A2008/024 - 30 June 2008

Changes to Geography Assessment Specifications

During the examination setting process some issues with the assessment specifications were identified and have been resolved as follows:

The level 1 amendment will enable the examination to appropriately assess performance in relation to the wider choice of events allowed by the revised standard.

The level 2 amendment involves the replacement of a single word so that the specification now accords with the wording of the achievement standard.

The level 3 amendment is to ensure that candidates are formally aware of the equipment required for the examination.

Each of the amendments should have minimal impact on teaching programmes and candidate preparation for exams. 

Level 1 Achievement Standard 90202

The 2008 assessment specifications for Achievement Standard 90202, published in December 2007, stated:

"Resource material provided will be relevant to a range of Extreme Natural Events and the candidate will be required to interpret the material and select [material] appropriate to their chosen Extreme Natural Event."

According to version 3 of the achievement standard (published in November 2007), students are required to demonstrate "knowledge of any significant extreme natural event from around the world" (Explanatory Note 2). It has since been decided that it would be inappropriate to provide resource material as there is a significant risk that it would not be relevant to the full range of Extreme Natural Events described by candidates. Therefore, the above statement has been deleted from the assessment specifications.

This means that no resource material will be provided for students to interpret and select from.

Level 2 Achievement Standard 90331

The 2008 assessment specifications for Achievement Standard 90331, published in December 2007, incorrectly stated:

"Assessment will focus on:

• spatial variations of natural factors within a natural landscape" (emphasis added)

This should have read:

"Assessment will focus on:

• spatial variations of natural features within a natural landscape" (emphasis added)

The assessment specification has been amended accordingly.

Level 3 Geography Assessment Specifications General Information

The following item has been added to the General Information section of the 2008 assessment specifications:

Additional Equipment:

Scientific calculators - the list of acceptable type and model of scientific calculators.

All three assessment specifications have now been corrected and amended versions have been published on this website. Teachers should follow the links below and print the amended specifications for their records.

• Level 1
• Level 2
• Level 3

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Previous circulars

• 023 - 20 June 2008 - Selecting Evidence for Portfolios - Graphics External Assessment
• 022 - 20 June 2008 - Guide notes: Social Studies Values Achievement Standards
• 021 - 20 June 2008 - Prescribed texts for Level 3 Drama 90610 for 2009-11
• 020 - 6 June 2008 - Fields for Scholarship Visual Arts
• 019 - 23 May 2008 - Agriculture and Horticulture Achievement Standard Changes and Assessment Specifications
• 018 - 9 May 2008 - Assessment Reports
• 017 - 9 May 2008 - 2008 Mathematics External Assessment
• 016 - 2 May 2008 - Preparing Visual Submissions for Moderation for NQF Qualifications
• 015 - 2 May 2008 - Change to the number of choices for External Assessment of Art History Level 2 Achievement Standard 90227: Discuss art works
• 014 - 2 May 2008 - English Assessment Specifications and Achievement Standard Changes
• 013 - 11 April 2008 - Guidelines for Assessment against Accounting 90504, Version 2: Prepare a report that analyses and interprets a company's financial report for external users
• 012 - 2 May 2008 - Update: Assessment Specifications for the External Assessment of Level 1, 2 and 3 Achievement Standards and Scholarship for 2008
• 011 - 11 April 2008 - Practical Investigations in Sciences
• 010 - 11 April 2008 - Visual Arts Moderation
• 009 - 4 April 2008 - Assessment for Secondary School Qualifications through the Medium of Te Reo Māori
• 008 - 7 March 2008 - Change to Level 3 Social Studies assessment specifications
• 007 - 15 February 2008 - Change to Level 2 Classical Studies Assessment Specifications for Achievement Standard 90248
• 006 - 15 February 2008 - Information Management 2008 - External Assessment Change
• 005 - 8 February 2008 - Revised Internal Moderation Cover Sheet
• 004 - 8 February 2008 - Geography Skills
• 003 - 5 February 2008 - Education for Sustainability
• 002 - 23 January 2008 - Level 1 Achievement Standards Review 2007
• 001 - 18 January 2008 - Reconsiderations for the Externally Assessed Level 3 and Scholarship Visual Arts Standardsr 2007

archive of previous circulars