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11–12Geography 11–12 Syllabus (2022)

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OverviewRationaleAimOutcomesContentAssessmentGlossaryTeaching and learning support

Assessment

HSC examinations

The external HSC examination measures student achievement in a range of syllabus outcomes.

The external examination and its marking relate to the syllabus by:

  • providing clear links to syllabus outcomes
  • enabling students to demonstrate the levels of achievement outlined in the Performance Band Descriptions
  • applying marking guidelines based on criteria that relate to the quality of the response
  • aligning performance in the examination each year to the standards established for the course.

Examination questions may require students to integrate knowledge, understanding and skills developed through studying the course.

The Year 11 course is assumed knowledge for the Year 12 course.

Some students with disability may be eligible for HSC exam provisions when completing the HSC examination.

Geography HSC examination specifications

Stage 6 - Year 12

The examination will consist of a written paper worth 100 marks.

Time allowed: 3 hours plus 10 minutes reading time.

The paper will include a stimulus booklet, which may contain maps, graphs, statistics, diagrams, images/photographs and text-based information.

Calculators approved by NESA, a ruler, a pair of dividers, a pair of compasses, a protractor, a hand-held magnifying glass, and a piece of string or thread for measuring may be used.

The paper will consist of 4 sections.

Section I (15 marks)

  • There will be objective-response questions to the value of 15 marks.
  • Questions may require students to refer to the stimulus booklet and to apply geographical skills and tools.

Section II (45 marks)

  • There will be 4–6 short-answer questions.
  • Questions may contain parts.
  • There will be 10–14 items in total.
  • There will be at least one item, worth 5­–8 marks, that requires integration of knowledge from more than one focus area.
  • Questions may require students to refer to the stimulus booklet and to apply geographical skills and tools.

Section III (20 marks)

  • There will be one structured extended-response question on EITHER Rural and urban places OR Ecosystems and global biodiversity.
  • The structured extended-response question will have two or three parts.
  • The question may require students to refer to the stimulus booklet and to apply geographical skills and tools.

Section IV (20 marks)

  • There will be one unstructured extended-response question on EITHER Rural and urban places OR Ecosystems and global biodiversity (whichever focus area is not examined in Section III).
  • The question may require students to refer to the stimulus booklet.

HSC examination materials

Stage 6 - Year 12

Further information

Stage 6 - Year 12