What's the difference between a Linear and Modular Exam?
Discussion for GCSE students, including those studying for IGCSEs and O Levels.
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What's the difference between a Linear and Modular Exam?Currently I'm doing Core Science which is Modular (don't know what that means,) and when I do Additional Science it will be Linear (again don't know what that means.)
So what's the difference between Modular and Linear? Is it harder or easier?
I think but definitely don't know that Modular means written exams and Linear means the exam is all multipul choice questions. Am I right? I'm pretty certain I'm wrong.
Someone clarify for me? Thanks.
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Re: What's the difference between a Linear and Modular Exam?No, some modular exams are written too
Basically, modular exams is when the course content is spread out across different papers. So for example, for your core science, you may (for example) have one paper which is about Cloning and genetics and this paper may contribute towards 50% of your grade and you may do this paper in January or something. Then you may have another paper in June on Habitats and animals or something and this will make up the rest of the 50% of your grade. The result from both these papers will be used to calculate your final grade in core science.
Linear exams are when you only have one exam which covers ALL the course content in just one exam.
Make sense?
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Re: What's the difference between a Linear and Modular Exam?Oh right, I get it but I don't get how it works with Science?(Original post by usycool1)
No, some modular exams are written too
Basically, modular exams is when the course content is spread out across different papers. So for example, for your core science, you may (for example) have one paper which is about Cloning and genetics and this paper may contribute towards 50% of your grade and you may do this paper in January or something. Then you may have another paper in June on Habitats and animals or something and this will make up the rest of the 50% of your grade. The result from both these papers will be used to calculate your final grade in core science.
Linear exams are when you only have one exam which covers ALL the course content in just one exam.
Make sense?
Theres P1, B1, C1 and Controlled Assessment which are all 25% each. But Additional Science is P2, B2, C2 and Controlled Assessment 2. Theres only one paper for each subject in Core Science so I fail to see how it can be Modular already. Same with Additional (except for Triple Science who have B3, but I'm not doing that so I only have Core B1, P1, C1 and Additional B2, P2, C2.)
Unless you're trying to say that P2, B2 and C2 will all be in one paper?
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Re: What's the difference between a Linear and Modular Exam?It's not the exam that is modular or linear but the whole GCSE. If a GCSE is modular the exams can be taken in different exam seasons (e.g. spread across Year 10 and 11). For linear exams all the exams for it have to be taken in the same exam series (though there can be more than 1 exam), and the controlled assessment has to be submitted then as well. The Govt has recently changed the rules and all GCSEs being taught (for the standard 2 year pattern) from September 2012 will have to be linear, so if you aren't finishing a GCSE by Summer 2013 then it will have to be linear.(Original post by itssketan)
Currently I'm doing Core Science which is Modular (don't know what that means,) and when I do Additional Science it will be Linear (again don't know what that means.)
So what's the difference between Modular and Linear? Is it harder or easier?
I think but definitely don't know that Modular means written exams and Linear means the exam is all multipul choice questions. Am I right? I'm pretty certain I'm wrong.
Someone clarify for me? Thanks.
Last edited by Data; 16-05-2012 at 17:35. -
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Re: What's the difference between a Linear and Modular Exam?Yes, sorry, I meant the actual GCSE will be Linear. So basically, all the exams have to be in the same season is all? (I'm doing them in Year 11 which is September 2013 so P2 November 2013, B2 March 2014 and C2 May/June 2014?)(Original post by Data)
It's not the exam that is modular or linear but the whole GCSE. If a GCSE is modular the exams can be taken in different exam seasons (e.g. spread across Year 10 and 11). For linear exams all the exams for it have to be taken in the same exam series (though there can be more than 1 exam), and the controlled assessment has to be submitted then as well. The Govt has recently changed the rules and all GCSEs being taught (for the standard 2 year pattern) from September 2012 will have to be linear, so if you aren't finishing a GCSE by Summer 2013 then it will have to be linear.
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Re: What's the difference between a Linear and Modular Exam?No, November, January, March and Summer are all different seasons. You will have to do them all in Summer 2014.(Original post by itssketan)
Yes, sorry, I meant the actual GCSE will be Linear. So basically, all the exams have to be in the same season is all? (I'm doing them in Year 11 which is September 2013 so P2 November 2013, B2 March 2014 and C2 May/June 2014?)
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Re: What's the difference between a Linear and Modular Exam?So June and July?(Original post by Data)
No, November, January, March and Summer are all different seasons. You will have to do them all in Summer 2014.
So close together, it's going to be hard to remember all that. I much prefer Modular. 
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Re: What's the difference between a Linear and Modular Exam?Isn't Linear like an end of year exam with all of the course content for that one year/two years of learning in one go?
And modular kind of a whole course for a
particular subject broken up into sections and you sit different modules every season (I.e Jan & July)?
I think... -
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Re: What's the difference between a Linear and Modular Exam?May and June.(Original post by itssketan)
So June and July? So close together, it's going to be hard to remember all that.
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Re: What's the difference between a Linear and Modular Exam?Linear = Exams on the whole course at the end (i.e G.C.S.E exams at the end of the 2 years with none in between)
Modular = Exams at the end of the topic (i.e AS Level History where you have a sources paper in January and then another one on different topics)
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Re: What's the difference between a Linear and Modular Exam?So I do B2, P2 and C2 all in May and June? Going to be a lot of information to absorb. Oh well, that's nearly two years away so I shouldn't really be worrying at this point.
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Re: What's the difference between a Linear and Modular Exam?This.(Original post by hopefulfuturemed)
Isn't Linear like an end of year exam with all of the course content for that one year/two years of learning in one go?
And modular kind of a whole course for a
particular subject broken up into sections and you sit different modules every season (I.e Jan & July)?
I think...Last edited by Antisocialite; 18-05-2012 at 22:23. -
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Re: What's the difference between a Linear and Modular Exam?I think Modular is where you have loads of units spread over 2 years or something...
Linear is usually 1 or 2 exams at the end of year 11
(e.g Maths Linear is calculator and non calculator paper in june, but maths modular has units 1, 2, 3 split over 2 years)
Linear is not multiple, its written, like Modular
