FIELD                        SOCIAL SCIENCES

 

Review of Classical Studies Level 3 achievement standards

 

Subfield            Social Science Studies

Domain

Id

Subject reference

Classical Studies

90511-90514

Classical Studies 3.1-3.4

 

The Ministry of Education and the Secondary Education Group Assessment business unit of NZQA have completed a review of the achievement standards listed above that were registered in October 2003.

 

New Registration date                        November 2005

 

Date new versions published                        November 2005

 

Planned review date                        March 2008

 

Summary of review and consultation process

 

This review is part of the planned cycle of review that takes place after the first year of use of the achievement standards.

·        Initial feedback and comments were collated from teachers/schools, moderators, examiners, markers, material developers and other stakeholders.

·        This information was reviewed by a subject expert panel and recommendations were made in March 2005.

·        The recommendations were sent out for full consultation to secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and others in the education sector, in April/May 2005.

·        Feedback from this full consultation has informed the changes described below.

 

Main changes resulting from the review

 

AS90511 (3.1), Explain a passage or passages from a work of classical literature in translation.

·        Title

The title has been changed so it is in line with 3.2 and 3.3 and consistent with the 2 achievement standard.  The introductory statement has been changed for the same reasons.  To clarify that students may achieve across one or two passages, passage or passages has been included in the title and introductory statement.  The word involves in the introductory statement has been replaced by requires for consistency purposes and to reflect the intent of the standard.

 

·        Achievement criteria

The achievement criteria have been reduced for consistency with Level 2.  Work has been changed to passage or passages to reflect the original intent of the achievement standard more clearly.

 

·        Explanatory notes

1            An additional explanatory note defining work has been made to be consistent with Level 2.  The translator of the recommended text has been added for clarification of the edition that could be used.

2            A definition of explain has been included in explanatory note 3 (definitions).  A new definition has been added explaining literary features to be consistent with Level 2 with the addition of literary context.  The definition of analyse has been amended for clarification.

3            The wording of explanatory note 4 has been amended to correct an omission from the first version.  The summary includes a reference to resources has been added.

 

AS90512 (3.2), Explain a work or works of classical art

·        Title

The title has been changed so it is consistent with 3.1 and 3.3.  The introductory statement has been changed for the same reason.  The addition of work or works to the title and purpose statement has been made to signal that students, in order to gain achievement with excellence, need only show excellence in one work.  The word involves in the purpose statement has been replaced by requires for consistency purposes and to reflect the intent of the achievement standard.

The phrase in context has been removed from the title and the criteria to reflect that this is only one of the aspects that can be explained.  Reference to in context is included in the explanatory notes.

 

·        Achievement criteria

The achievement criteria have been reduced to one to be consistent with Level 2.

 

·        Explanatory notes

1            The references have been amended to emphasise the non-prescriptive nature of books referred to and provide the opportunity to use better quality resources for assessment purposes.

2            Explanatory note 1 has been reworded for clarification.

3            The wording of explanatory note 2, students will select... has been made consistent with other standards at Level 2 and 3.

4            The tables of works are now all part of a single explanatory note (Explanatory Note 2).  Each table has been placed after the topic details.

5            Additions to explanatory note 3 (definitions) include amended definitions of explain, features and analyse for clarification and for consistency with Level 2.

6            The wording of explanatory note 4 has been amended to correct an omission from the first version.  The summary includes a reference to resources has been added.

 

AS90513 (3.3), Explain in essay format an aspect of the classical world

·        Achievement criteria

The first criterion at achievement with excellence has been changed to analyse in detail for consistency with criteria in 3.1 and 3.2.  Comprehensive has been removed for the same reason.

 

·        Explanatory notes

1            The topics Socrates and Greek Science have been retained in this achievement standard although there was a recommendation to delete them; however this recommendation was not endorsed in the feedback from the consultation.

2            The phrase and Socrates' attitude to death, an omission from the first version, has been added.

3            In explanatory note 2, his government of the empire has been added into the wording of the Augustus topic.

4            Amendments have been made to explanatory note 3 defining and clarifying explain and analyse.

5            To be consistent with Level 2 a note on supporting evidence has been inserted in explanatory note 3.

6            The wording of explanatory note 4 has been amended to correct an omission in the first version.  The summary includes a reference to resources has been added.

 

AS90514 (3.4), Complete independent research on an area of the classical world

·        Title

A change to the title has been made to change classical studies to classical world for consistency purposesThe introductory statement has been amended to read relevant evidence and interpreting has been deleted to be consistent with the achievement criteria.  The introductory statement has been amended to be consistent with the title.  The word involves in the introductory statement has been replaced by requires for consistency purposes and to reflect the intent of the achievement standard.

 

·        Achievement criteria

The criteria for each achievement grade have been expanded to clarify the intent of the achievement standard.  Research for this standard requires: selection of evidence, analysis of evidence and reaching conclusions.  Merit is to be differentiated by selection and analysis of a range of evidence.  Excellence is to be differentiated by selection and analysis of a wide range of evidence and developed conclusions.

 

·        Explanatory notes

1            A change to explanatory note 1 has been madeto reflect the intent of the standard; students will research rather than select a topic.

2            Explanatory note 2 adds a definition of research.

3            Explanatory note 4 adds a definition of a range of evidence.

4            Definitions have been added defining and clarifying analyse and developed conclusions to explanatory note 5.  The definition of analyse has been added for consistency with other Level 3 achievement standards.

5            The wording of explanatory note 6 has been amended to correct an omission in the first version.  The summary includes a reference to resources has been added.

 

Impact on Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP)

 

None.

 

Impact on existing qualifications

 

None.

 

Impact of changes on NCEA Exclusions List

 

None.

 

Summary of main changes to achievement standards' Ids, classification, titles, levels, and credits

 

The following summary shows the changes made to the achievement standards as a result of the review.  All changes are in bold.

 

Key to review category

 

A

Dates changed, but no other changes are made - the new version of the standard carries the same Id and a new version number

B

Changes made, but the overall outcome remains the same - the new version of the standard carries the same Id and a new version number

C

Major changes that necessitate the registration of a replacement achievement standard with a new Id

D

Achievement standard will expire and not be replaced

 

Subfield            Social Science Studies

Domain            Classical Studies

Id

Title

Level

Credit

Review Category

90511

Examine and analyse passage(s) from work(s) of classical literature in translation

Explain a passage or passages from a work of classical literature in translation

3

6

B

90512

Explain works of classical art in context

Explain a work or works of classical art

3

6

B

90513

Explain in essay format an aspect of the classical world

3

6

B

90514

Complete independent research on an area of classical studies

Complete independent research on an area of the classical world

3

6

B