Bohunt Worthing Sub-grade Descriptors
Subject: Science
GCSE GRADE
6
Enquiry skills
Able to make predictions using scientific knowledge and
understanding.
Research skills
Able to select, synthesise and present relevant research
material.
Able to demonstrate objectivity and concern for accuracy,
precision, repeatability and reproducibility.
Able to assess their sources and justify why they used or
rejected them.
Able to effectively evaluate and mitigate risks.
Selects, plans and carries out different types of scientific
enquiries to test their hypothesis, including identifying
independent, dependent and control variables, where
appropriate.
Able to use a variety of techniques, apparatus, and
materials during fieldwork and laboratory work.
Able to make and record observations and measurements
using a variety of methods for different investigations; and
evaluate the reliability of methods and suggest possible
improvements.
Able to apply sampling techniques.
Shows an understanding that scientific methods and
theories develop as earlier explanations are modified to
take account of new evidence and ideas, together with
the importance of publishing results and peer review.
Able to present work in a manner that is balanced, and
well thought through.
Spelling, grammar and syntax show few mistakes.
Able to use a variety of software options and is able to
use different presentations styles.
Sources are always fully referenced in alphabetical order
and cited through the text.
Able to calculate results.
Able to present observations and data using different
methods, including tables and graphs.
Able to interpret observations and data, including
identifying patterns and using observations, measurements
and data to draw conclusions.
Able to present explanations, including explaining data in
relation to predictions and hypotheses.
Application of theoretical knowledge
Able to synthesise, change or create learnt
theory into something
new.
Able to compile information together
in a different way by combining
elements in a new pattern or proposing
alternative solutions.
Able to answer questions about scientific theory
and ideas studied such as:
What changes would you make to solve…?
How would you improve ...?
What would happen if...?
Can you elaborate on the reason...?
Can you propose an alternative...?
Can you invent...?
How would you adapt ________ to create a
different...?
How could you change (modify) the plot
(plan)...?
What could be done to minimise
(maximise)...?
What way would you design...?
Suppose you could _______ what would
you do...?
How would you test...?
Can you formulate a theory for...?
Can you predict the outcome if...?
How would you estimate the results for...?
What facts can you compile...?
Can you construct a model that would
change...?
Can you think of an original way for the ...?
Able to evaluate data, showing awareness of potential
sources of error.
5
Able to undertake basic data analysis.
Able to demonstrate objectivity and concern for accuracy,
precision, repeatability and reproducibility.
Able to evaluate and mitigate risks.
Able to select and present relevant research material.
Able to analyse and examine scienctific theories
or ideas in detail.
Examines and breaks information into parts by
Bohunt Worthing Sub-grade Descriptors
Subject: Science
Able to plan and carry out a scientific enquiry to test their
hypothesis, including identifying independent, dependent
and control variables, where appropriate.
Able to competently use techniques, apparatus, and
materials during fieldwork and laboratory work.
Able to assess their sources and justify why they used or
rejected them.
Shows an understanding that scientific methods and
theories develop as earlier explanations are modified to
take account of new evidence and ideas over time.
Able to make and record observations and measurements
Able to identify and possible flaws in a method and suggest
possible improvements.
Able to calculate results.
Able to present observations and data using different
methods, including tables and graphs.
Able to interpret observations and data, including
identifying patterns and using observations, measurements
and data to draw conclusions.
Able to present work in a manner that is balanced, and
well thought through.
Spelling, grammar and syntax show few mistakes and key
words are always spelt correctly.
Able to use a variety of software options and is able to
use different presentations styles.
Sources are always referenced in alphabetical order at
the end of a piece of work.
Able to present explanations, including explaining data in
relation to predictions and hypotheses.
4
Able to undertake basic data analysis.
Able to demonstrate objectivity and concern for accuracy,
precision, repeatability and reproducibility.
Able to present relevant research material.
Able to evaluate and mitigate risks.
Able to assess their sources and justify why they used or
rejected them.
Able to plan and carry out a scientific enquiry to test their
hypothesis, including identifying independent, dependent
and control variables, where appropriate.
Able to competently use techniques, apparatus, and
materials during fieldwork and laboratory work under
instruction.
Able to make and record observations and measurements
Able to identify and possible flaws in a method and suggest
possible improvements.
Able to calculate results.
Shows an understanding that scientific theories and ideas
change over time as new information and evidence is
found.
Able to present work in a manner that is easily
understood by others and keep the audience interested.
Spelling, grammar and syntax show some mistakes but
key words are always spelt correctly.
Able to use a few of software options and is able to use
different presentations styles.
identifying motives or causes; makes inferences
and finds evidence to support generalisations.
Able to answer questions about scientific theory
and ideas studied such as:
What are the parts or features of ...?
How is _______ related to ...?
Why do you think ...?
What is the theme ...?
What motive is there ...?
Can you list the parts ...?
What inference can you make ...?
What conclusions can you draw ...?
How would you classify ...?
How would you categorise ...?
Can you identify the difference parts ...?
What evidence can you find ...?
What is the relationship between ...?
Can you make a distinction between ...?
What is the function of ...?
What ideas justify ...?
Able to apply knowledge in a new situation.
