NESA hopes that, through the process of continuing assessment, it will be able to reward sustained effort on the part of senior students. A sound performance in assessment tasks over the Preliminary course also helps to prepare students for the actual HSC which will modify their school assessment. It should be realised that the assessment program places a responsibility upon students to complete the assessment tasks.

At Riverstone HS the following policies towards missed tasks have been determined.

• Students who complete all aspects of the assessment task and submit it on or before the due date are eligible for the full mark allocated for the task.

• Students who attend an assessment task which is to be completed at school are eligible for the full mark allocated for the task.

• Students who fail to submit an assessment task by the due date must be given zero if they have not completed, submitted and had approval of an Illness/Misadventure form.

• Students who fail to attend on the specified date an assessment task which is to be completed at school must be given zero if they have not completed, submitted and had approval of an Illness/Misadventure form.

• Students who fail to submit an assessment task by the due date, but who have a valid reason (such as sickness or approved leave validated by appropriate documentation) are eligible for the full mark allocated to the task if they have completed the task. A medical certificate may not be accepted as excusing late submission of tasks where the task was issued well in advance of the illness and the medical certificate shows that the student was not incapacitated for a large part of that time. You should submit whatever progress work has been completed at that time e.g. drafts, plans, rough work etc. This will be assessed by the teacher and may be awarded marks.

PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST SUBMIT THE TASK ON THE DAY YOU RETURN TO SCHOOL.

• Students who fail to attend an assessment task which is to be completed at school, but who have a valid reason (e.g. sickness) must be given an opportunity to do the task or an equivalent task at a later date. In exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to give a mark based on the student’s other assessment tasks. These students are eligible for the full mark allocated to the task.

• Students who submit an incomplete task on or before the due date are to be allocated a mark. This mark is to be based on the proportion of the task completed. The task does not automatically receive a zero mark. As an example, if the task had six equally weighted components and a student attempted only three of these, that student would be eligible for up to 50% of the mark allocated to the task.

• If a student believes factors beyond their control, e.g. sickness or family misfortune, have affected their ability to do their best on a task they may apply for an extension by seeing the appropriate Head Teacher at least 24 hours before the due date.

NO EXTENSION WILL BE GRANTED TO APPLICATIONS RECEIVED ON THE DAY A TASK IS DUE.

• If a student submits a task which is deemed to be a non-serious attempt by the teacher, then a zero mark will be awarded.

• During examination sessions, any portable electronic devices, including iPods, are not permitted and only NESA approved equipment, such as calculators, may be used.

• Hard copies (not computer files) of written task responses are to be submitted unless the task stipulates otherwise. It is the student’s responsibility to have work printed in time for submission.

• Printing of major works can be organised through the school provided it is submitted one week before the due date.

• Computer / printer failure cannot be used as a reason to submit work late.

• Where a student is going to be absent, the student or parent/guardian should contact the Head Teacher or class teacher if possible, before the task takes place. If unexpectedly absent on the day of the task, the student should phone the school and inform the Deputy Principal, or the Head Teacher of the subject. Work Placement is not a valid reason to submit work late.

• All students on Work Placement must make arrangements to submit the work by the due date.

 Appeals And Reviews

Where students are dissatisfied with any aspect of the assessment procedure, they should in the first instance approach the Head Teacher of the subject concerned. If the problem cannot be resolved at the faculty level, it may be referred to the Assessment Review Committee (Principal, a Deputy Principal and a member of the Executive Team), who will convene to consider the particular case.

Queries about the marks awarded for a task CAN ONLY be considered if made when the task is handed back to the class. Students can appeal the assessment process (an aspect of how the task was administered) for 24 hrs after the submission date.