Dear Students and Parents

To be awarded the Higher School Certificate (HSC) students are required to follow a two-year pattern of study in Years 11 and 12 including compliance with the regulations of the New South Wales Standards Authority (NESA). These regulations require a satisfactory record of participation, progress, and attendance, and students are “required to apply themselves in a diligent and sustained manner to the tasks and opportunities provided by the school in the nominated program of study”.

This Assessment webpage details these expectations and requirements for the award of the Higher School Certificate and the assessment schedule of each Key Learning Area. The formal assessments detailed in this website assist the normal process of learning and will assess achievements that may not be measured by the HSC Examination. Towards the end of Year 12 this college will provide, for each Board Developed and Board Endorsed Course students have chosen, an assessment mark based on the student’s performance in specific assessment tasks.

These tasks are outlined in this assessment website. It is therefore important that you see it as a valuable and essential resource in planning for the HSC. I urge you to use it as an ongoing source of information throughout the assessment period commencing in Term 4 and concluding in Term 3 of Year 12 for Year 12 students and Term 1 to the end of Term 3 for Year 11 students. It is your responsibility to be familiar with both the general requirements for assessment and the particular requirements of each course.

The final assessment mark in each course is developed gradually; consequently, successful students are characterised by adhering to an organised study pattern and reliable and consistent efforts throughout the whole course. With this in mind, students are encouraged to give their best. It is hoped that these senior years of study will be a period of personal development and growth and that each student has the satisfaction, at the end of Year 12, of knowing they have done their best.

Some useful links that may help students are:

HSC Syllabus – NESA http://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/home

Choosing HSC Courses: Facts and Myths - Universities Admission Centre (UAC)

http://www.uac.edu.au/schoolink/year-10.shtml

About the ATAR - Universities Admission Centre (UAC)

http://www.uac.edu.au/schoolink/atar.shtml

Careers and link to courses http://www.myfuture.edu.au/

If students or parents have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Student Support

The Student Support staff endeavors to assist students with disabilities and/or learning support needs who are in need of extra support in the classroom. To support students the college employs a leader of Inclusion, two student support teachers, and seven educational assistants. The Student Support staff provides in-class support, targeted reading programs, and specialist support to teachers. Collaboration between students, teachers, and parents will remain a high priority.

Gathering Room

The McCarthy Catholic College Gathering Room offers a safe place for all Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to immerse themselves in a cultural experience. The Gathering Room offers students access to computers, Wi-Fi, a quiet study area in addition to the support of qualified Aboriginal Education Assistants. We encourage all students to make use of this valuable space and take the opportunity to learn more about the rich and diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.

Library

The McCarthy Catholic College Library is a flexible space where students are facilitated in developing inquiry, research and literacy skills. The library provides access to computers, internet, fiction and non-fiction books, magazines and newspapers. Printing facilities are also available.

The McCarthy Catholic College Library is staffed with a Librarian, Careers Adviser, and a team of Library Support staff to assist students in accessing information and technology in whatever format is required. We encourage students to borrow from our extensive fiction collection as regular reading for pleasure builds literacy, one of the major contributing factors to student success.  Library hours are 8:00 am to 3:15 pm including recess and lunch.

Study Club

Study Club is available one afternoon per week.  It has been established to assist students by providing an appropriate venue for study, access to resources, and access to computers (with internet capability). Students are encouraged to use this facility, which is supervised on a voluntary basis outside school hours by teaching staff.  Study Club is held on:

·       Tuesday 3.15 pm to 4.15 pm in the Library

The College, as directed by NESA, has produced an Assessment Plan for each course taught. Each plan details certain tasks to be performed, the relative weightings for each task, and the approximate dates for the set tasks. The tasks may include formal examination, research assignments, topic tests, essays, practical work, and oral tasks/exercises. Students will be given notice of the date and time of these tasks.

It is each student’s responsibility:

·       to know the date and the time that each task is to be done or completed.

·       to be present to do or to hand in the task unless prior permission has been granted by the Leader of Teaching and Learning and Leader of Learning.

·       when legitimately unable to attend school on the day a task is scheduled,  inform the College before 9.00 am of any task due on that day and on return to college, to see the teacher concerned about that task immediately.

