Retaining and submitting work samples

Determining the grades that are reported on NESA credentials places significant value on teachers’ professional judgements about student achievements. To strengthen the consistency of these judgements in relation to state-wide standards, schools are asked to retain student work samples and the associated assessment activities for Stage 5 and Year 11 courses (except VET and Life Skills) and for Year 12 English Studies, Mathematics Standard 1 and Numeracy CEC.

NESA monitors the Stage 5, Year 11 and Year 12 grade patterns of all schools to ensure grading is consistent with state-wide standards. Schools are required to submit work samples and the associated assessment activities to NESA for Year 12 English Studies, Mathematics Standard 1 and Numeracy CEC when they submit grades for these courses. Schools may be asked to submit student work samples for Stage 5 and Year 11. The work samples retained by schools may also be used in professional development activities to strengthen teachers’ understanding of standards.

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For Stage 5 and Year 11 courses (except VET and Life Skills) and Year 12 English Studies, Mathematics Standard 1 and Numeracy CEC, schools are required to retain a minimum of 2 student work samples representing each A to E grade allocated to their current cohort. This means that, if a school is allocating grades B, C and D to their current cohort, they need to retain a minimum of 2 work samples representing grade B, 2 for grade C and 2 for grade D for their whole cohort. NESA does not require schools to retain student work samples for every assessment activity or every class. However, schools and sectors may retain additional work samples for other purposes. Work samples submitted to NESA will be used to verify schools’ understanding of A to E grades and support consistency in reporting using grades.

Schools should retain work samples that demonstrate performance that is typical of the student(s) who receive a particular grade (A to E) at the school. Any work samples retained by schools to address NESA requirements for A–E grading should be clear examples of the relevant grade and be representative of agreed standards within the school, not just the judgement of one teacher.

The work samples should be drawn from assessment activities conducted towards the end of the course. Work samples for a course may be drawn from the same assessment activity or from different activities. Work samples for a particular grade may be from the same student or different students.

Work samples and associated assessment activities should be retained in a format that can be uploaded electronically. Marking guidelines, marks and teacher comments do not need to be submitted to NESA. Practical work samples may be retained but they need to be samples of the student’s performance, not the teacher’s comments on this performance.

Stage 5 and Year 11 work samples can be carried over from previous years if they are based on the current syllabus and reflect the grades allocated in the current year. Year 12 work samples must be drawn from the current cohort and submitted in Loading  by the due date stated in the Loading . Work samples and the associated assessment activities should be retained by schools for at least one year from the date grades are submitted to NESA for the relevant course.

For Stage 5 and Year 11, schools can choose to collect new work samples each year or to retain existing work samples and add new work samples over time as required to reflect changes in the distribution of grades or the syllabus. For example, if a school previously retained work samples for grades A and B, but in the current year grades A, B, and C are allocated to students, the school must retain a minimum of 2 additional work samples representing grade C.

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• A minimum of 2 work samples for each grade allocated to the current cohort in Stage 5 and Year 11 courses (except VET and Life Skills).
• A minimum of 2 work samples for each grade allocated to the current cohort in Year 12. English Studies, Mathematics Standard 1 and Numeracy CEC, drawn from the current cohort.
• Work samples indicative of achievement towards the end of the course.
• Formats that can be uploaded electronically to Schools Online.
• Indication of the A to E grade each work sample represents.
• Electronic copies of each assessment activity associated with the work samples.

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The following information details what schools are required to submit, when, and in what format.

NESA will contact schools if they are required to submit work samples for Stage 5 and Year 11 courses. This will usually occur in Term 1. If schools are asked to provide work samples, instructions on how to upload the samples and associated assessment activities will be provided.

For Year 12 English Studies, Mathematics Standard 1 and Numeracy CEC, all schools are required to upload a minimum of 2 work samples representing each A to E grade allocated to their current cohort, and a copy of the associated assessment activity. For example, if a school is only allocating grades B, C and D to students in the current cohort, they need to upload a minimum of 2 work samples demonstrating achievement at grades B, C and D, and do not need to upload any work samples for grades A or E.

Work samples for Year 12 are to be uploaded in Loading  when grades are entered for the course.

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Work samples and assessment activities must be in a format that can be uploaded electronically in Loading .

A work sample is any item of work completed by a student. It can be a response to a written or practical activity. For practical or performance activities, recordings of student work can be used, but the work sample must be the student’s work, not the teacher’s description of how the student performed.

Schools should not submit work samples that require students to use identifying personal information, such as job application activities.

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• A minimum of 2 work samples representing achievement at the end of the course for each grade allocated to the current cohort.
• Indication of the grade each work sample represents, either on the work sample or in the file name.
• Copy of each relevant assessment activity.
• Any stimulus material or extracts that were given to students with the assessment activity.
• Information about the context of the activity (for example, in-class, submitted, time allowed, word limit).
• Recordings of student work for any practical or performance activities.
• Images of student work for any submitted activities.
• Formats that can be uploaded electronically to Schools Online.
• Material that is clear and legible.