OCR A Chemistry (F321) Jan 13th 2012
Chemistry exam discussion - share revision tips in preparation for GCSE, A Level and other chemistry exams and discuss how they went afterwards.
-
- Reputation:
- TSR Legend
- Posts: 14,671
Re: OCR A Chemistry (F321) Jan 13th 2012so is that why they lower the grade boundaries so that everyone can pass?(Original post by intellectual1)
Alot of schools and colleges take examinations in the Summer only. Whilst a huge number retake exams in January, as well some colleges entering lots of candidates for the A2 papers for the first time. If you read the examiners reports, you'll find that they comment often that the January session has a huge number of candidates resitting the exam from the previous summer. -
- Reputation:
- Respected Member
- Location: London
- Posts: 156
Re: OCR A Chemistry (F321) Jan 13th 2012I will also be doing this exam .
This book is just awesome
http://www.amazon.co.uk/OCR-AS-Revis...9711319&sr=1-8 -
- Reputation:
- Exalted and Worshipped Member
- Posts: 1,178
Re: OCR A Chemistry (F321) Jan 13th 2012In the January session? Are you aware and agree that the marking tends to be harsh, especially if the examiner cannot read the script, he or she can become frustrated and not award the marks one may fully deserve?(Original post by LGrosvenor101)
Good luck guys! I'm in my A2 year now and did this exam last year. Managed to get an A
My advice, do as many past papers as possible, you are soon able to pick up the exact wording for answers for some questions
-
- Reputation:
- Exalted and Worshipped Member
- Posts: 1,178
Re: OCR A Chemistry (F321) Jan 13th 2012They tend to be more challenging, also consider that it is mostly candidates who retake the unit in the Winter of Year 13, and not that many candidates sit the paper for the first time until the Summer of Year 12 and in some cases it is entirely at the end of the Summer of Year 13 etc. The Summer session includes every centre in the country, where as the Winter session has less than half the centres...(Original post by otrivine)
so is that why they lower the grade boundaries so that everyone can pass? -
- Reputation:
- TSR Legend
- Posts: 14,671
Re: OCR A Chemistry (F321) Jan 13th 2012do you have the june 2011 paper for chem unit 1?(Original post by intellectual1)
They tend to be more challenging, also consider that it is mostly candidates who retake the unit in the Winter of Year 13, and not that many candidates sit the paper for the first time until the Summer of Year 12 and in some cases it is entirely at the end of the Summer of Year 13 etc. The Summer session includes every centre in the country, where as the Winter session has less than half the centres... -
- Reputation:
- Benevolent Member
- Posts: 757
Re: OCR A Chemistry (F321) Jan 13th 2012(Original post by intellectual1)
In the January session? Are you aware and agree that the marking tends to be harsh, especially if the examiner cannot read the script, he or she can become frustrated and not award the marks one may fully deserve?
Yup. I did ABG last January and I do agree that marking apparently does tend to be harsher in the January exams, which is why you need to get use to the style and wording that the examiners want
-
- Reputation:
- TSR Legend
- Posts: 14,671
Re: OCR A Chemistry (F321) Jan 13th 2012do you have ]the june 2011 paper for chem unit 1 i am sure someone has to have them(Original post by LGrosvenor101)
Yup. I did ABG last January and I do agree that marking apparently does tend to be harsher in the January exams, which is why you need to get use to the style and wording that the examiners want
-
- Reputation:
- Benevolent Member
- Posts: 757
Re: OCR A Chemistry (F321) Jan 13th 2012No I don't :/ sorry(Original post by otrivine)
do you have ]the june 2011 paper for chem unit 1 i am sure someone has to have them
I wouldn't have thought they would be released at the moment, maybe in the next month or two though
-
- Reputation:
- Overlord in Training
- Posts: 3,316
Re: OCR A Chemistry (F321) Jan 13th 2012You'll get used to it with practice don't worry(Original post by InadequateJusticex)
I'm doing this I'm scared about how much time we're given: A mark per minute. I don't know if I'll do well >.<
I do remember being under time pressure as well because the paper I did (Jan 2011) had so much 6 markers and to top it all off my Chemistry teacher walked in during the paper which is a bit distracting (not that he did anything). Just practice practice practice and essentially learn the markscheme for Module 3 periodicity trends, they are the most common questions and learn definitions and how to adapt formulae. -
- Reputation:
- TSR Demigod
- Posts: 6,700
Re: OCR A Chemistry (F321) Jan 13th 2012You're resitting the year? I swear you did Edexcel with me last year...(Original post by otrivine)
do you have ]the june 2011 paper for chem unit 1 i am sure someone has to have them
---------------------------------------------------
Anyways, you guys should be happy! With edexcel there are tricky multiple choice questions and are completely random. I did OCR at GCSE and it was amazing (I mean fill in the gaps - wow! I think they still do it at A level? )
Good luck all - REVISE MARKSCHEMES! -
- Reputation:
- Overlord in Training
- Posts: 3,316
Re: OCR A Chemistry (F321) Jan 13th 2012The truth of A-Levels(Original post by EffKayy)
REVISE MARKSCHEMES! -
- Reputation:
- TSR Demigod
- Posts: 6,700
Re: OCR A Chemistry (F321) Jan 13th 2012So you're doing AS again - why? I thought you got a good grade(Original post by otrivine)
yes but this year ive changed to OCR
Aha yeah, and I forgot to mention: my school are doing OCR A now for the new year 12's! Totally unfair! Which means we're the last year to do stupid Edexcel chemistry. The syllabus for that is apparently much easier compared to edexcel so they've changed!(Original post by LifeIsGood)
The truth of A-Levels -
- Reputation:
- Overlord in Training
- Posts: 3,316
Re: OCR A Chemistry (F321) Jan 13th 2012They think that, OCR is known to be the hardest for A2 Chemistry cuz there is a big step up. I think OCR is the best board as it does stick to its specification the most, there's a lot of detail in the specification and some of it relates directly to the exam.(Original post by EffKayy)
So you're doing AS again - why? I thought you got a good grade
Aha yeah, and I forgot to mention: my school are doing OCR A now for the new year 12's! Totally unfair! Which means we're the last year to do stupid Edexcel chemistry. The syllabus for that is apparently much easier compared to edexcel so they've changed! -
- Reputation:
- Overlord in Training
- Location: England
- Posts: 2,184
Re: OCR A Chemistry (F321) Jan 13th 2012Thank you ^.^(Original post by LifeIsGood)
You'll get used to it with practice don't worry
I do remember being under time pressure as well because the paper I did (Jan 2011) had so much 6 markers and to top it all off my Chemistry teacher walked in during the paper which is a bit distracting (not that he did anything). Just practice practice practice and essentially learn the markscheme for Module 3 periodicity trends, they are the most common questions and learn definitions and how to adapt formulae. -
- Reputation:
- Overlord in Training
- Posts: 3,316
Re: OCR A Chemistry (F321) Jan 13th 2012Ah make sure you get 50+ for this exam if you want to get an A, looking at the grade boundaries I don't think there's one that's less than 49 in June to get an A. I think it's silly you have to do it in June(Original post by RaHiNa)
My school is not letting us sit the exam this jan but instead both modules in june.
Good luck with it though, with the right amount of revision, you'll be fine
I wouldn't have thought they would be released at the moment, maybe in the next month or two though 
