Assessment pointers validate teachers’ professional judgement when reporting against a

five-point scale. The pointers:

 are examples of evidence in relation to the achievement standard
 should be used with the annotated student work samples
JUDGING STANDARDS IN YEAR 7  exemplify what students may demonstrate rather than a checklist of everything they
SCIENCE should do.

YEAR 7 SCIENCE ACHIEVEMENT STANDARD

Science Understanding
At Standard, students describe techniques to separate pure substances from mixtures. They represent and predict the effects of unbalanced forces, including Earth’s gravity, on
motion. Students explain how the relative positions of Earth, the sun and moon affect phenomena on Earth. They analyse how the sustainable use of resources depends on the
way they are formed and cycle through Earth systems. Students classify and organise diverse organisms based on observable differences and predict the effect of human and
environmental changes on interactions between organisms.
Science as a Human Endeavour
Students describe situations where scientific knowledge has been used to solve a real-world problem.
Science Inquiry Skills
Students identify questions that can be investigated scientifically. They plan fair experimental methods, identifying variables to be changed and measured. Students select
equipment that improves fairness and accuracy and describe how they considered safety. They draw on evidence to support their conclusions. Students summarise data from
different sources, describe trends and refer to the quality of their data when suggesting improvements to their methods. They communicate their ideas, methods and findings
using scientific language and appropriate representations.

YEAR 7 SCIENCE ASSESSMENT POINTERS

A B C D E
Excellent achievement High achievement Satisfactory achievement Limited achievement Very low achievement

Science Understanding

Biological sciences Classifies unfamiliar organisms
using observable similarities and
differences, constructing and
applying varied classification
keys.
Classifies organisms using Classifies organisms using Makes statements or labels Does not meet the requirements
observable similarities and observable similarities and categories based on observable of a D grade.
differences, constructing and differences and applying simple differences.
applying classification keys. classification keys.

2016/23289v3 [PDF 2016/25232] Published: 19 December, 2016

 A B
Excellent achievement
Biological sciences Makes predictions about and
explains the effect of
environmental change on the
entire food web or community.
Chemical sciences Selects and explains the most
appropriate separation
techniques based on the
physical properties of
components of a mixture.
Explains the difference between
pure substances and mixtures
with reference to chemical
bonds.
Earth and space sciences Explains how the positions of
the Earth, sun and moon can be
used to predict phenomena on
Earth.
Describes the cycling of
resources through the
environment in detail,
explaining why some resources
are not sustainable due to the
rates of extraction versus
replenishment.
Physical sciences Draws diagrams which show
forces of scaled length on
objects and predicts in detail
how unbalanced forces will
affect an object’s motion.
High achievement
Makes predictions about and
explains the effect of
environmental change on
populations within the food
web.
Selects and describes
appropriate separation
techniques based on the
physical properties of a number
of components of a mixture.
Explains the difference between
pure substances and mixtures.
Explains how the positions of
the Earth, sun and moon affect
phenomena on Earth.
Describes the cycling of
resources through the
environment, explaining why
some resource use is not
sustainable.
Draws diagrams which show
labelled forces on objects and
predicts how unbalanced forces
will affect an object’s motion.
C D E
Satisfactory achievement Limited achievement Very low achievement
Makes predictions about the Identifies that an environmental Does not meet the requirements
effects of environmental change change has happened. of a D grade.
on directly-connected organisms
within a food web.
Describes techniques for Identifies a simple technique to Does not meet the requirements
separating given materials from separate everyday substances. of a D grade.
a mixture. Identifies pure
substances and mixtures from
given examples.
Describes how the positions of Identifies that the Earth, sun and Does not meet the requirements
the Earth, sun and moon affect moon are involved with of a D grade.
phenomena on Earth. phenomena on Earth.
Describes the cycling of Identifies resources which may
resources through the be sustainable.
environment, linking this to the
use and sustainability of the
resource.
Draws diagrams which show Identifies examples of forces. Does not meet the requirements
forces on objects and predicts of a D grade.
how unbalanced forces will
affect an object’s motion.
 A B
Excellent achievement
Science as a Human Describes situations in specific
Endeavour areas of industry or agriculture
where scientific knowledge is
used to solve problems, and
explains the implications for
resource management and the
impact on society,
e.g. purification of water,
sustainability of resources,
effect of the environment on
organisms.
Science Inquiry Skills Identifies questions that can be
investigated, plans and conducts
fair experiments showing logical
steps in method and identifies
how variables will be changed
and measured.
Summarises and clearly presents
data in a range of appropriate
representations, explains
patterns and trends linking to
relevant scientific knowledge,
and uses evidence to support
conclusions.
Refers to the quality of their
data when suggesting specific
improvements to their method,
including better control of
variables and selection of
appropriate equipment to yield
more accurate results.
High achievement
Science as a Human Endeavour
Describes specific situations
using appropriate examples
where scientific knowledge is
used to solve problems, and
explains the implications for
society, e.g. purification of
water, sustainability of
resources, effect of the
environment on organisms.
Science Inquiry Skills
Identifies questions that can be
investigated, plans and conducts
fair experiments showing logical
steps in method and identifying
variables to be changed and
measured.
Summarises and presents data
in a range of appropriate
representations, explains
patterns and trends and uses
evidence to support conclusions.
Refers to the quality of their
data when suggesting
improvements to their method,
including better control of
variables and selection of
appropriate equipment to yield
more accurate results.
C D
Satisfactory achievement
Describes situations where
scientific knowledge is used to
solve problems and identifies
the implications for society,
e.g. purification of water,
sustainability of resources,
effect of the environment on
organisms.
Identifies questions that can be
investigated, plans and conducts
fair experiments, identifying
variables to be changed and
measured.
Summarises and presents data
using appropriate
representations, describes
trends and uses evidence to
support conclusions.
Refers to the quality of their
data when suggesting general
improvements to their method,
including selection of equipment
to yield more accurate results.
E
Limited achievement Very low achievement
Describes limited situations Does not meet the requirements
where scientific knowledge is of a D grade.
used to solve problems.
Identifies questions to Does not meet the requirements
investigate and with guidance of a D grade.
identifies variables to be
changed and measured.
Summarises and presents some
data using appropriate
representations and draws
general conclusions.
Refers to the quality of their
data and identifies difficulties
experienced in conducting the
investigation.
 A B C D E
Excellent achievement High achievement Satisfactory achievement Limited achievement Very low achievement

Science Inquiry Skills
Comprehensively communicates
their ideas, methods and
findings in detail using scientific
language and appropriate
representations.
Communicates their ideas,
methods and findings in detail
using scientific language and
appropriate representations.
Communicates their ideas,
methods and findings using
some scientific language and
appropriate representations.
Communicates their ideas, Does not meet the requirements
methods and findings using of a D grade.
everyday language and simple
representations. Responses are
often incomplete or irrelevant.

© School Curriculum and Standards Authority, 2016

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