Student Assessment

Assessment

Assessment is the process of identifying, gathering and interpreting information about students’ learning. The central purpose of assessment is to provide information on student achievement and progress and set the direction for ongoing teaching and learning. This is known as formative assessment. Formative assessment occurs as a regular part of teaching and learning, and the information gained from assessment activities can be used to shape the teaching and learning process.

Assessment as learning encourages students to monitor their own learning and take more responsibility through peer assessment, self-reflection and creating learning goals.

Summative assessment assists teachers in using evidence of student learning to assess achievement against outcomes and standards. Summative assessment usually occurs at defined key points during a unit of work or at the end of a unit, term or semester, and may be used to rank or grade students.



Assessment Outlines

All students receive an assessment outlines that provides information about MGHS Assessment Policy as well as information on how students will be assessed in each subject. This information should be carefully read and form the basis by which students study and prepare for tasks. Assessment outlines are:

Assessment and examination preparation

To prepare for assessment tasks and examinations effectively, students should:

●     Check assessment notifications and assessment booklets carefully

●     Complete study notes throughout the year - every two weeks could be seen as a guide

●     Complete practice tasks to gain feedback from teachers

●     Set up an effective study environment at home

●     Use a study timetable to create and maintain effective study habits

●     Aim to finish take home tasks well in advance of the due date

●     Submit their tasks as identified in the 



Plagiarism

While students are studying, at both school and beyond, they will be expected to research and prepare a range of tasks that will require them to read and use other people’s ideas and words to help develop their own understanding. It is important that when students use other people’s words and ideas that they give them the appropriate credit. To not credit them is the same as stealing, and this is known as plagiarism. ‘Plagiarism is when you pretend that you have written or created a piece of work that someone else originated. It is cheating, it is dishonest, and it could jeopardise your HSC exam results.’ (NESA website, HSC - All My Own Work, What is plagiarism?). Both senior and junior students need to understand that it is wrong to copy and submit work that they have not created themselves. This includes the use of Changing a few words around is still plagiarising.

Some of the best methods to avoid plagiarism include:

●     ensuring students have enough time to research and write their own assignments (don’t leave it to the last moment)

●     making effective notes – jotting down points, not copying whole sentences. Copying and pasting from the internet makes it very hard to avoid plagiarising

●     ensuring students write their assignment from notes, not the original source of information

●     students keeping accurate records of where they find information and include a bibliography for every assignment (not just when a teacher asks for it)