·       to take no unfair advantage over other students.

·       to provide acceptable medical, or other, documentation when required.

Failure to comply may result in a loss of all marks for that task.

A substitute task may be set when a student is legitimately absent from a task.  

When a student fails to complete tasks totaling 50% of the assessment weight, the Principal may not certify that the student has satisfactorily completed the course. In that case, neither an examination mark nor an Assessment Mark will appear on the student’s HSC Year Record of Achievement. A Higher School Certificate may not be awarded at all.

The due date and details of an assessment task will be notified to students in writing at least TWO WEEKS before the task.

After the written notification has been issued, if a change of date for the completion of the task is required there is no need for two weeks’ notice provided the task is not being brought forward. Any changes of date will be notified in writing.

Note that written notification has precedence over any information listed in the assessment schedules contained in this handbook – that is, details of assessment tasks listed in this handbook (such as type of task, syllabus components, weightings, and outcomes to be assessed) may change from the date of issue of this handbook, so the written notification will be used to list the correct details for each assessment task.

In some circumstances, it may be necessary to alter the date of the task (that is, Term and Week) from that listed in the assessment schedule in this handbook.

When this occurs, students MUST be informed of any changes to the date – in writing, and TWO WEEKS in advance. The Principal is to be consulted if it is not possible to give two weeks’ notice for changed tasks.  The written notification of each task must include:

·   the date and time of when the task will take place or when the task is due

·   components and their weighting as specified in the syllabus package

·   the general nature of the assessment task

·   the weight value of the task in relation to the total weighted mark for the course.

Where appropriate, marking criteria/information about how the task will be assessed will also be included.

For assessment tasks that are completed outside the classroom:

·       A cover sheet (available in the Office) that has a Statement of Authenticity and Academic Integrity must be signed by the student and attached to the completed assessment task. This task should then be posted in the appropriate box in the Office. 

·       All tasks are to be submitted by 9:00 am on the designated day as stated on the notification form.

·       For all digital submissions, students should follow the instructions stipulated on the assessment task notification including uploading to Google Classroom at the specified date and time.

All tasks submitted after 9:00 am on the designated day will be deemed to be LATE unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Oral tasks consist of two components – a written submission and the oral presentation itself. The form of the written submission will be explained by your teacher when the task is distributed. All written submissions must be handed in by 9:00 am on the due date.

In many cases, the actual oral presentations by students may take several periods over a number of days. On the specified time and day that the task is due, teachers will normally indicate to students the order in which they will make their presentations. Students MUST attend class at the time indicated for their oral presentation. It is the student’s responsibility to be ready to give their oral presentation at the designated time on the designated date. Any student who is not present to give their oral presentation at the designated time and date will be deemed LATE unless there are exceptional circumstances.

Whenever students are absent from school, it is their responsibility to ensure that they know what work has been missed and to catch up with that work. The same conditions apply if students are absent when digital notification of an assessment task is issued via Compass. No automatic extension is granted to students who are absent on the day the notice of the task is given. However, if a student has had a prolonged absence, on the day of their return to school they may submit to the Leader of Teaching and Learning an email outlining the nature of the appeal.

If the Leader of Learning and the class teacher consider that the student had sufficient reason (supported by appropriate documentation) for not attempting, completing or submitting the task, a substitute assessment task may be arranged. Where a student does not attempt, complete or submit the original or substitute task, a zero mark will be recorded for this task. Where students take the day of the assessment task away from school or arrive late because they are finishing the task, they have deliberately advantaged themselves over the other students and will be awarded a zero. 

If a student knows that they will be absent with sufficient reason (e.g. a funeral or an operation), then the student should explain the circumstances in writing before the absence to their Leader of Learning and class teacher. In this situation a substitute assessment task may be arranged. (See Application for Extension of or Special Consideration for an Assessment Task.)

Absence from school on the due date for the submission of an assessment task, or on the day of an assessment task, will not be regarded as satisfactory grounds for the granting of an extension of time. This will not be varied unless there are exceptional circumstances (and only after consultation with the appropriate Leader of Learning).

