Hear what Nigel Marshall has to say about the GCSE Astronomy

The new GCSE Astronomy course details are here

Past exam papers for all our enrolled students!

GCSE Astronomy 2019 exam papers, click here to download

We now accept enrolments all year round for GCSE Astronomy, we are now currently enrolling for examination in summer of 2022.

Perspective students in Scotland please read

Sample of new material can be seen here

How is the new coursework assessed

Click here to see a sample of our new classroom!

SEN requirements

Terms and conditions – please read

GCSE Astronomy for Schools

Exam centres

Please also see our position on exam centres. Please note, it is perfectly fine if you have your own exam centre.

Please read the terms and conditions before going to enrol

Given the new GCSE Astronomy format, there is now NO requirement to meet with the tutor for supervised projects. Just the requirement to attend an exam centre twice, for two exams (detailed below). Please check back regularly as this can change but we now have centres in

Coventry
Northampton
(Please note, we are NO LONGER able to use our centre in the Peak District)
Scotland*
Now supporting London!

(If the student would like to work with their own centre, this is also encouraged).

*(please refer to the updated terms and conditions on exam centres)

Assessment changes

Alteration of the grading system from A*- G to 9 – 1. (9 being highest, 1 the lowest)
Removal of controlled assessment for observational tasks.
Requirement to assess relevant mathematical skills on written examinations (20%) and observational skills (15%).
Requirement for candidates to undertake at least two observational activities (one unaided i.e. with the naked eye, and the other aided i.e. with binoculars or telescope). Please note that although the actual observations are NOT themselves assessed you will be examined on them. We also require evidence that you have carried out the observations. Though we no longer directly supervise any part of this process in person.

There are now two papers, covering aided and unaided tasks (With/ without a telescope or binoculars

Click here for Special Educational Needs information

We also support schools who wish to incorporate GCSE Astronomy into their curriculum, please click here for more information

Paper One – Naked Eye Astronomy

Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes 50% of the qualification 100 marks

Assessment overview

A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations, graphical and extended-open-response questions.

● Topic 1 – Planet Earth

● Topic 2 – The lunar disc

● Topic 3 – The Earth-Moon-Sun system

● Topic 4 – Time and the Earth-Moon-Sun cycles

● Topic 5 – Solar System observation

● Topic 6 – Celestial observation

● Topic 7 – Early models of the Solar System

● Topic 8 – Planetary motion and gravity

Paper 2 – Telescopic Astronomy

Written examination: 1 hour and 45 minutes 50% of the qualification 100 marks

Assessment overview:

A mixture of different question styles, including multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, calculations, graphical and extended- open-response questions.

● Topic 9 – Exploring the Moon

● Topic 10 – Solar astronomy

● Topic 11 – Exploring the Solar System

● Topic 12 – Formation of planetary systems

● Topic 13 – Exploring starlight

● Topic 14 – Stellar evolution

● Topic 15 – Our Place in the Galaxy

● Topic 16 – Cosmology

So, what does this mean for our GCSE Astronomy students, how will we be delivering this?

We are in the process of developing an all singing and dancing online classroom. Well, before we put you into the classroom, we have refined our induction process. All students are invited to view the “New Student Classroom” where they can read more information about the GCSE programme and learn about other things we do. We also have a new induction video which guides the student through how the (Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) works and how to navigate it.

All tutors are online and on hand. We have dedicated forums for the whole cohort as well as individual tutor groups. So we can always guarantee to keep you updated re important milestones. Each student will be given a study planner to help them keep up with the topics and ensure no one falls behind.

Textbook

With a new format, comes a new textbook, Dr Nigel Marshall is busy writing a who new book which will be available to students once the course begins September this year.

Robotic Telescopes

We use the Liverpool Telescope

Also, we improved our classroom, now each topic includes learning objectives with references to the course specification throughout. There are links for you to download your own copy of this.

Source, the course specification handbook

Click Here to enrol now

Please check we cover your area before signing up and our terms and conditions

Enrol now

This also means we are now not accepting students for examination in 2020 (unless under exceptional circumstances). We are now accepting enrollments for examination in 2021.

Given the length of the course has increased, so the fees have now increased to £350, or £175 per year.

Exam Centres

We provide a list of those we have networked with. However, we no longer include the cost of exams in our fees. learners will be provided contact details of the relevant centre on enrolment so they can make arrangements to sit the exam. OASA don’t themselves get involved here.

Location

We have exam centres in London, East and West Midlands. Learners are also welcome to find their own to sit

For students North of the country, please email.

Got more questions? By all means please feel free to ask anything

You can also contact us via WhatsApp (AstronomyCourses) or by our Facebook page www.Facebook.com/AstronomyCourses

PLEASE NOTE, When making payment, if you choose the BACS, transfer method, you will need to do the transfer from your bank MANUALLY, the system does not automatically do it. PLEASE ensure you use the order number provided as reference.