Practical Competencies: criteria
These are the practical competencies which are the basis for assessment.
Standard procedures (2 per module)
Students should be able to follow a standard procedure:
• follow instructions, step by step
• work safely, observing safety procedures;
• make and record observations/measurements;
• use an appropriate degree of accuracy.
Typically standard procedures will be carried out and assessed in a single lesson.
Suitability Test (1 for the whole course)
Students should be able to test the suitability of a material or device for a particular purpose. This would include:
• describing the relevant properties or characteristics;
• following or devising a suitable approach;
• collecting reliable data;
• evaluating the suitability of the material, procedure or device;
• communicating through a structured report.
Work-related report (1 for the whole course)
This task provides an opportunity for candidates to research authentic contexts in which science is
applied. At the core of their report is a description of the nature of the work carried out. They
should aim to focus on specific aspects of workplace practice, and make links to relevant scientific
knowledge from one of the six Applied modules.
Students should be able to:
• select and use information sources;
• describe the workplace;
• make links to relevant scientific knowledge and understanding;
• produce a coherent report to present findings.
