FAQ

The information is provided in a question/answer format to highlight the areas and issues about which students and their parents/caregivers should be aware.

1. Will my general behaviour throughout the year be taken into account for assessment purposes?

Yes, if it affects your studies or the studies of other students. Your behaviour would affect your ability to meet the Board requirement that “students apply themselves with diligence and sustained effort.”

2. Are there specific behaviours which will affect my assessment?

Yes, any of the following actions will incur a zero mark for any assessment task:

(a) cheating during an assessment task

(b) copying from another student and claiming that work as your own

(c) presenting an assignment which is clearly not your own work, which includes work completed by another individual on your behalf

(d) allowing other students to copy your work

(e) copying material with no due acknowledgement

(f) disrupting an assessment task and/or

(g) truancy or absence from an assessment task without providing a satisfactory explanation.

3. What if I don’t make a serious attempt at an assessment task?

A non-serious attempt will lead to a student being awarded a zero for that task. Non-serious attempts may result from the attempt being so poor as to be considered non-serious or as a result of the use of derogatory remarks, obscene language, insufficient evidence of the student’s own work, etc. The Subject Head Teacher, in consultation with the teacher involved, will determine if the attempt is non-serious.

4. Can I leave an examination or set assessment task prior to the time set for its completion?

No, except with the supervisor’s permission in legitimate emergencies.

5. Am I entitled to a review of my final assessment?

Yes, the school has review procedures to examine legitimate cases. You should first approach the relevant Subject Head Teacher. If that is not satisfactory then you should see the Deputy Principal Senior School. If the matter is still not resolved then a panel comprising the Principal, Deputy Principal Senior School, the relevant Subject Head Teacher and the Year Adviser will examine the matter and come to a final decision. This procedure applies to all courses including Frameworks courses.

6. When may I lodge an appeal against a final HSC assessment?

You have three (3) days from the time you are notified of your final assessment rank in which to lodge a formal, written appeal, using the ‘Student Appeal Form’. No appeals will be considered after this date. A ’Student Appeal Form’ is available from Subject Head Teachers and the Deputy Principal Senior School.

7. Am I entitled to a re-assessment of an individual assessment task?

Yes, if the mark and rank is not what the student expected, then the student may approach his/her teacher for a re-assessment within two [2] full school days after results have been received.

If illness has affected your performance during the task, you must inform your class teacher (and, in the case of examinations, the supervising teacher) immediately. A medical certificate will be required.

If the teacher, in consultation with the Subject Head Teacher, feels there is just cause for re-assessment, then it may take place. The results of any such re-assessment are final and will not be considered just cause for the re-assessment of other students.

8. Will I be warned if my certificate is at risk?

Yes, you will be warned in writing. Your parents or caregiver will be advised and you will be required to provide a written acknowledgement of the warning.

9. How much warning will I get for each assessment task?

A minimum of two (2) weeks’ notification should be provided prior to any assessment task being given. This document may be regarded by a teacher of any course as sufficient notice of the due dates and the nature of upcoming assessment tasks. The published dates in this book should not be altered by a teacher without your being given sufficient notice of the change. A change of date for a task may be allowed after reference has been made to the overall Assessment Schedule Summary, the School Calendar and consultation with the relevant Subject Head Teacher.

10. What happens if a teacher/faculty wishes to vary the assessment requirements given to you?

This is allowable, as occasionally a task may need to be rescheduled or reset. However, the new date must be negotiated with the students in that course before it is changed.

11. What feedback will I be given on my performance?

For each task you will be told your assessment and your ranking in that task. You will be informed of your progressive ranking through the school reports.

12. How does my assessment result affect my final course mark?

The assessment mark is moderated against the student’s performance in the HSC examination. The moderated assessment mark and examination mark are given equal weight in the determination of the student’s HSC course mark, which is then used to calculate the ATAR.

Assessment tasks in VET courses are used to determine your achievement of competencies. There is no correlation between the achievement of competencies in VET courses and the ATAR. The HSC VET examination marks are recorded on your HSC and may be used to calculate your ATAR.