A telephone call before 9.00 am from your parent or guardian is essential if you are absent on the due date of an assessment task.

Students are advised to complete all assessment tasks to the best of their ability if it is at all possible and to advise the school IMMEDIATELY if circumstances will prevent them from doing so.

Unless a student provides a medical certificate, statutory declaration or other agreed evidence for late submission of an assessment task, supported by an Application for Extension of or Special Consideration for an Assessment Task (a blue form) that has been signed by a parent or guardian, a zero will be recorded. Each case will be individually looked at by the assessment panel.  However, the teacher will assess the work.

In very rare circumstances, results for a particular task may prove invalid or unreliable. If such a situation arose, then the Leader of Learning and the Leader of Pedagogy would devise a task to provide supplementary results.

An Assessment Committee will oversee any issues arising from assessment tasks. The committee will consist of the Leader of Teaching and Learning, a Leader of Learning and the Leader of Student Care. Appeals in relation to assessment grades should be made at the time of the return of the task to students and no later than 3 days after. A complaint based on the professional judgement of a teacher is not grounds for appeal. If students wish to make an appeal, they should make an appointment with the Leader of Teaching and Learning to begin the process.

The Record of School Achievement (RoSA) is a credential for all students to recognise school achievement before receiving their Higher School Certificate (HSC).

RoSA is a cumulative credential – recognising all your academic achievements. The RoSA will show your Year 10 grades, as well as any grades for Year 11 courses completed after that.  If you start a course but leave school before completing it, your RoSA will show evidence of your enrolment.

Your RoSA will also show results of any VET or Life Skills courses you complete in Year 10 and/or Year 11.

The HSC minimum standard is part of an effort to improve the literacy and numeracy outcomes for students. From 2020, students in NSW will need to demonstrate a minimum standard of literacy and numeracy to receive their HSC. The HSC minimum standard is a way of supporting and ensuring students have a functional level of literacy and numeracy.

Link to NESA:

http://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/hsc-minimum-standard/online-tests

Online Tests

To achieve an HSC in 2020 and beyond, students must sit the HSC minimum standards online tests in reading, writing, and numeracy. Each of the three tests are 45 minutes in duration. Students must achieve a level 3 in each test in order to meet the HSC minimum standard. This aligns with level 3 of the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) which is considered the level required to function in everyday life, for work and further study beyond school. These tests are scheduled throughout the school year and can be taken post-school if needed. 

Once the HSC minimum standard is achieved in all three areas, a student is eligible to receive the HSC.

Support for students with additional needs

Some students with additional needs will be eligible for provisions for the minimum standard tests. These provisions can be approved by the Principal. The learning support team will liaise with the Principal about extra provisions for the HSC minimum standard tests.

You will be considered to have satisfactorily completed a course if, in the Principal’s view, there is sufficient evidence that you have:

·       followed the course developed or endorsed by NESA.

·       applied yourself with diligence and sustained effort to the set tasks and experiences provided in the course by the College.

·       achieved some or all of the course outcomes.

If the Principal determines that the above course completion criteria have not been met, you will be given a written warning in sufficient time to correct any problems regarding your satisfactory completion of course requirements. A student who has not complied with the above requirements cannot be regarded as having satisfactorily completed the course. The Principal will then deem that the student has not met the requirements for that course and this course will not appear on the student’s Record of School Achievement (RoSA).

NESA requires that meaningful feedback be given at the completion of each task. This will be in the form of a mark and rank for each discreet task. Errors in any form detected by the student must be reported by the student within 24 hours. The college will provide a digital report for all Assessment Tasks.

What is Plagiarism?

Plagiarism is a serious offence.  It is regarded as academic theft and a serious form of cheating.

“Plagiarism is the unauthorised use of someone else’s material, which is then presented as being the result of the plagiarist’s own primary research, creative impulse or insight.”  (Laurie Henry, The Fiction Dictionary, p.219)

What are the Consequences of Plagiarism?

By the time students are in Stage 6 it is expected that they are able to present original work free of plagiarism.  It may be necessary, of course, for students to quote from particular sources but these must be referenced in the appropriate way (see Referencing Policy).

