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November 2011

Contents

• Extension of expiry on some physics unit standards
• The new Level 1 Physics standards and assessment tasks
• 90252 and 90774 Comments
• L3 assessment resource trials

Extension of expiry on some physics unit standards 

The following physics unit standards have had the expiry date extended to 31 December 2012.

18972 - Demonstrate knowledge of sources, transference, and uses of energy

18975 - Demonstrate knowledge of science in sport

18977 - Demonstrate knowledge of the generation and use of electricity

18980 - Demonstrate basic knowledge of waves

Details on this can be found in the following Circular.

The new Level 1 Physics standards and assessment tasks 

90936

The standard does not require the student's research to be assessed.  The application being researched by the students should be appropriate to Level 6 of the curriculum.

90935

The standard does not include any extra requirements with regard to 'developing a method for collecting the data' at the merit level.  EN6.  The method does not need to be of a standard that 'another student could follow' or any similar statement for the students to be awarded merit.

The graph line must be a straight line for the student to be awarded merit - EN6.

The gradient calculation must be related to the data the student has plotted.  If the student has used values from the table data the points used must actually lie on the line drawn.  If the student has only used one point on the line and calculated the gradient assuming the line goes through the origin, it should be checked that the line actually passes through the origin.

The equation of the relationship must include the variables which have been recorded and plotted.  The equation should not be stated in terms of x and y unless it has been clearly defined how the x and y symbols are representing the plotted variables.  If a task is being used in which the variables are similar, for example drop height and rebound height the variables symbols such as 'd' and 'r' should be given in the task to avoid any confusion when writing a mathematical equation where the variables are both height.   

The conclusion should link the processed data to the identified trend on the graph EN5.  If specific conclusions are given they must reflect the actual data. For example if the conclusion states, 'the rebound height rises by 5cm every time the drop height rises by 10cm', this should be supported by the data.

90252 and 90774 

For assessment of these standards it is acceptable to use packages such as Excel.

Students should be familiar with the software before they attempt the task so that they are fully able to fulfil the criteria of the standard. 

90252

The NZIP assessment resource available for this standard has a range of experiments that can be used as part of a portfolio.  The experiments are supplied with instructions of how to assess the portfolio.  If fewer experiments than are suggested are used, it must be ensured that the requirements of the standard are still being met.  EN 2 states that 'proficiency must be demonstrated in the measurement of at least three different physical quantities and using at least three different types of measuring instrument'. This must be fulfilled within the experiments presented.

L3 assessment resource trials 

The trials of the assessment resources for the L3 standards will be taking place early in 2012.  If you would like more information on the trials or are interested in being involved in the trials contact jenny.nourish@nzqa.govt.nz