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 Engineering Studies
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 engineering practices, technological advancements and Australian engineering standards
provides well-informed justifications about materials for engineering applications based on structure–property relationships, forming processes and in-service performance
demonstrates skilful and consistent application of appropriate engineering principles and mechanical and graphical methodologies to develop solutions to engineering problems across a range of contexts
demonstrates highly developed skills in interpreting and creating engineering drawings and graphical representations using Australian Standard for Technical Drawing (AS 1100)
skilfully communicates engineering principles and processes using appropriate technical terminology and concepts.
Band 5
A student who performs at this level typically:
demonstrates thorough knowledge and understanding of engineering practices, technological advancements and Australian engineering standards
provides informed justifications about materials for engineering applications based on structure–property relationships, forming processes and in-service performance
demonstrates effective application of appropriate engineering principles and mechanical and graphical methodologies to develop solutions to engineering problems across a range of contexts
demonstrates well-developed skills in interpreting and creating engineering drawings and graphical representations using Australian Standard for Technical Drawing (AS 1100)
effectively communicates engineering principles and processes using appropriate technical terminology and concepts.
Band 4
A student who performs at this level typically:
demonstrates sound knowledge and understanding of engineering practices, technological advancements and Australian engineering standards
provides justifications about materials for engineering applications based on structure–property relationships, forming processes and in-service performance
demonstrates sound application of engineering principles and mechanical and graphical methodologies to develop solutions to engineering problems
demonstrates sound skills in interpreting and creating engineering drawings and graphical representations using Australian Standard for Technical Drawing (AS 1100)
clearly communicates engineering principles and processes using technical terminology and concepts.
Band 3
A student who performs at this level typically:
demonstrates basic knowledge and understanding of engineering practices, technological advancements and Australian engineering standards
describes materials for engineering applications relating to structure–property relationships, forming processes and/or in-service performance
demonstrates basic use of engineering principles and mechanical and/or graphical methodologies to develop solutions to engineering problems
demonstrates basic skills in interpreting and/or creating engineering drawings and/or graphical representations, referring to Australian Standard for Technical Drawing (AS 1100)
communicates engineering principles and/or processes using some technical terminology and concepts.
Band 2
A student who performs at this level typically:
demonstrates elementary knowledge of engineering practices, technological advancements and/or Australian engineering standards
outlines materials for engineering applications relating to structure–property relationships, forming processes or in-service performance
demonstrates limited use of engineering principles and/or methodologies
demonstrates limited skills in creating engineering drawings or graphical representations
demonstrates limited communication of engineering principles or processes.
Band 1
Performance reported as Band 1 indicates that the minimum standard expected was not demonstrated.