2.1 What is an assessment?

Assessment tasks may take many forms, for example: written examinations, research assignments, projects, presentations, practical or field work reports. Whatever the form, the primary function of an assessment task is to improve learning by providing feedback to students and their teachers about what has been learnt.

During the Preliminary Course NESA stipulates that a formal assessment program is to be developed and implemented in all schools. The assessment tasks undertaken in each subject will help to determine what is to be recorded on a student’s Record of Achievement. Measuring achievement at various points throughout the course provides a better indication of student achievement than a single examination.

2.1.1 How am I notified about assessment tasks?

The assessment schedule for all Preliminary courses can be found this handbook. In addition to this a student will receive an assessment notification for each task. It is the student’s responsibility to keep himself informed about the timing of assessment tasks. It is the teacher’s duty to provide the students with written confirmation of the:

(a) weighting (e.g. 15%),

(b) outcomes formally assessed

(c) task type

(d) actual date and time (e.g. Period 3, Wednesday, 11 May 2022 – Week 3 Term 2)

(e) place – if appropriate (e.g. Long Reef headland), and

(f) specific requirements

for each assessment task. This information must be given with adequate notice prior to the task due date. Any changes to the assessment schedule will be notified to students in writing.