All Assessment Tasks submitted during Stage 6 are expected to be free of any form of plagiarism. Serious penalties will be applied. Generally, a student presenting a work identified as containing plagiarised material will receive zero for that task. All cases of suspected plagiarism will be presented to a panel including the classroom teacher, the Leader of Learning and the Leader of Teaching and Learning.  Students will be notified in writing if a task is to be given a zero.

All work presented in assessment tasks and examinations must be your own. Malpractice, including plagiarism, could lead to you receiving zero marks for the task concerned and may jeopardise your overall marks. The issue of malpractice is specifically explored in NESA ‘All Your Own Work’ modules. All students are required to complete these modules and the college is required to register your completion of ‘All Your Own Work’ with NESA.

The Rules and Procedures for Higher School Certificate Candidates incorporates the following definitions of malpractice.

·       Copying someone else’s work and presenting it as your own

·       Using material directly from books, journals, CDs or the internet, without reference to the source

·       Building on the ideas of another person without reference to the source

·       Buying, stealing, borrowing another person’s work and presenting it as your own

·       Submitting work to which another person, such as a parent, coach or subject expert, has contributed substantially

·       Using words, ideas, designs or the workmanship of others in practical and performance tasks without appropriate acknowledgement

·       Paying someone to write or prepare material

·       Breaching school examination rules

·       Contriving false explanations to explain work not handed in by the due date

·       Assisting another student to engage in malpractice

·       Copying from other members while working in a group

·       Contributing less, little or nothing to a group assignment and then claiming an equal share of the marks

·       Handing part or all of work in twice, for separate subjects/ marks

It is the College’s expectation that students do not engage in malpractice, or take unfair advantage, including absenting themselves from class or school prior to a task.

Both malpractice and unfair advantage may result in a loss of some or all marks for that task.

Consequences of Cheating

NESA and McCarthy Catholic College treat this type of behaviour very seriously. If you cheat in an examination or assessment task you will:

·       be awarded a zero for that examination or assessment task

·       have an interview with a member of the College Executive.

Use of Electronic Media

Students may be required, or may elect, to use electronic media in the preparation and/or presentation of assessment tasks.  In such cases, it is important to ensure that:

·       appropriate backup of material takes place regularly

·       hard copies of various drafts are kept

·       evidence of processes and content (eg research notes, copies of material used, bibliography etc) is retained until after the task is due

Failure of electronic equipment is not an adequate reason for the late submission or non-submission of a task.  If a home-based printer fails, the task should be brought to school on a USB stick for printing.  Electronic backup of material should prevent computer breakdowns from impacting upon the production of tasks.  Another means for securing drafts of assessment tasks is by emailing yourself a copy.  Computers are widely available at school to assist with task preparation and presentation.

Tasks should always be prepared with adequate time to ensure presentation is accurate and complete.  

No consideration can be given to last-minute loss of work.

During Stage 6 it is expected that students use dedicated time outside school hours to:

·       complete work set in class

·       prepare and present all tasks set by the classroom teacher

·       revise work covered in class on a daily basis

·       research/extend areas of weakness, using set texts or alternative sources

·       keep notes organised

It would be appropriate to spend 3-4 hours per day (7 days a week) on work at home.

Students are encouraged to present work to their teachers for feedback regularly. In particular, students should be in the practice of submitting essays as often as possible. Practice questions are available on the NESA website. The syllabus documents (also available online) also provide a clear guide for study direction. Questions/essays may be formulated around the dot points in the syllabus material for most subjects. All past HSC multiple choice questions are also available on the same site:

https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/home

Another excellent website is the Charles Sturt University site.  It contains some excellent study material.

http://www.csu.edu.au/

It is important to ask your teachers for assistance when needed.

Guidelines for Writing Bibliographies and Citing Your References

McCarthy Catholic College has adopted the Harvard System of writing bibliographies and citing references within assignments and assessment tasks.

When an assignment or assessment task is given out, the teacher will advise students on what is required eg a bibliography only or a bibliography and in-text referencing.

What is a Bibliography?

When you have finished writing an assignment or assessment task, you need to make a list of all the sources of information you used. This list is called a bibliography and the rules on how to write it are called the Harvard System.

