Scholarship Agriculture and Horticultural Science

On this page:

• Agricultural and Horticultural assessment specification
• Agricultural and Horticultural resources

Agricultural and Horticultural Science assessment specification

Format for the assessment for all achievement standards

The paper will comprise three questions, each worth 8 marks. Candidates are required to answer ALL questions.

Each question will have a primary focus on one of:

• export-orientated primary production systems
• sustainability
• contemporary issues.

All questions will require the candidate to answer in relation to at least one primary production system of their choice.

Special notes

1. Candidates will be required to have detailed understanding of TWO primary production systems from producer to consumer and an understanding of other primary production systems. A primary production system involves the production of one or more products, e.g. a sheep system might produce wool and meat.
   
   
2. A primary production system involves physical, technical, economic, and social factors, including but not limited to soil and water, climate, crops, plants, livestock, farmers or growers, employees, suppliers, authorities, processors, distributors, retailers, markets, and consumers.
   
   
3. Contemporary issues are those impacting now or likely to impact in the future on primary production systems. Contemporary issues for assessment in 2012 are limited to:
   
   Group A
   • Market access
   • Water (availability and / or quality)
     
     
   Group B
   • Animal welfare
   • Carbon footprint
   • Changes in land use
   • Country of origin labelling
   • Foreign ownership of land.

Candidates are expected to be able to discuss ALL issues in Group A and at least TWO from Group B in relation to their chosen primary production systems, including marketing in the global economy, and to other systems to which these issues have particular relevance.

Candidates should be familiar with the following:

• Level 3 Agricultural and Horticultural Science achievement standards
• Agricultural and Horticultural Science Scholarship Performance Standard and Explanatory Notes
• Agricultural and Horticultural Science Scholarship resource material on the Horticultural and Agricultural Teachers Association (HATA) website.

Agricultural and Horticultural resources

The links listed below are for resources to help teachers and students understand what is required for success in Scholarship.

• Performance standards
• Exam materials (question books, resource books, reports, schedules, etc)
  • Top Scholar 2011 (PDF, 11MB)
  • 2011 exam materials (ZIP, 678KB)
  • 2010 exam materials (ZIP, 297KB)
  • 2009 exam materials (ZIP, 545KB)
  • All years (ZIP, 1.5MB)