Solves problems by applying acquired
knowledge, facts, techniques and rules in a
different way than was previously learnt.
Able to answer questions about scientific theory
and ideas studied such as:
How would you use...?
What examples can you find to ...?
How would you solve _______ using what you
have learned ...?
How would you organise _______ to
show ...?
How would you show your understanding of ...?
What approach would you use to…?
How would you apply what you learned to
develop ...?
What other way would you plan to ...?
What would result if ...?
Bohunt Worthing Sub-grade Descriptors
Subject: Science
Able to present observations and data using different
methods, including tables and graphs that are fully labelled
and appropriately scaled.
Sources are always referenced at the end of a piece of
work.
Can you make use of the facts to ...?
What elements would you choose to
change ...?
What facts would you select to show ...?
What questions would you ask in an interview
with ...?
Able to present relevant research material.
Demonstrates a detailed understanding of facts
and ideas.
Able to interpret observations and data, including
identifying patterns and using observations, measurements
and data to draw conclusions.
Able to present explanations, including explaining data in
relation to predictions and hypotheses.
3
Able to undertake basic data analysis.
Able to write a testable hypothesis.
Able to plan and carry out a scientific enquiry to test their
hypothesis, including identifying independent, dependent
and control variables, where appropriate.
Able to write a step by step method that is sufficiently
detailed as to enable a third party to follow it without
further explanation.
Able to use ICT to find information on a given topic and
decide between sources that may be biased and those
that are based in good science.
Shows an understanding that scientific theories and ideas
change over time as new information and evidence is
found.
Able to evaluate and mitigate risks.
Able to present results in a results table that is correctly
labelled including units.
Able to present work in a manner that is easily
understood by others and keeps the audience interested.
Able to represent results in an appropriate graph that is
correctly scaled and labelled including units.
Spelling, grammar and syntax show some mistakes but
key words are always spelt correctly.
Able to analyse their data and write a conclusion that refers
back to their original hypothesis.
Able to use a few of software options and is able to use
different presentations styles.
Able to use theoretical knowledge to explain their
conclusion.
Able to reference sources used during research.
Able to suggest improvements to their investigation.
2
Able to write a testable hypothesis.
Able to plan an enquiry to test their hypothesis.
Able to use ICT to find information on a given topic and
decide between sources that may be biased and those
that are based in good science.
Can apply their knowledge to other, similar,
situations or theories.
Able to answer and give a reason for their
answer to questions about a topic that has been
studied.
Able to answer questions about scientific theory
and ideas studied such as:
Can you explain what is happening . . . what is
meant . . .?
How would you classify the type of ...?
How would you compare ...?
contrast ...?
How would you rephrase the meaning ...?
How would you summarise ...?
What can you say about ...?
What facts or ideas show ...?
What is the main idea of ...?
Which is the best answer ...?
Which statements support ...?
Will you state or interpret in your own
words ...?
Why are these two animals adapted in different
ways to their habitats?
Demonstrates a good basic understanding of
facts and ideas.
Bohunt Worthing Sub-grade Descriptors
Subject: Science
Able to write a step by step method that is sufficiently
detailed as to enable a third party to follow it without
further explanation.
Able to identify independent, dependent and control
variables, where appropriate.
Able to present results in a results table that is correctly
labelled including units.
Able to choose relevant pieces of information from
various sources and compile a presentation or report.
Able to give more than one side of an argument or story.
Spelling, grammar and syntax show some mistakes but
key words are always spelt correctly.
Able to analyse their data and write a conclusion.
1
Able to safely carry out a practical enquiry based on a given
question.
Able to write a step by step method.
Able to complete a results table.
Able to write a simple conclusion explaining their results.
Able to answer and give a reason for their
answer to questions about a topic that has been
studied.
Able to use ICT to find information on a given topic.
Able to choose relevant pieces of information from
various sources and compile a presentation or report.
Spelling, grammar and syntax show some mistakes but
key words are always spelt correctly.
Able to answer questions about scientific theory
and ideas studied such as:
Can you explain what is happening . . . what is
meant . . .?
How would you classify the type of ...?
How would you compare ...?
contrast ...?
How would you rephrase the meaning ...?
How would you summarise ...?
What can you say about ...?
What facts or ideas show ...?
What is the main idea of ...?
Which is the best answer ...?
Which statements support ...?
Will you state or interpret in your own
words ...?
Able to recall facts about topics that have been
studied.
Recalls facts, terms, basic concepts and answers.
Able to answer questions about scientific theory
and ideas studied such as:
Can you list three ...?
Can you recall ...?
Can you select ...?
How did ______ happen?
How is ...?
How would you describe ...?
How would you explain ...?
How would you show ...?
What is ...?
When did ...?
When did _______ happen?
Where is . . . ?
Which one ...?
Who was ...?
Who were the main . . . ?
Why did ...?
Bohunt Worthing Sub-grade Descriptors
Subject: Science
Accomplished =
The student demonstrates confident, independent application of the skill/s or knowledge across a range of contexts
Competent =
The student demonstrates consistent, effective application of the skill/s or knowledge
Emerging =
The student demonstrates some evidence of applying the skill/s or knowledge