This means you have to list all the books, journals (magazines), newspaper articles, DVDs, CD-Roms, internet items (electronic database, electronic email, web pages, online images), recordings and any material you use that is not yours.  This policy gives examples of how to do this for different types of sources.

What is In-text Referencing?

Sometimes you need to make notes during the assignment or assessment task about where you found the information. This is called citing your source or in-text referencing.

You might think that citing or listing too many books or websites shows that you don’t know anything about the topic and you will be marked down.  In fact, citations add credibility and show depth of your research.  By citing someone, preferably a reputable source, who says the same thing, only adds authority to your work.

Why Do This?

This gives the person reading your assignment or assessment task details about where to find the sources if they are interested in reading the information too.

Learning how to write bibliographies and cite your references is a life-long skill and you will be required to do it through the rest of your time as a student (at school, TAFE, college and university). So, getting into the habit now is an advantage.

It also acknowledges the hard work done by another person.  “Borrowing” or “copying” someone else’s ideas and not saying you have done this is called plagiarism or “intellectual theft”. Academic convention and copyright law requires that you do this.  At many universities’ students can be expelled if they plagiarise.  At McCarthy Catholic College, students caught plagiarising in Assessment Tasks will be penalised.

In-text Referencing

If a teacher has asked you to do this, when you use another person’s ideas you must immediately acknowledge this and the source of the information in your essay. You must then provide the full details in the bibliography.

1.           Using People’s Work Without Direct Quotations

     If you are referring to the general theme in the book or without directly quoting someone, page numbers are unnecessary.

           eg.    A recent study (Johns 2001) found that sporting injuries from……

                 This theory about dysfunctional families was described by Addams (1968) but has been further investigated by Simpson (1991).

       These books are then added to the bibliography at the end of the assignment or assessment task.

           eg. Addams, Gomez 1968 My family, Fester Publications, Dallas.

                 Johns, Andy 2001 Football is my life, Knight, Newcastle.

                 Simpson, Homer 1991 Marge and me, Duff, Springfield.

2.           Citing Direct Quotes

       When you are quoting statistics, data or what someone said, page numbers must be included.

eg. In his open speech Prime Minister Howard says that “……. “(Beazley 1999, p.223).

           The number of hours of television watched each day by 5-12 year old children has increased to 5 (Romano 2003, p.57).

Remember that all sources that you cite or refer to in your assignment or assessment task must be included in your bibliography which gives its full details.

HSC subject syllabuses, school internal assessment tasks and examination questions have key words that state what students are expected to be able to do. This glossary of key words has been developed to help provide a common language and consistent meaning in HSC tasks and examinations. Using the glossary will help you understand what is expected in answers to questions in examination assessment tasks.

Key Word

Definition – what you have to do

Account Account for: state reasons for, report on. Give an account of: narrate a series of events or transactions

Analyse Identify components and the relationship between them; draw out and relate implications

Apply Use, utilise, employ in a particular situation

Appreciate Make a judgement about the value of

Assess Make a judgement of value, quality, outcomes, results or size

Calculate Ascertain/determine from given facts, figures or information

Clarify Make clear or plain

Classify Arrange or include in classes/categories

Compare Show how things are similar or different

Construct Make; build; put together items or arguments

Contrast Show how things are different or opposite

Critically (analyse/evaluation) Add a degree or level of accuracy depth, knowledge and understanding, logic, questioning, reflection and quality to 

Deduce Draw conclusions

Define State meaning and identify essential qualities

Demonstrate Show by example

Describe Provide characteristics and features

Discuss Identify issues and provide points for and/or against

Distinguish Recognise or note/indicate as being distinct or different from; to note differences between

Evaluate Make a judgement based on criteria; determine the value of

Examine Inquire into

Explain Relate cause and effect; make the relationships between things evident; provide why and/or how

Extract Choose relevant and/or appropriate details

Extrapolate Infer from what is known

Identify Recognise and name

Interpret Draw meaning from

Investigate Plan, inquire into and draw conclusions about

Justify Support an argument or conclusion

Outline Sketch in general terms; indicate the main features of

Predict Suggest what may happen based on available information

Propose Put forward (for example a point of view, idea, argument, suggestion) for consideration or action

Recall Present remembered ideas, facts or experiences

Recommend Provide reasons in favour

Recount Retell a series of events

Summarise Express, concisely, the relevant details

Synthesise Putting together various elements to make a whole

When will assessment begin?

