Honesty in performance of the learning

The honesty of students in completing assessment tasks, examinations and submitted works, and of teachers and others in guiding students, underpins the integrity of the Higher School Certificate. Throughout the assessment process, the highest level of honesty is required. 

Each student’s mark will be determined by the quality of the work produced by the student only. Any component of a student’s work that has been written, created or developed by others must be acknowledged in accordance with the NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA) subject specific documentation. Use or inclusion of material from other sources, such as books, journals and electronic sources, including the internet, must be acknowledged. General teaching and learning do not require formal acknowledgement. 

Dishonest behaviour carried out for the purpose of gaining unfair advantage in the assessment process constitutes malpractice, or cheating. Malpractice in any form, including plagiarism, is unacceptable. The NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA) treats allegations of malpractice very seriously and detected malpractice will limit a student’s marks and jeopardise their HSC. Should malpractice be suspected, students will be required to demonstrate that all unacknowledged work is entirely their own. 

Malpractice

As internal assessment comprises 50% of the final HSC mark, all tasks submitted as part of the College’s assessment program must be the student’s own effort and any proven malpractice, including plagiarism, will result in serious penalties, including the award of a zero mark for that task. 

Suspected cases of malpractice will be reviewed by a panel constituted by the Assistant Principal in consultation with the Principal. Students will have the right to present their case to this panel.

Malpractice is any activity undertaken by a student that allows them to gain an unfair advantage over others. It includes, but is not limited to:

• Copying someone else’s work in part or in whole, and presenting it as their own;

• Using material directly from books, journals, CDs, the internet or other sources without reference to the source;

• Buying, stealing or borrowing another person’s work and presenting it as their own;

• Submitting work to which another person such as a parent, coach or subject expert has made substantial contributions;

• Breaching College examination rules;

• Contriving false explanations for missing due dates;

• Assisting another student to engage in malpractice.

Non Serious Attempt 

Assessments: 

If it is determined that a student has not seriously attempted an assessment they will be awarded a mark of 0 and will be required to complete and re-submit the work.

Examinations:

NESA requires students to attempt a range of questions throughout an examination paper. Attempting multiple-choice questions is not sufficient. Supervisors of marking report students who submit frivolous or objectionable material.

Examples of a non-serious attempt in an examination:

• A student attempted multiple-choice questions only and did not engage with other question types across the examination.

• A student submitted an obscene response which was considered to be highly objectionable.

If a non-serious attempt has been made on an examination an ‘N’ Determination warning should apply. The original mark will stand and the student would be expected to complete to a satisfactory standard as agreed to by the subject teacher, that part or parts of the examination considered to be a non-genuine attempt.

Penalty range

Students engaging in a non-serious attempt generally receive no result in that course. This in turn may jeopardise the award of the Higher School Certificate.

How assessment is monitored

1. Leaders of Learning are responsible for the management of the assessment process. It is recommended practice to use word guidelines rather than word limits. The Principal has overall responsibility for the school assessment policy and practice.

2. All assessment notifications and tasks including exams are reviewed by the Leader of Learning and may be reviewed by the Assistant Principal before being issued to students. Leaders of Learning check that tasks are accurate in the information presented including all necessary requirements. Leaders of Learning maintain a file of all tasks and notifications.

3. Leaders of Learning are to ensure that subject teachers follow the Assessment Schedule. Any changes to the assessment schedule are only made after consultation with the Leader of Learning and Assistant Principal.

4. Subject teachers discuss tasks with the Leader of Learning to ensure the task demonstrates validity and viability as a learning tool. This is an ongoing process in all faculties.

Recording of assessment

1. HSC assessment marks and ranks will be placed in the appropriate Learning Task on Compass after each task has been graded. Leaders of Learning regularly monitor this process.

2. Subject teachers are advised to maintain their own record of marks taken.

3. Assessment task results and rank will then be automatically recorded on student reports.