Outcome 1

Written and/or oral recorded evidence for outcome 1 should be assessed using a suitable format. Learners must perform a minimum of six different experimental procedures which must cover at least two of the following science disciplines: biology, chemistry or physics. Learners may cover all three disciplines should they wish.

A learner’s response will be judged satisfactory where the evidence shows that the learner can achieve the evidence requirements shown below to the standard exemplified in the commentary.

Evidence Requirements	Commentary
Set up equipment correctly for six experimental procedures. Carry out six experimental procedures correctly and safely.	The requirement for experimental procedures to be performed correctly makes it implicit that experimental results should be within acceptable levels of accuracy. Large divergence from theoretical values will indicate that either the learner’s performance of the practical activity was faulty or that there were significant shortcomings in the experiment design, equipment or materials. What constitutes an acceptable level of accuracy will vary according to the nature of the experiment, but as a guideline for quantitative practicals an outcome within 10% of the theoretical value could be expected. While there is no requirement in outcome 1 for learners to interpret or analyse results, including this as a section in pro forma reports or laboratory diaries would be a useful tool for helping to check accuracy and reliability of results. The pro forma report templates (see below) exemplify this approach. An assessor observation checklist will be used to record the learner’s performance of the practical work in line with given instructions and health and safety requirements. An exemplar observation checklist (Link 1: Observation checklist) is available on the Understanding Standards website via the link provided. It should be noted that the total number of experimental procedures required across outcomes 1 and 2 is six. Learners are not required to undertake additional practicals for the two full laboratory reports required for outcome 2.
Record observations/measurements for six experimental procedures in an appropriate format.	Learners will record all results and relevant observations/measurements relating to the experimental procedures in a laboratory diary, pro forma or laboratory report. For guidance on requirements in laboratory reports, refer to the information in outcome 2. Exemplar practical instructions and pro forma report templates are available on the Understanding Standards website via the links provided below. Link 2: Biology experiment and pro forma Link 3: Chemistry experiment and pro forma Link 4: Physics experiment and pro forma Where a learner has used a laboratory diary approach then the same standards and content as detailed in the guidance on pro forma reports should be attained. As learners are required to produce full laboratory reports for outcome 2, it is acceptable for them to be issued with pro formas containing ready-made tables in which data is then entered, ie learners do not have to construct their own tables to meet the requirements of outcome 1. The pro forma must record all raw data from an experiment, prior to any manipulations being performed on the data (eg for titrations the learner should record initial and final burette readings for each titration, not just titre volumes and not just final average value). Raw data should be recorded to an appropriate number of significant figures (ie for analogue measuring devices this should be +/- half of the smallest unit on the measuring scale).

Evidence Requirements

Commentary

Set up equipment correctly for six experimental procedures.

Carry out six experimental procedures correctly and safely.

The requirement for experimental procedures to be performed correctly makes it implicit that experimental results should be within acceptable levels of accuracy.

Large divergence from theoretical values will indicate that either the learner’s performance of the practical activity was faulty or that there were significant shortcomings in the experiment design, equipment or materials. What constitutes an acceptable level of accuracy will vary according to the nature of the experiment, but as a guideline for quantitative practicals an outcome within 10% of the theoretical value could be expected.

While there is no requirement in outcome 1 for learners to interpret or analyse results, including this as a section in pro forma reports or laboratory diaries would be a useful tool for helping to check accuracy and reliability of results. The pro forma report templates (see below) exemplify this approach.

An assessor observation checklist will be used to record the learner’s performance of the practical work in line with given instructions and health and safety requirements.

An exemplar observation checklist (Link 1: Observation checklist) is available on the Understanding Standards website via the link provided.

It should be noted that the total number of experimental procedures required across outcomes 1 and 2 is six. Learners are not required to undertake additional practicals for the two full laboratory reports required for outcome 2.

Record observations/measurements for six experimental procedures in an appropriate format.

Learners will record all results and relevant observations/measurements relating to the experimental procedures in a laboratory diary, pro forma or laboratory report. For guidance on requirements in laboratory reports, refer to the information in outcome 2.

Exemplar practical instructions and pro forma report templates are available on the Understanding Standards website via the links provided below.

Link 2: Biology experiment and pro forma

Link 3: Chemistry experiment and pro forma

Link 4: Physics experiment and pro forma

Where a learner has used a laboratory diary approach then the same standards and content as detailed in the guidance on pro forma reports should be attained.

As learners are required to produce full laboratory reports for outcome 2, it is acceptable for them to be issued with pro formas containing ready-made tables in which data is then entered, ie learners do not have to construct their own tables to meet the requirements of outcome 1.

The pro forma must record all raw data from an experiment, prior to any manipulations being performed on the data (eg for titrations the learner should record initial and final burette readings for each titration, not just titre volumes and not just final average value).

Raw data should be recorded to an appropriate number of significant figures (ie for analogue measuring devices this should be +/- half of the smallest unit on the measuring scale).

In this section

Outcome 1