AS and A Level FAQs
AS and A Level Science: Practical endorsement
- How do I submit outcomes for the Practical Endorsement?
- How do I assess candidates for the Practical Endorsement?
- What happens if students cannot complete the Practical Endorsement?
- What is Lead Teacher training for the Practical Endorsement?
- What is required for monitoring and record keeping of the Practical Endorsement?
- How do I plan a programme of practical activities for the Practical Endorsement?
AS and A Level Art and Design - H200, H600
- AS and A Level Art and Design: Can centres, students use their personal devices, cloud based programs or storage to produce digital artwork in the exam?
- AS and A Level Art and Design: Can student art work be posted on social media?
- AS and A Level Art and Design: Should the art timed examination be held under exam conditions?
- AS and A Level Art and Design: How long are the timed art examinations?
- AS and A Level Art and Design: What dates are the Externally Set Task pre-release papers available?
- AS and A Level Art and Design: Can teachers see the pre-release papers before the release date?
AS and A Level Biology A - H020, H420
- Where can I find the Practical Activity Groups (PAG) activities?
- We are planning to change awarding body (exam board). Who do we need to inform and when?
- Where can I find details of training events?
- Where can I find modified exam papers?
- What is Teach Cambridge and how can I gain access to it?
- Do Cambridge OCR hold face-to-face science teacher networks?
AS and A Level Biology B (Advancing Biology) - H022, H422
- How can my students practise for the exams?
- Where can I find resources and support?
- Where can I find the Practical Activity Groups (PAG) activities?
- What are the grade boundaries for the practice papers (why did my students do so badly)?
- Is there a scheme of work available?
- Do students need to know how to do chi squared tests (and all the other statistics)?
AS and A Level Business - H031, H431
- Which A Level Business specification do I teach from September 2026?
- Text has been removed from a past exam paper. I would like to use it for a mock exam. Can I get a copy of the text?
- Do students need to show their workings when doing calculations?
- Which topics are assessed in which A Level Business paper?
- How do I calculate the ratios?
- What format is used for the final accounts?
A Level Business - H436 (From 2026)
AS and A Level Chemistry A - H032, H432
- How can my students practise for the exams?
- Where can I find resources and support?
- Where can I find the Practical Activity Groups (PAG) activities?
- What are the grade boundaries for the practice papers (why did my students do so badly)?
- Is there a scheme of work available?
- Which of your suggested practical activities are essential for the exams?
AS and A Level Chemistry B (Salters) - H033, H433
- How can my students practise for the exams?
- Where can I find resources and support?
- Where can I find the Practical Activity Groups (PAG) activities?
- What are the grade boundaries for the practice papers (why did my students do so badly)?
- Is there a scheme of work available?
- Which of your suggested practical activities are essential for the exams?
AS and A Level Classical Civilisation - H008, H408
AS and A Level Classical Greek - H044, H444
AS and A Level Computer Science - H046, H446
- When will A level teaching content be updated?
- What is the project proposal service?
- How to complete the URS?
- In what format will pseudocode programming questions be presented in the exam?
- What programming language should I use?
- What programming languages are authorised?
AS and A Level Design and Technology - H004-H006, H404-H406
- AS and A Level Design and Technology: Can we deliver a specific pathway to our students?
- AS Level Design and Technology: Can we just deliver one set task for the NEA to our students?
- A Level Design and Technology: Do students need to be given a set context to initiate their project?
- AS and A Level Design and Technology: We have quite a few students with particular learning needs, how can I support them with their NEA?
- AS and A Level Design and Technology: Why do OCR refer to ‘users’ and ‘stakeholders’ rather than ‘clients’?
- AS and A Level Design and Technology: How do Technical Specifications link to the plans for making the final prototype(s)?
AS and A Level Drama and Theatre - H059, H459
- Can a digital or recorded version of a live performance be used for Section B of the written paper?
- AS and A Level Drama and Theatre: How do I arrange my visit?
- AS and A Level Drama and Theatre: What is the Drama and Theatre Live Theatre Statement?
- Do the texts for Practitioners in Practice need to be approved by Cambridge OCR?
- AS and A Level Drama and Theatre: Are there any restrictions on the production students write about in the A Level performance paper?
