GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition

Exam Board: (AQA 8585)

Coursework: 50% NEA tasks

Exams: 50%

Assessment: NEA Tasks x 2- 50% Written Exam- 50%

Overview of content: GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition is a new, exciting and creative course which focuses on practical cooking skills to ensure students develop a thorough understanding of nutrition, food provenance and the working characteristics of food materials. At its heart, this qualification focuses on nurturing students' practical cookery skills to give them a strong understanding of nutrition.

Subject Content – What is covered?

1. Food, nutrition and health – Macro Nutrients, Micro Nutrients, Nutritional Needs and Health.

2. Food science – Cooking of food, Heat Transfer and the Functional and Chemical Properties of Food.

3. Food safety – Food Spoilage, Contamination and the Principles of Food Safety.

4. Food choice – Factors affecting Food Choice, British and International Cuisines, Sensory Evaluation, Food Labelling and Marketing.

5. Food provenance – Environmental Impact and Sustainability of Food, Food Processing and Production.

Assessments: EXAM: Paper 1: Food preparation and nutrition (50%) Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes The paper will be made up of 20 multiple choice questions worth 20 marks and 5 questions each with a number of sub questions worth 80 marks.

NON- EXAM ASSESSMENT (NEA): Task 1: Food investigation (15%) Written Report Students' understanding of the working characteristics, functional and chemical properties of ingredients. Students will submit a written report (1,500–2,000 words) including photographic evidence of the practical investigation.

NON-EXAM ASSESSMENT (NEA): Task 2: Food preparation assessment (35%) Written Portfolio 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. Students will submit a written portfolio (15 A4 pages) including photographic evidence.

Skills needed to study this subject: Basic skills in food preparation and knowledge of a range of materials. Students will enjoy Food Technology if they are organised and enjoy experimenting with food. It is more important for pupils choosing the course to enjoy a large variety of foods than have a natural flair for cooking.

Possible Careers + Future Study: Studying food preparation and nutrition can lead to exciting and well paid career options. Consumers are becoming increasingly reliant on the food industry to develop solutions for their nutritional needs. This course could lead you into roles such as Chef, Food Product Developer, Buyer (who travels the world sourcing new food products for manufacturers), Food Safety Inspector, Nutritionist, Dietician, Quality Manager, Teacher, Food Engineer, Food Scientist, Food Technologist, Food Photographer, Food Stylist, Home Economist, Hotel and Restaurant Manager, Microbiologist, working in food journalism.