An exam board has defended setting questions about underage drinking, independent business and intoxicated rats in a GCSE Biology paper, which parents and teachers in south Bucks have described as “inappropriate”.
Students took to social media after yesterday’s B1 exam to complain that the paper did not contain enough Biological content, but AQA insist there was nothing wrong with the assessment.
The exam board confirmed that questions on underage drinking, which one disgruntled parent who contacted the BFP said were “wholly inappropriate”, were included in the paper.
Can we have a moment of silence for all of the people who actually revised the b1 specification #aqabiology
— Francesca (@FrancescaaPring) 17 May 2016
Claire Collacott, Head of Science at The Misbourne School, said: “The content of the question about 15 year-olds drinking alcohol was inappropriate because the fact is they are not legally allowed to drink – but the question itself and what it was asking was appropriate.
“The exam board wanted students to analyse data rather than just recall facts.”
Who was drunker: the rats, the underage teenagers, or the people who actually made that exam?? #aqabiology
— Anya Robinson (@AnyaRobinson_) 17 May 2016
Ms Collacott said that, as part of the syllabus, students are asked to analyse evidence and data which accounts for 27.5 per cent of the B1 paper – which in turn is 25 per cent of their overall core science grade.
She also stated that the information needed to answer the questions on an independent business and drunk rats was covered in the syllabus.
The paper, which contained seven main questions, covered various but not all sections of the syllabus.
Think the percentage of the amount of alcohol 15 year olds drink will be a lot higher after that exam #aqabiology
— charlotte (@charlotte2byron) 17 May 2016
The exam board claimed the social media backlash was “just the usual thing we see at this time of year” and confirmed that questions on alcohol abuse are part of the syllabus.
An AQA spokesperson said: "Exams aren't meant to be easy and students are obviously going to tweet about that, but there was nothing wrong with this paper.
“The question on an 'independent company' had nothing to do with 'business'. It was in a section on trials of a new drug developed by a drug company, and the importance of impartial testing.
So many hours and this was all that came up? Thanks AQA 👍 #aqabiology pic.twitter.com/G5xVbz2Axz
— Becca ✌️ (@beccamoore) 17 May 2016
“This section also mentioned testing of the drug (designed to reduce the appeal of alcohol) on rats, but students weren't asked any questions about 'drunken rats' - just how the drug might work on humans.”
Did you or your child sit the exam? What are your thoughts? Comment below or email william.burton@london.newsquest.co.uk.
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