Assessment
Course standards
Course standards are comprised of syllabus standards and performance standards. Syllabus outcomes and content form the syllabus standards that describe what students are expected to know, understand and do. Performance standards, including the Common Grade Scale for Preliminary courses, HSC Performance Band Descriptions and Achievement Level Descriptions (for HSC courses with grades only) describe how well students have achieved in relation to syllabus standards. Performance standards are used to report student achievement on NESA credentials.
Common Grade Scale for Preliminary courses
The Loading provides generic, holistic descriptions for performance at each of the 5 grade levels. It is used to report student achievement in Year 11 courses in all NSW schools.
Performance Band Descriptions for Drama
HSC performance band descriptions summarise the knowledge, understanding and skills typically demonstrated by students at each band level in a particular course. NESA uses these holistic descriptions to report a student's overall level of achievement in an HSC course.
Band 6
A student who performs at this level typically:
demonstrates extensive knowledge and understanding of how dramatic works are shaped, staged and experienced through dramatic contexts, processes and elements
demonstrates highly developed skills in realising creative intent by communicating clear and cohesive dramatic meaning in an Individual project
manipulates highly developed performance skills to stage an Ensemble performance with sustained intent and skilful control
demonstrates sophisticated analysis of the ways dramatic form and style shape dramatic meaning and works
skilfully communicates insightful judgements about dramatic elements and processes using experiences as a maker, performer and audience.
Band 5
A student who performs at this level typically:
demonstrates thorough knowledge and understanding of how dramatic meaning and works are shaped, staged and experienced through dramatic contexts, processes and elements
demonstrates well-developed skills in realising creative intent by communicating clear dramatic meaning in an Individual project
manipulates well-developed performance skills to stage an Ensemble performance with intent and effective control
demonstrates effective analysis of the ways dramatic form and style shape dramatic meaning and works
effectively communicates informed judgements about dramatic elements and processes using experiences as a maker, performer and audience.
Band 4
A student who performs at this level typically:
demonstrates sound knowledge and understanding of how dramatic meaning and works are shaped, staged and experienced through dramatic contexts, processes and elements
demonstrates sound skills in realising creative intent by communicating dramatic meaning in an Individual project
manipulates sound performance skills to stage an Ensemble performance with intent and control
demonstrates sound analysis of the ways dramatic form and style shape dramatic meaning and works
clearly communicates judgements about dramatic elements and processes using experiences as a maker, performer and audience.
Band 3
A student who performs at this level typically:
demonstrates basic knowledge and understanding of how dramatic meaning and works are shaped, staged and experienced through dramatic contexts, processes and/or elements
demonstrates basic skills in communicating dramatic meaning in an Individual project
uses basic performance skills to stage an Ensemble performance
describes some ways dramatic form and/or style shape dramatic meaning and works
communicates information about dramatic elements and/or processes using experiences as a maker, performer and audience.
Band 2
A student who performs at this level typically:
demonstrates elementary knowledge and understanding of how dramatic meaning and works are shaped, staged or experienced through dramatic contexts, processes or elements
demonstrates limited skills in communicating dramatic meaning in an Individual project
uses limited performance skills to stage an Ensemble performance
outlines some information about dramatic form, style or works
communicates limited information about dramatic elements, processes or experiences.
Band 1
Performance reported as Band 1 indicates that the minimum standard expected was not demonstrated.