates capable of attempting Biology at A-level including those who will be pleased to get an E. The written papers aim to be accessible as well as challenging and to bring out the best from students throughout the whole ability range.
Candidates must, of course, show good knowledge and understanding of the factual content of the specification, and there are plenty of straight-forward questions on all the written papers. However, the objectives of the examination go beyond mere factual recall. A framework of accurate knowledge is essential to empower scientific thinking, but A-level candidates need to apply this rather than merely to remember it.
Candidates have the opportunity to show what they have learnt in ways which reflect the context-driven, student-centred and activity-based approach of the course. Marks are awarded for both breadth and depth.
