STUDENT HSC ASSESSMENT POLICY
1. ASSESSMENT TASKS
1.1
Each student is expected to complete all assessment tasks.
1.2
Assessment tasks take precedence over all other school activities, including excursions, competitions and sporting events. Under special circumstances the Principal may grant exemptions.
1.3
Assessment tasks must be handed in personally to the class teacher. Unless otherwise specified, all assessment tasks must be handed in as hard copies.
1.4
Assessment for the HSC Course will begin from Term 4 and finish at the conclusion of the Trial HSC. Some practical courses may require assessment after this date.
1.5
Assessments can only be based on the HSC Course, apart from exceptions noted by the Board of Studies.
1.6
All work done at home must be the student's own work. The progress of home assessment tasks will be checked by the teacher where appropriate. Work submitted containing work not done by the student may receive zero marks.
1.7
For subjects with an externally marked practical component, the majority of the work must be done at school under teacher supervision.
1.8
Exam type tasks are those for which no additional question details have been provided. Additional question details may include such things as marking criteria, an open book task, or the question being given beforehand.
2. COMPLETION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS
2.1
Late work will receive a zero mark unless a student supplies appropriate evidence of illness or misadventure. Even though a zero mark will be recorded, students must still complete the assessment task and appropriate feedback will be given.
2.2
Broken disks, computer and printing problems, will not be accepted as valid excuses for late work.
2.3
If a student is absent from an assessment task proof of illness must be produced. A doctor's certificate is considered proof of illness. Students will be expected to complete the task on the first day of their return to school. The student has the responsibility of reporting to the Head Teacher or Mrs Hawken on his/her arrival at school. Failure to do so on immediate arrival to school will be considered late work and a zero mark recorded.
2.4
If a student is absent and does not provide proof of illness or misadventure a zero mark will be recorded. Students must still attempt the assessment task and appropriate feedback will be supplied.
2.5
Difficulties in preparing for assessment tasks will not usually be considered for compensation. In exceptional circumstances, the Principal will consider reviewing results gained under adverse conditions.
2.6
If a student knows beforehand that he/she will be absent, he/she should contact the school and inform Mrs Hawken.
2.7
If a student is ill during an Assessment Task he/she must inform the supervising teacher and see Mrs Hawken immediately after. If at all possible the student should complete the assessment task/exam and submit an illness/misadventure appeal.
2.8
If a student becomes ill during an Assessment Task and does not complete it the Head Teacher, together with Mrs Hawken, will decide whether an estimate or a substitute task will be given.
2.9
If for any reason an assessment task produces invalid or unreliable results an additional task will be given. Both tasks will be included in the final assessment mark but the weighting of the first task will be reduced. Students will be informed in writing if this occurs. The value of the task weighting, however, will not change.
2.10
Students must attend all classes on the day an assessment task is due. Students are not permitted to turn up late because they have been working on the task. A zero mark may be given if this occurs, unless the necessary documentation, such as a doctor's certificate, is provided. (See 2.3)
2.11
Students absent from either the Term 4 Assessment Week, the Half Yearly or the Trial HSC examination, must do the examination in the next available time slot, otherwise a zero mark may be recorded.
3. NON COMPLETION OF ASSESSMENT TASKS
3.1
Students who have not attempted assessment tasks totalling 50% or more of the final course Assessment marks, will be certified as not having satisfactorily completed the course. This means that the student will not receive an assessment mark or an examination mark for that subject.
3.2
If a student receives a zero mark, parents will be notified and made aware of the potential consequences.
4. ATTENDANCE
4.1
Students attendance at school and in class is an essential prerequisite for the attainment of the HSC. A Non-Award warning letter may be issued if attendance falls below 85% on the grounds that the student has not completed course outcomes.
5. SCHOOL'S REVIEW COMMITTEE
5.1
Student malpractice in assessment tasks and examinations will be referred to the school's Review Committee. This may result in the student's paper being cancelled. This Committee will inform the student of the outcome.
5.2
Plagiarism is considered malpractice. Plagiarism is the use of the work of others without acknowledgement;
The passing off of someone else's entire work as your own, is plagiarism. The copying of paragraphs or sentences from someone else's work is permitted, as long as it is appropriately acknowledged by footnoting or quotation marks. The copying of someone else's ideas, including paraphrasing, is allowed, as long as it is acknowledged.
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5.3
A student who wishes to appeal on the grounds of illness or misadventure must do so in writing, setting out the reasons as fully as possible. This appeal must be written by the student and lodged no later than 2 days after the due date for the task. All documentation must accompany the appeal when it is lodged. A proforma is available from Mrs Hawken. The appeal should be handed to Mrs Hawken.
5.4
For appeals against an internal assessment mark the student should see their classroom teacher in the first instance and then the Head Teacher. These appeals are dealt with within the faculty.
5.5
In the case of an appeal at the end of the HSC course, details from the student's rank sheet issued by the Board of Studies after the completion of the HSC examination should be included.
5.6
The grounds for appeal are:
The weightings used by the school in its Assessment Program do not conform to BOS requirements. The school has varied from its stated Assessment program. Errors in calculations have been made.
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6. REPORTING
6.1
On both the Half Yearly and Yearly reports the exam mark will be published.