Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Do students need to have studied GCSE Health and Social Care to be able to take this course?
 A. No, but the GCSE course does provide a good basis for studying GCE Applied Health and Social Care.

Q. How long are the examinations?
A. The exams last two hours each.

Q. Is there a choice of questions in the examination papers?
A. No, all questions in the exam paper are compulsory.

Q. When are the examinations held?
A. The exams take place in both the spring and summer series of exams.

Q. Do all of the assessment units carry the same weighting?
 A. Yes, each unit is worth 16.66 percent of a full GCE.

Q. Can portfolio work be resubmitted after students have made changes?
 A. Yes, students can make improvements to their coursework and resubmit their work to get a better mark. However, teachers must record this on this on the portfolio.

Q. Does the portfolio work need to be word processed?
A. No, but it is easier for students to make changes to their work if it is saved as a Word file. Also word processing coursework enhances the overall presentation.

Q. Is there a word limit for each piece of coursework?
A. Yes, each piece of coursework must be less than 4,000 words. It is important for students to stay within the word limit to ensure their content is relevant.

Q. Can students take research notes into the A2 9 examination?

A. No, students cannot take research notes into this exam. Students receive a clean copy of the pre-release document in the exam.

Q. Do students have to take part in work experience to complete the course?
 A. No, it is not necessary for students to take part in work experience. However, students must make direct contact with the organisations they write about in their coursework. They can do this by arranging visits.

Q. Is it ok for an entire class to visit the same organisation at the same time to carry out research for coursework?
 A. Yes, but the work of each student must be their own and unique. Students must produce their own summary of the group visit and/or indicate which questions they hold responsibility for within a group questionnaire.

Q. Do students need to audio record one-to-one interactions and group discussions for Unit AS 2?
 A. No, to protect and maintain client confidentiality students must not audio record these interactions. However, students must keep written records of one-to-one interactions and group discussions.

Q.In the coursework assignments, what is meant by the term ‘work independently?’
A. We award students higher marks for working independently. This means that they require minimal assistance from the teacher whilst completing the portfolio. Students must not forget, however, that teachers are available to offer guidance and advice on any problems they encounter.