The college’s Year 12 Assessment Program will commence at the beginning of Term 4  each calendar year, and will conclude in Term 3, the following year.

How much notice will be given of each task?

The Calendar of Year 12 assessment tasks (this website) provides students with an outline of the schedule of assessment tasks. Teachers in each subject will provide additional notice where applicable at least two weeks prior to the assessment task using the McCarthy Catholic College standardised assessment pro-forma. Where there is sufficient reason for the school to change the assessment date, students will be given adequate notice of the revised date.

What happens if you are ill or unable to complete a task for some reason?

Students are expected to perform all the tasks which are part of their assessment program. If a student is ill or unable to complete or submit an assessment task on the due date, a telephone call or email before 9.00am is required, explaining the absence.  If a student is absent or unable to complete an assessment task for some valid reason it is the student’s responsibility to approach the class teacher immediately after the absence to make appropriate arrangements to do the task in the shortest possible time frame.

A medical certificate must be provided in the case of illness

If the Leader of Learning and the class teacher consider that the student had sufficient reason (supported by medical certificate) for not attempting, completing or submitting the task, a substitute assessment task may be arranged. Where a student does not attempt, complete or submit the original or substitute task, a zero mark will be recorded for this task. Where students take the day of the assessment task away from school or arrive late because they are finishing the task, they have deliberately advantaged themselves over the other students and will be awarded a zero. In exceptional circumstances, where giving a substitute task may be unreasonable, difficult to arrange or not feasible, the Principal may authorise that an estimate is given for this task.

What if you know in advance that you will be absent?

If a student knows that they will be absent with sufficient reason (e.g. a funeral or an operation), then the student should explain the circumstances in writing before the absence to their class teacher. In this situation a substitute assessment task may be arranged. (See Application for Extension of or Special Consideration for an Assessment Task.)

What if you have been absent from school?

Where a student has missed a lesson, it is the student’s responsibility to check with the class teacher to see if information relevant to a forthcoming assessment task has been provided.

How many assessment tasks must you do?

Students must complete all their Year 12 assessment tasks. If students fail to complete assessment tasks that make up 50% or more of the total assessment marks in a course, they will be deemed to not have completed the course.

How will I know if I have completed the course?

You will be considered to have satisfactorily completed a course if, in the Principal’s view, there is sufficient evidence that you have:

•          followed the course developed or endorsed by NESA.

•         applied yourself with diligence and sustained effort to the set tasks and experiences provided in the course by the school.

•          achieved some or all of the course outcomes.

If the Principal determines that the above course completion criteria have not been met, you will be given written warning in sufficient time to correct any problems regarding your satisfactory completion of course requirements. A student who has not complied with the above requirements cannot be regarded as having satisfactorily completed the course. The Principal will then deem that the student has not met the requirements for that course and this course will not appear on the student’s Higher School Certificate.

What happens if you hand work in late?

Unless a student provides a medical certificate for late submission of an assessment task, supported by an Application for Extension of or Special Consideration for an Assessment Task (a blue form) which has been signed by a parent or guardian, a zero will be recorded. Each case will be individually looked at by the assessment panel.  However, the teacher will assess the work.

What about students who get outside help or copy other people’s work?

A zero penalty will be imposed for copying, plagiarism, cheating or disturbance in an examination.

What if you do not make a serious attempt?

If you do not make a serious attempt in an assessment task, or produce irrelevant or offensive material, you will be awarded a zero mark. Each case will be considered by the teacher in consultation with the Leader of Learning.

Remember

It isn’t a case of good luck with Assessment. Your Year 12 Assessment mark and your rank will be determined by the amount of effort that you apply to your studies in each subject. The Course Assessment guidelines provide general information about Year 12 Assessment in each subject. Each subject will provide more specific information to students.