Qualifications Update:N5 Economics
Qualifications Update:N5 Economics
Developing qualifications Developing qualifications - drivers- drivers
• Progression
• More open and flexible requirements
• Assessment which supports learning
• Refreshed and relevant contexts for learning
• Personalisation and Choice
• Robust and credible
Key pointsKey points• Skills-based Units
• Provides opportunities to apply skills, knowledge and understanding using current economic contexts
• Builds knowledge and understanding progressively up the levels – from N5 to Advanced Higher
• Combines the best aspects of current Intermediate and Standard Grade Courses
• Added Value is assessed at N5 is by a question paper and an assignment
Unit StructureUnit StructureNational 5Economics
Economics of the Market
UK Economic Activity
Global Economic Activity
New Quality Assurance arrangementsNew Quality Assurance arrangements• Covers National 1 to National 5 from 2013/14
• Promotes shared understanding of national standards through a collaborative and partnership approach
• New ‘Nominee’ role - provides a pool of nationally trained experts
• Intense verification in the first 3 years, thereafter an approach based on information gathered
• Verification in Nov/Dec, Feb and Apr/May - allows for early identification of issues and support/guidance to be given
Assessment Support Schedule 2012/13 Assessment Support Schedule 2012/13
Oct 12 N3 to N5 Unit Assessment Support (Package 1)
Feb 13 N3 to N5 Unit Assessment Support (Package 2)
Feb 13 N5 Specimen Question Paper
Apr 13 N3 to N5 Unit Assessment Support (Package 3)
Apr 13 N5 Specimen Coursework
Apr 13 N4 Added Value Assessment Support
EconomicsUnit Assessment
National 5
EconomicsUnit Assessment
National 5
Unit assessmentUnit assessment• Flexible and open Assessment Standards and Evidence
Requirements in Units
• Greater range of techniques and methodologies for assessment – encouraged through Unit assessment support packages
• Assessments can be designed to provide evidence across more than one outcome or Unit – combined assessments
• More opportunities to gather naturally occurring evidence – assessment as part of learning and teaching
Unit Assessment Support Unit Assessment Support packages – purpose packages – purpose
Assessment support packages will be provided which you can use to:
•Assess your candidates
•Adapt for your own assessment programmes
•Help you develop your own assessments
Unit Assessment Support Unit Assessment Support packages – key featurespackages – key features
• Valid from August 2013
• Designed to encourage professional judgment – allow assessors to choose appropriate context and forms of evidence
• Show range of approaches to generating assessment evidence
• Give information on the type of evidence which could be gathered and how this is to be judged against Assessment Standards
Assessment Package 1Assessment Package 1Pack 1 – Unit by Unit approach•Each Unit has a pack which covers every assessment standard •Each pack is ready to use and all meet minimum competence•Each pack shows only 1 way of assessing that particular set of assessment standards
Judging EvidenceJudging Evidence
Outcome Assessment Standards Judging the evidence Assessment for candidates (Appendix 1):
commentary on assessment judgements
Examine
economic
choices that
an individual
has to make
regarding
whether to
spend, to save
or to borrow
by:
1.1 Describing basic elements of
personal income, personal
spending and how they affect
personal budgeting decisions
Candidates should be able to
describe an example of personal
income, and outline at least two
items of spending for an individual.
Candidates should be able to
describe how income and spending
affect personal budgeting decisions.
Task 1 — Questions 1, 2 and 3
A source of income for Max is the earnings he
gets from working.
Two items that Max might spend his money on
are food to eat and clothes to wear.
Max is careful with his spending because there
is uncertainty in the economy. He may lose his
job in the future, so at least he will have some
funds to keep him going.
EconomicsAdded Value Assessment:
- National 5 Course Assessment
EconomicsAdded Value Assessment:
- National 5 Course Assessment
Adding Value – National 5Adding Value – National 5
• Each Course at National 4 and National 5 includes assessment of Added Value
• For National 5, the added value is in the Course Assessment - graded A - D (as at present)
National 5 – National 5 – coursework• 30 marks (question paper 70 marks)• Prepare a short economic report • Choose an economic topic to focus on and
offer a reasoned conclusion based on research
National 5 – courseworkNational 5 – coursework• Select, with minimum support, a current economic topic and
choose a particular area of focus
• Use research skills and apply knowledge and understanding to explain the key features of the topic, referring to at least two economic viewpoints
• Analyse and interpret the topic from an economic perspective to draw a reasoned conclusion
• Present findings in a structured report using correct economic terminology
National 5 – courseworkNational 5 – courseworkExamples of current economic topics could include:
Examples of a particular area to focus your report on could include:
Markets Why is there an increased demand for the produce at a local farmers market?
Government finance There have been cuts in local government spending. How have these cuts affected businesses in my town?
Global trade How has an increase in the tax on Scottish Whisky affected the amount of Whisky exported to Japan?
Local Economy How might the Commonwealth Games affect the Glasgow economy?
Exchange rates In what ways has the Euro crisis affected the price of holidays to Greece?