This document outlines the assessment framework for primary science in the UK. It describes 5 attainment frameworks (AF1-AF5) that cover different science skills. For each framework, it lists the types of skills and knowledge students should demonstrate at different levels (Level 1 and Level 2) across various contexts and practical situations. The frameworks focus on skills like thinking scientifically, understanding applications of science, communicating collaborating, using investigative approaches, and working critically with evidence.

1. The National Strategies  Primary
Assessing Pupils’ Progress in primary science
APP Primary Science Assessment Guidelines: levels 1 and 2
AF1 – Thinking scientifically AF2 – Understanding the applications AF3 – Communicating and AF4 – Using investigative AF5 – Working critically
and implications of science collaborating in science approaches with evidence
L Across a range of contexts and Across a range of contexts and practical Across a range of contexts and practical Across a range of contexts and Across a range of contexts and
2 practical situations pupils: situations pupils: situations pupils: practical situations pupils: practical situations pupils:
 Draw on their observations and  Express personal feelings or opinions about  Present their ideas and evidence in  Make some suggestions about how  Say what happened in their
ideas to offer answers to scientific or technological phenomena appropriate ways to find things out or how to collect experiment or investigation
questions data to answer a question or idea
 Describe, in familiar contexts, how science  Respond to prompts by using simple texts  Say whether what happened
they are investigating
 Make comparisons between basic helps people do things and electronic media to find information was what they expected,
features or components of  Identify things to measure or acknowledging any
 Identify people who use science to help  Use simple scientific vocabulary to describe
objects, living things or events observe that are relevant to the unexpected outcomes
others their ideas and observations
question or idea they are
 Sort and group objects, living  Respond to prompts to suggest
 Identify scientific or technological  Work together on an experiment or investigating
things or events on the basis of different ways they could have
phenomena and say whether or not they are investigation and recognise contributions
what they have observed  Correctly use equipment provided to done things
helpful made by others
make observations and
 Respond to suggestions to
measurements
identify some evidence (in the
form of information, observations  Make measurements, using
or measurements) needed to standard or non-standard units as
answer a question appropriate
L Across a range of contexts and Across a range of contexts and practical Across a range of contexts and practical Across a range of contexts and Across a range of contexts and
1 practical situations pupils: situations pupils: situations pupils: practical situations pupils: practical situations pupils:
 Ask questions stimulated by their  Identify a link to science in familiar objects  Use everyday terms to describe simple  Respond to prompts by making  Respond to prompts to say
exploration of their world or contexts features or actions of objects, living things some simple suggestions about how what happened
or events they observe to find an answer or make
 Recognise basic features of  Recognise scientific and technological  Say what has changed when
observations
objects, living things or events developments that help us  Present evidence they have collected in observing objects, living things
simple templates provided for them  Use their senses and simple or events
 Draw on their everyday
equipment to make observations
experience to help answer  Communicate simple features or
questions components of objects, living things or
events they have observed in appropriate
 Respond to suggestions to
forms
identify some evidence (in the
form of information, observations  Share their own ideas and listen to the ideas
or measurements) that has been of others
used to answer a question
BL
IE
Overall assessment (tick one box only) Low 1 Secure 1  High 1 Low 2 Secure 2 High 2
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