How much checking evidence is required?
How should students check their work?
Can a spreadsheet be used for calculations?
At Level3, must the dataset used contain over 50 items of data?
At Level 1 what is acceptable as a table?
Q. How much checking evidence is required?
A.Checking is an essential component of the Standards at all levels. For each category of calculation there must also be evidence of checking. The checking should form an integral part of the work and not be seen as an ‘add-on’.
Q. How should students check their work?
A. Checking can be carried out in a number of ways. When appropriate estimation or approximation methods may be used with written evidence provided. Inverse operations or reverse calculations can be used, again the written check must be shown. A spreadsheet can be used especially at Level 3 where large quantities of data are being manipulated. If spreadsheet functions such as ‘average’ are being used it would be useful to print out a copy of the spreadsheet with the formula shown.
Q. Can a spreadsheet be used for calculations?
A. No, spreadsheets without manual calculations for each of the categories are unacceptable. Spreadsheets can be used for checking.
Q. At Level3, must the dataset used contain over 50 items of data?
A. As a general rule, students are expected to use a large data set however it must also be suitable for its purpose. For those obtaining evidence from experimental data, usually Science, a smaller more practical data set is acceptable however it still needs to be fairly substantial, about 30 values.
Q. At Level 1 what is acceptable as a table?
A. A tabular source must be made up of rows and columns where the student has to extract information from it and use it in their work.