AS and A Level Economics - H060, H460
- If I didn’t teach the previous specification, how will I know what has been removed?
- When were the revised specifications first assessed?
- What changes have been made to the revised specifications?
- Is there a bank of questions for the papers in relation to the revised specifications?
- Can I still use the old textbook for the revised specification?
- Are marks deducted for spelling and grammar in the A level Economics exam?
AS and A Level English Language - H070, H470
- What mark scheme levels correspond to which grades?
- How do I determine the mark within a level using the mark scheme?
- Are the qualifications co-teachable?
- Is there a list of key theorists?
- How should I prepare for the NEA for A level English Language?
- What needs to be submitted to Cambridge OCR for the A Level English Language NEA?
AS and A Level English Language and Literature (EMC) - H074, H474
- What mark scheme levels correspond to which grades?
- How do I determine the mark within a level using the mark scheme?
- Could you clarify how long each of the set texts will remain on the specification?
- For A Level English Language and Literature component 04, can teachers select the coursework texts for the candidates, rather than allowing candidates a free choice?
- Are the qualifications co-teachable?
- Are clean copies of texts required?
AS and A Level English Literature - H072, H472
- A Level English Literature component 03, if a text does not appear on the Text and Task tool database, does that mean it cannot be used?
- Can my poetry, novel or play be used in your specification?
- For AS Level English Literature Component 02, will the unseen extract be linked to the topic area from the A Level, or just thematically to the AS prose set text?
- For AS Level English Literature Component 02, what should be the balance between extract and whole text on prose section of paper 2?
- For the AS Level English Literature poetry question (component 01, section 2), how far should students focus on the printed extract?
- For A Level English Literature component 02, why isn’t AO2 assessed in the comparative essay for Section 2?
AS and A Level Film Studies - H010, H410
- How can I access the set films?
- How are the two mark schemes applied to the screenplay NEA option?
- What do students need to include in their evaluations?
- Can students edit the images for their digital stills?
- How should the digital stills be presented?
- For the screenplay option do students need to refer to micro-elements like editing and sound?
AS and A Level Geography - H081, H481
- Is there a character limit to the free text boxes?
- What happens if my centre doesn’t submit the fieldwork statement by 15 May?
- If we cannot get proof/evidence that the fieldwork has been completed by the previous centre will this be treated as malpractice?
- Who should complete the form if a student has moved schools?
- How do I know my fieldwork written statement has been submitted
- We take different classes out on different days how do we record this?
AS and A Level Geology - H014, H414
- How can my students practise for the exams?
- Where can I find resources and support?
- Where can I find the Practical Activity Groups (PAG) activities?
- What are the grade boundaries for the practice papers (why did my students do so badly)?
- Is there a scheme of work available?
- Which of your suggested practical activities are essential for the exams?
AS and A Level History A - H105, H505
- AS and A Level History: Can you put me in touch with other teachers who teach my topics?
- A Level History: How long should students spend on each question in the exams?
- How much historiography do my students need to know?
- A Level History: Where can I find more interpretations for my unit 3 depth studies?
- A Level History: Should students answer the unit 3 essay questions thematically or chronologically?
- The Unit 3 mark scheme talks about synthesis, what is that?
AS and A Level Latin - H043, H443
AS and A Level Law - H018, H418
- What professional development is available from Cambridge OCR?
- Where do I find examiner reports and exemplar materials?
- Common queries about topics no longer in the specification.
- Should students include reforms in their answers for A Level Law?
- Are students still required to know about EU law?
- New to teaching Cambridge OCR Law, where is the best place to get the support and resources I need?
AS and A Level Mathematics A - H230, H240
- AS and A Level Mathematics: Why does OCR offer two specifications and what is the difference between the OCR A and OCR B (MEI) specifications?
- AS and A Level Mathematics: Is there coursework in A Level Maths or Further Maths?
- AS and A Level Mathematics A: Where can I find resources for A Level Maths?
- AS and A Level Mathematics A: When were the reformed A Level Further Maths specifications first assessed?
- AS and A Level Mathematics A: Does my AS Level grade form part of my A Level grade?
