Exam Board: AQA
The AQA GCSE in Food Preparation and Nutrition equips learners with the knowledge, understanding and skills required to cook and apply the principles of food science, nutrition and healthy eating. It encourages students to cook and enables them to make informed decisions about food and nutrition. It allows students to acquire knowledge in order to be able to feed themselves and others affordably and nutritiously, now and later in life.
Examination:
• 1 hour 45 minutes
• 50% of GCSE
• 100 marks
• Multiple choice questions (20 marks)
• Five questions each with a number of sub questions (80 marks)
Exam Content:
•Food, nutrition and health
•Food science
•Food safety
•Food choice
•Food provenance
Non-exam assessment 1 (NEA 1) Content:
•30 marks
•15% of GCSE
Students' understanding of the working characteristics, functional and chemical properties of ingredients. Students will write a report (1,500–2,000 words) including photographic evidence of the practical investigation.
•Section A: Research (6 marks)
•Section B: Investigation (15 marks)
•Section C: Analysis and evaluation (9 marks)
Non-exam assessment 2 (NEA 2) Content:
•70 marks
•35% of GCSE
Students' knowledge, skills and understanding in relation to the planning, preparation, cooking, presentation of food and application of nutrition related to the chosen task. Students will prepare, cook and present a final menu of three dishes within a single period of no more than three hours, planning in advance how this will be achieved. The NEA 2 is assessed in the following areas:
•Section A: Research (6 marks)
•Section B: Demonstrating Technical Skills (18 marks)
•Section C: Planning the final menu (8 marks)
•Section D: Making the final dishes (30 marks)
•Section E: Analyse and Evaluate (8 marks)
•Food Scientist
•Microbiologist
•Retail
•Chef
•Brewer
•Baker
•Butcher
•Catering Manager
•Food Journalist
•Teacher
•Hospitality and Catering
You might have a totally different career in mind but your D&T skills can also be used in other ways, allowing you to succeed in hobbies that require practical skills and in the future giving you the ability to put these skills to use in your own home.