Assessment

Assessment Policy

Each school which presents candidates for HSC Examinations in NSW is required to provide an assessment mark for each examinable course. These marks are then moderated by the Board of Studies to bring marks from different schools to a common scale. It is the intention of Yass High School that the assessment process is fair and equitable and that quality assessment tasks are used to give a complete picture of the student and the cohort.

To be eligible for the award of the Higher School Certificate, students are required to:

have satisfactorily completed courses that comprise the pattern of study required by the Board for the award of the Higher School Certificate, including a genuine attempt to complete tasks worth in excess of 50% of the available marks in that course

sit for and make a serious attempt at the requisite Higher School Certificate external examinations.

The school-based assessment mark provides a measure of a student's attainment which:

is based on a wider range of syllabus objectives than is measured by the external examinations;

uses measures and observations obtained throughout the course rather than at a single examination.

Students will be given a copy of the HSC Assessment Schedule at the interview following the Preliminary Final examinations or as soon afterwards as practicable. The schedule will include the number of tasks for each course, the weighting of each task and their timing.

Class teachers will

ensure that all students in their class are given equal access to classwork and assistance;

give students two weeks written notice of assessment tasks and ensure task is on the online Assessment Calendar;

gain the approval of the assessment panel for any change to the assessment schedule and give this in writing to students at least two weeks before the task is due;

include the outcomes to be assessed, the weighting of tasks and marking guidelines of tasks in the task notification sheet (marking guidelines may be omitted in the case of timed tests);

give a copy of the task to the Head Teacher before it is given to students;

pass on any requests for extensions to the Head Teacher;

notify Head Teachers about students who have not submitted tasks so N Warning notifications can be sent to parents;

· mark tasks promptly, keep a copy of all marks, give Head Teachers a copy of marks and discuss any concerns before returning tasks to students;

· give meaningful feedback to students within two school weeks of the submission of the task.

Head Teachers will

· oversee assessment schedules in the Key Learning Areas for which they are responsible;

· ensure equity and fairness in the way tasks are conducted and marked when tasks are run across a number of classes;

· liaise with the assessment panel about any student requested extensions or other changes to schedules;

· inform parents about the non-completion or the award of zero for a task;

· keep accurate faculty records of the distribution of, completion of and marks assigned to each task in the KLAs for which they are responsible.

The assessment panel will

· consist of the Principal (or nominee), Head Teacher of Teaching and Learning and the Year Adviser

· oversee assessment schedules and practices across the school;

· assess and approve changes to schedules;

· be responsible for an appeal process following written submissions from students;

· make decisions regarding atypical situations as they arise.

Students will

· sign to indicate that they have received the HSC Assessment Schedule and each assessment task notification sheet;

· see their teachers to collect task notification sheets if they have been absent;

· contact the school to organise that sheets are sent home in the case of prolonged absence;

· negotiate extensions of time or alternative tasks when justified absence prevents them submitting or completing the regular task on time;

· complete tasks to the best of their ability, this must be a serious attempt in the case of a test i.e. more than multiple choice answers;

· submit all tasks on time (see note below);

· contact the school by 9am if they are unexpectedly absent on the day of a task – a medical certificate should be supplied in the case of illness;

· submit a written appeal to the assessment panel within two days of receiving the mark for a task if they believe there are extenuating circumstances which make this mark unfair.

Note: Students must submit assessment tasks to the place and at the time and date indicated on the task notification. This will usually be to the class teacher at the beginning of the relevant lesson on the due date but it may be to the Front Office at 9am on the due date. A student attending an excursion or other appointment on the due date must negotiate the place and time of submission with the teacher or Head Teacher. Unless there is a change agreed to by the assessment panel, tasks submitted late will receive a mark of zero. If there are unexpected extenuating circumstances, a student may submit an appeal to the assessment panel within two days of receiving their mark.

The Board of Studies publishes a number of important documents to assist schools and students to ensure that HSC procedures are followed.

Higher School Certificate Rules and Procedures will be distributed to students at the interview with the Principal and Careers Adviser following their Preliminary Final Examinations or as soon afterwards as practicable. See

http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/hsc_assessment_policies/#hsc_rules_procedures

Teachers and students are obliged to ensure that the assessment process is fair and honest. They must comply with ‘Honesty in HSC Assessment – the Standard'. See

http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/hsc_assessment_policies/honesty.html

Students are reminded of the ‘All my Own Work' program which they completed in previous years, which gives clear guidelines regarding cheating and plagiarism. See

http://amow.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/

The following document also gives information to ensure that students complete assessment tasks and external exams honestly and with confidence. See

http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/hsc_assessment_policies/hsc-assessments-works-advice-students.html

Parents can refer to the following document to ensure that they offer appropriate support to their children completing the HSC. See

http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/hsc_assessment_policies/hsc-assessments-works-advice-parents.html

The Board of Studies ACE Manual provides guidelines for best practice regarding school assessment and examination provisions. See

http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/hsc_assessment_policies/#ace_manual