- AS and A Level Mathematics A: Will I be able to teach AS and A Level students together in year 12?
AS and A Level Further Mathematics A - H235, H245
- AS and A Level Further Mathematics A: Why do we have two different specifications?
- AS and A Level Further Mathematics A: What’s the difference between Mathematics A and Mathematics B?
- AS and A Level Further Mathematics A: When were the reformed A Level/Further Maths specifications first assessed?
- AS and A Level Further Mathematics A: Where can I find resources for Further Maths?
- AS and A Level Further Mathematics: Is there coursework in A Level Maths or Further Maths?
- AS and A Level Further Mathematics A: Do I have to study A Level Maths in order to study A Level Further Maths?
AS and A Level Mathematics B (MEI) - H630, H640
- AS and A Level Mathematics: Why does OCR offer two specifications and what is the difference between the OCR A and OCR B (MEI) specifications?
- AS and A Level Mathematics B: Where can I find resources for A Level Maths?
- AS and A Level Mathematics: Is there coursework in A Level Maths or Further Maths?
- AS and A Level Mathematics B: What about formulae booklets?
- AS and A Level Mathematics B: What about calculator use?
- AS and A Level Mathematics B: What is the ‘Use of technology’ requirement in A Level Maths and Further Maths?
AS and A Level Further Mathematics B (MEI) - H635, H645
- AS and A Level Further Mathematics B: Where can I find resources for Further Maths?
- AS and A Level Further Mathematics: Is there coursework in A Level Maths or Further Maths?
- AS and A Level Further Mathematics B: What about formulae booklets?
- AS and A Level Further Mathematics B: What about calculator use?
- AS and A Level Further Mathematics B: What is the ‘Use of technology’ requirement in A Level Maths and Further Maths?
- AS and A Level Further Mathematics B: How are the different optional routes graded in Further Maths?
AS and A Level Media Studies - H009, H409
- What media theory do students need to know?
- What changes are being made to the set products for AS and A Level Media Studies?
- Can you give any guidance on timings of delivering each section of the specification?
- What is the focus of the NEA assessment?
- What do students need to include in their NEA productions?
- Do students have to include audio or audio-visual content on their website?
AS and A Level Music - H143, H543
- AS and A Level Music: Use of technology/sequencing for performance
- AS and A Level Music: How long do compositions and performances need to be?
- Sending NEA work to Cambridge OCR
- AS and A Level Music: Minimum time and score requirements
- A Level Music: Further information and guidance about the focused study
AS and A Level Physics A - H156, H556
- How can my students practise for the exams?
- Where can I find resources and support?
- Where can I find the Practical Activity Groups (PAG) activities?
- What are the grade boundaries for the practice papers (why did my students do so badly)?
- Is there a scheme of work available?
- Which of your suggested practical activities are essential for the exams?
AS and A Level Physics B (Advancing Physics) - H157, H557
- How can my students practise for the exams?
- Where can I find resources and support?
- Where can I find the Practical Activity Groups (PAG) activities?
- What are the grade boundaries for the practice papers (why did my students do so badly)?
- Is there a scheme of work available?
- Which of your suggested practical activities are essential for the exams?
AS and A Level Physical Education - H155, H555
- Where can I find resources and support?
- What dates do we need to make entries/submit/arrange/apply for by?
- What are the grade boundaries for the AS/A Level qualifications?
- Evaluating and Analysing Performance for Improvement (EAPI) changes for first assessment 2022
- Can we do a sport which is not listed in the specification?
- Can candidates be assessed on multiple disciplines in the same sport?
AS and A Level Psychology - H167, H567
- Where can I find resources and support?
- Do students need to know the strengths and weaknesses of debates?
- Textbooks and endorsed resources
- Are students required to draw on their own experiences when designing an investigation for the research methods paper?
- What are the mathematical requirements for standard deviation and variance?
- What are the inferential statistics requirements?
AS and A Level Religious Studies - H173, H573
AS and A Level Sociology - H180, H580
- How can I create a mock paper?
- Where can I find teaching materials and support?
- How should students structure their answers for each question?
- Advice for co-teaching
- What type of language might be used in the exams?
- Do students need to carry out research projects?