Basedata

Enquiries about basedata formats should be addressed to AQA at basedata@aqa.org.uk

Basedata for previous academic years is available from
our Basedata Archives 2003 - 2004.

Examination Series 2004 - 2005

Information about basedata formats is provided in the booklet Formats for the Exchange of Examination Related Data, version 10 (revised June 2004). This is available from the JCQ website.

Basedata is specification and timetable information in the inter-board common format. It is designed to be imported into school or college administration software. Series marked with an asterisk have been amended since they were originally loaded. A list of the changes is appended.

AQA Basedata can also be downloaded in the previous version of Formats for the Exchange of Examination Related Data (Version 9). The only difference is the version number in the header records, but we are advised that some MIS software will not currently import files identified as version 10.

Basedata Updates

January 2005 Series E

  • 15/09/04 version 1.0 loaded
  • 16/09/04 version 2.0
    now includes GCSE Applied Double Award data
  • 7/10/04 version 3.0
    Changes since version 2.0: VRQ Counselling - for each coursework unit /component, the teacher marks field of the components file has been changed to G to indicate that a grades rather than marks are submitted.

June 2005 Series K

  • 16/11/04 version 1.0 loaded
  • 28/01/05 version 2.0
    An amendment has been made to the time allowed for the GCSE Italian Higher Tier Listening exam. It now reads 45 minutes (was previously published as 40).

June 2005 Series M

  • 16/11/04 version 1.0 loaded
  • 28/01/05 version 2.0
    Changes since version 1.0
    Re-issued because of change to rules for collecting forecast grades for centre assessed units.
  • 07/05/05 version 3.0
    Changes since version 2.0
    The duration of DAN3 is now 120 minutes (was 150).
    The duration of DAN6 is now 150 minutes (was (180).

June 2005 Series N

  • 16/11/04 version 1.0 loaded
  • 28/01/05 version 2.0
    Units for a new qualification, Higher Diploma in Counselling, are now being offered in summer 2005 and have now been included in the basedata.

June 2005 Series Q

  • 16/11/04 version 1.0 loaded
  • 28/01/05 version 2.0
    Changes since version 1.0
    Re-issued because of change to rules for collecting forecast grades for centre assessed units.

Estimated Grades

Centres are advised that as from and including Summer 2005 AQA will be collecting estimated grades as follows:

GCE/VCE/GNVQ - modular specifications

  • every series - estimated grades for externally-assessed units/modules
  • in the first two years only (up to and including the second summer series) or where there has been a change to assessment criteria - estimated grades for centre-assessed units/modules
  • subject level estimates will no longer be collected

GCSE modular specifications including Applied GCSE

  • every series - estimated grades for externally-assessed units/modules
  • in the first two years only (up to and including the second summer series) or where there has been a change to assessment criteria - estimated grades for centre-assessed units/modules
  • subject level estimates have never been collected

GCSE linear specifications

  • subject level estimates will continue to be collected

Most files available for downloading have been zipped in zip2exe format which allows you to unzip them without needing an unzip programme. Many files are also available as .zip files for those with unzipping utilities. Zipping files means that the data is compressed so the file can be transmitted more quickly. This will reduce the time you need to spend on-line. Zip2exe files are usually about 15KB larger than .zip files because they contain the unzipping program.

Contact your system support team for advice if you need help unzipping files.

 
This page was last updated on Monday 06 October 2008 at 15 29