BEST STEPS - A diagnostic resource for GCSE science teachers

The Association for Science Education worked with the team behind the massively popular BEST resources - which were made possible thanks to the generosity of the Salters Institute - to create a set of FREE resources for biology, chemistry and physics that help to identify gaps in students’ understanding. Each BEST STEPS (or Student Transitions to Enable Progress in Science) resource includes sequences of three diagnostic questions for eight GCSE-level (age 14-16) topics. These diagnostic questions help to identify student misconceptions that might otherwise form a barrier to student learning.

These resources have been reviewed in spring of 2024 by ASE's 11-19 committee and are still highly valued. We've retired a couple of older videos and moved some content to the archive section below.   

All GCSE subject content has been taken from the Department for Education subject guidelines (which all specifications in England are based on), meaning the BEST STEPS resource is suitable for all GCSE specifications. The topics selected are studied by all students regardless of tier and are required for both combined science and triples science specifications. However, the science concepts developed are universal - so the resource can also be used to support students studying for equivalent qualifications in other countries.

ASE received funding from the Horners’ Company Charity to produce a new “Getting Started” video guide to the original BEST STEPS resources along with a further CPD video on “The power of diagnostic questions” (as well as an interactive guide which is available in the archive content section).

We hope you find the BEST STEPS family of resources useful, and if you do, please share them within your institution and digital networks. The team would love to hear any comments and suggestions about the resources - please share your feedback, using BEST STEPS in the email subject line, via info@ase.org.uk.