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 English Extension 1
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 E4
A student who performs at this level typically:
demonstrates insightful understanding and sophisticated evaluation of the ways concepts and values inform texts
displays highly developed skills in analysing and evaluating texts and the relationships between them, and the different ways in which texts are valued
integrates highly developed independent inquiry skills with analysis of their own authorial choices to communicate insightful conclusions
composes complex extended critical and creative texts, with a high level of expertise
demonstrates outstanding control of language to express complex ideas with precision in a form and style appropriate to purpose, audience and context.
Band E3
A student who performs at this level typically:
demonstrates clear understanding and thoughtful evaluation of the ways concepts and values inform texts
displays well-developed skills in analysing and evaluating texts and the relationships between them, and the different ways in which texts are valued
integrates independent inquiry skills with analysis of their own authorial choices to communicate well-developed conclusions
composes complex extended critical and creative texts, with expertise
demonstrates skilful control of language to express complex ideas with clarity in a form and style appropriate to purpose, audience and context.
Band E2
A student who performs at this level typically:
demonstrates sound understanding and evaluation of the ways concepts and values inform texts
displays sound skills in analysing and evaluating texts and the relationships between them, and the different ways in which texts are valued
integrates independent inquiry skills with the analysis of their own authorial choices to communicate informed conclusions
composes extended critical and creative texts with competence
demonstrates competent control of language to express complex ideas in a form and style appropriate to purpose, audience and context.
Band E1
Performance reported as Band E1 indicates that the minimum standard expected was not demonstrated.
Performance Band Descriptions for English Extension 2
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 E4
A student who performs at this level typically:
demonstrates insightful analysis and evaluation of the relationships between texts, authors, perspectives and contexts
demonstrates highly developed skills in evaluating and articulating the ways scholarly readings and literary theories assign meaning and value to texts and authors
composes a substantial, sustained and engaging original major work that demonstrates highly developed skills in independent inquiry and in communicating complex concepts appropriate to purpose, audience and medium
communicates insightful arguments that evaluate and synthesise literary debate supported by extensive independent inquiry into authorship and authority.
Band E3
A student who performs at this level typically:
demonstrates well-developed analysis and evaluation of the relationships between texts, authors, perspectives and contexts
demonstrates well-developed skills in evaluating and articulating the ways scholarly readings and literary theories assign meaning and value to texts and authors
composes a substantial, sustained and engaging original major work that demonstrates effective skills in independent inquiry and in communicating complex concepts appropriate to purpose, audience and medium
communicates arguments that evaluate and synthesise literary debate supported by independent inquiry into authorship and authority.
Band E2
A student who performs at this level typically:
demonstrates developed analysis and evaluation of the relationships between texts, authors, perspectives and/or contexts
demonstrates sound skills in evaluating and articulating the ways scholarly readings and literary theories assign meaning and value to texts and/or authors
composes a substantial and sustained original major work that demonstrates sound skills in independent inquiry and in communicating concepts appropriate to purpose, audience and/or medium
communicates arguments that evaluate literary debate using independent inquiry into authorship and authority.
Band E1
Performance reported as Band E1 indicates that the minimum standard expected was not demonstrated.