You’ve been told by your child’s school that they will be sitting the foundation paper for science. You’re wondering what exactly this means and how it will affect your child’s future. Have the teacher made the right decision? What exactly is the difference between foundation and higher tier GCSE anyway?
Some parents can feel unhappy when their child is put in for the foundation paper. They are concerned that the child will more likely fail on the foundation paper. They want their child to achieve their desired grade and so they push them to do the higher paper.
In this post, I’ll talk more about the differences between foundation and higher tier GCSE science, the pros and cons of each tier, and give you important points to consider when making a decision. Although the decision for tiering is largely made by the teacher, as a parent, arming yourself with the information will enable you to take steps to influence this decision.
Let’s begin!
Key differences between foundation and higher tier GCSE science
In the reformed 9-1 curriculum, the foundation paper is targeted at grades 1 to 5 while the higher paper is for students aiming to achieve grades 4 to 9.
As you can imagine, the difficulty in tiering decisions comes for those students working at or aiming to achieve grades 4 or 5. This is where both parents and teachers can struggle to make decisions about tiering entry.
The one similarity between both papers is that 20 to 30% of the questions are identical. These questions cover the overlap grades (grades 4 and 5). But there are some key differences. The main ones being the type of skill and level of understanding of the subject required. In the foundation paper, the student will need to have a good knowledge of science and be able to skilfully answer multiple choice and short answer exam questions. On the other hand, higher paper students will need to have a sound knowledge of science and should be able to answer questions that link topics between different areas of the specification. The higher paper has more applied thinking questions that are designed to stretch and test the student’s knowledge.
Pros and Cons of Foundation and Higher Tier GCSE Science
Advantages of higher paper
- Fewer marks needed to pass. There are usually fewer marks needed to gain a good grade. For example, in 2018 combined science AQA paper, 24 marks were needed to get a grade 5 in the higher biology as supposed to 39 marks to get the same grade in the foundation paper. [1]
- Easier transition into A-level. The higher paper covers content that starts to bridge the gap between GCSE and A-Level. So, if your child is planning on taking science at A-level then the transition into A-level should be smoother if they did the higher paper.
Disadvantages of higher paper
- Can knock the child’s confidence. The foundation paper has a different style of questions and some students are just better at answering such questions. If a child is not performing well in practice higher papers or mock tests, it could really knock their confidence as they struggle to answer the questions. Doing the foundation paper may give them a better confidence boost.
- More content. There’s more content in the higher paper and the questions are more challenging. This means more to learn. So, if science is not your child’s strong point or if they are overwhelmed by all the GCSE subjects they have to study for, then perhaps doing the foundation paper might help reduce some of that stress.
Advantages of Foundation Paper
- Less to learn. There’s less content in the foundation paper which means there’s less to learn. So, the child will have more time to focus on the subject and get better at it. They will also likely be less stressed.
- Can attain a grade B. Previously the highest a child could get in the foundation paper was a grade C. Now they can get level 5 (strong pass), which is equivalent to the old grade B.
- Suitable for some students. While the foundation & higher tier share 20 to 30% of marks, most of the questions in the foundation paper are multiple-choice and short answer questions. There are many students who do really well with such questions and less well on the extended essay and applied thinking questions found on the higher paper.
Disadvantages of Foundation Paper
- Grade 5 is the maximum. If your child is planning on studying science at A-level or taking a STEM course at university, then the foundation paper may not ideal. This is because most further education institutions will require or at least favour a 6 and above to study science. The maximum grade on the foundation paper is grade 5.
- More marks needed to get a good pass. There are usually more marks needed to gain a good grade. For example, in 2018 combined science AQA paper, 39 marks were needed to get a grade 5 in the foundation biology as supposed to 24 marks to get the same grade in the higher paper. [1] Many parents and students assume that because less marks are needed in the higher paper, it’s easier to pass in the higher paper. But, according to Ofqual, it is not easier to get a grade 4 or 5 in on one tier than another. [2]
Difference between foundation and higher tier GCSE: key things to consider
As mentioned before, it will most likely be the school that decides which tier to put your child in for. But as a parent, being armed with the right information can help put your child on the right track. So, here are some key things to consider.
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- How does the child perform in exams or under strict practice test conditions in school and at home? Regardless of how knowledgeable they are, some students perform poorly in tests and exams. If you’ve noticed this pattern in your child, then see how they do in the foundation paper under the same conditions.
- Where does the student gain the majority of their marks in tests & exams? Is it from Short 1 to 2 mark and multiple-choice questions? Or is it in longer essay type questions? Someone who does well with the long-extended answer questions will most likely perform well in the higher paper.
- How well does the child perform with science-related maths questions? This also includes graph skills and interpretation of scientific data. There are more advanced maths questions in the higher paper, so if students are comfortable with maths then it’s a good indication that they can do well in the higher science paper.
- Is the child confident with scientific practicals and applying and answering practical based questions in a different context? If so, they may do well in the higher paper.
- What grade does the child need for their next steps after GCSE? If your child is planning on doing a vocational based course such as BTEC or NVQ, allied science courses such as Psycology or Sociology, or a non-science-based course then a foundation paper will suffice.
What Ofqual Recommends?
Ofqual says that “A student aiming for a grade four should probably be entered for the foundation paper rather than higher because much of the questions on the higher tier papers will simply not be aimed at those students.”
One critical mistake parents make
When it comes to revision, many parents get their students to practice the higher paper. If the child has been entered for the foundation tier, and they have low mock results e.g. grade 3 or 4, then this is a BIG mistake. Why?
- There’s content in the higher paper that students doing the foundation paper do not need to learn.
- The style of questioning in the higher paper is different.
So, by practicing the higher paper, the child is:
- spending time trying to learn content they will not need in the foundation paper.
- developing exam skills for a paper they won’t be doing
It would be much better if the child focuses their time on the foundation paper and master the style of questions and content on that paper so they will be fully ready for the exams.
Difference between foundation and higher tier GCSE: Final Thoughts
The foundation and higher tier GCSE science papers are targeted at students aiming for different grades. Use the information given in this post to decide which tier is more suitable for your child. Sometimes, parents and students feel there’s something unworthy about sitting the foundation paper, but remember that a child can get a grade 5 (B) in this paper. And the child’s certificate does not indicate whether the B was from a foundation or a higher paper.
If your child is doing well in the foundation paper and is not planning to do science at university, stick with it. Don’t try to do the higher unless you know they’re capable. Likewise, stick with the higher paper if they are doing well in it, regardless of whether you plan to do science in further education or not.
I hope this post gave you a clearer understanding of the difference between foundation and higher tier GCSE. If you have any more questions, feel free to reach out to me here.
References
[1] https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/over/stat_pdf/AQA-GCSE-RF-GDE-BDY-JUN-2018.PDF
[2] https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/resources/science/AQA-GCSE-SCIENCE-TG-FH.PDF
[3] https://ofqual.blog.gov.uk/2019/01/15/gcse-tiering-decisions-for-summer-2019/
