From jwatson at stbedes.school.nz  Thu May 21 15:03:09 2009
From: jwatson at stbedes.school.nz (John Watson)
Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 10:03:09 +1200
Subject: New assessment specification
Message-ID: <6b94d83e0905211503l4ecbafcq244937a5c6da0a65@mail.gmail.com>

Hi
I am sure all teachers are aware of the updated physics assessment
specification;

Within each paper all questions will provide opportunity for all grades of
performance - Achievement, Achievement with Merit and Achievement with
Excellence; there are no stand-alone questions for lower achievement grades.
Candidates should attempt all questions.

Unlike the other sciences we have not been given any examples of what these
might look like, just the following statement:

The question format will appear the same to candidates as in previous years
with each question containing a number of part-questions. While in previous
years each part-question received a grade, this year there will be a single
grade for each question overall.

I assume that to get an M grade a student must must first answer the A part
correctly.

   - If this is so, does it mean questions asking for the correct number of
   sig figs or units will no longer be set?
   - What happens in a situation where a student correctly answers the M or
   E sections of a question but messes up the A part - would they be graded as
   N for that question?
   - Will criterion 1 and 2 questions have equal weight in the final grade?

If anyone can clarify the situation for me I would certainly appreciate it.

regards

John Watson
Head of Science Faculty
St Bede's College
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From jwatson at stbedes.school.nz  Fri May 22 00:22:03 2009
From: jwatson at stbedes.school.nz (John Watson)
Date: Fri, 22 May 2009 19:22:03 +1200
Subject: Fwd: Updated physics assessment specification
In-Reply-To: <4A16BE85.6182.00D3.0@nzqa.govt.nz>
References: <6b94d83e0905211527l74e9db1dn5279bc0bdd3f77b1@mail.gmail.com> 
	<4A16BE85.6182.00D3.0@nzqa.govt.nz>
Message-ID: <6b94d83e0905220022u19d08f6ehc3cd7475dfbb2d0a@mail.gmail.com>

Hi

Thanks for your replies.
Looks like NZQA has a temporary solution...

John Watson
Head of Science Faculty
St Bede's College


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Adrienne Waghorn <adrienne.waghorn at nzqa.govt.nz>
Date: 2009/5/22
Subject: Re: Updated physics assessment specification
To: John Watson <jwatson at stbedes.school.nz>


Hi John
With regard to marking: some subjects, including Physics, may delay adoption
of the proposed change to a single-grade-per-question at least until
single-criterion standards are registered.  There will be a circular shortly
to clarify this change.
In 2009 Physics papers will be marked across the paper as in previous years.
Regards
Adrienne


Adrienne Waghorn
National Assessment Facilitator
Secondary Examinations
Qualifications Division
New Zealand Qualifications
Authority
Ph   04 463 4358
Mb  027 275 8071


>>> John Watson <jwatson at stbedes.school.nz> 22/05/2009 10:27 a.m. >>>
Hi Adrienne

After talking with a number of my colleagues, we are still somewhat confused
about the physics assessment specification:

The question format will appear the same to candidates as in previous years
with each question containing a number of part-questions. While in previous
years each part-question received a grade, this year there will be a single
grade for each question overall.

I assume that to get an M grade a student must must first answer the A part
correctly.

  - If this is so, does it mean questions asking for the correct number of
  sig figs or units will no longer be set?
  - What happens in a situation where a student correctly answers the M or
  E sections of a question but messes up the A part - would they be graded
as
  N for that question

Will criterion 1 and 2 questions have equal weight in the final grade?

If you can clarify the situation for us, we would certainly appreciate it.

regards

John Watson
Head of Science Faculty
St Bede's College

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