AS 91387 annotated exemplars

This annotated exemplar is intended for teacher use only. Annotated exemplars are extracts of student evidence, with commentary, that explain key parts of a standard. These help teachers make assessment judgements at the grade boundaries.

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TKI Chemistry assessment resources (external link)

For Excellence, the student needs to carry out an investigation in chemistry involving quantitative analysis.

This involves producing evidence of a report on the investigation that includes justification of the steps used, a comprehensive evaluation of the investigation, and shows accurate processing of the collected data including the correct use of significant figures and units.

The student needs to produce evidence to justify their method in terms of the reactions involved, the nature of the sample, how the processed data supports their conclusion, reliability of the collected data, and how the results of their investigation link to chemical principles/ real life applications.

This student has justified the steps taken in their investigation by linking the key reactions involved to the relevant steps in their investigation (1). The student has also justified how the processed data links to the conclusion (2) and linked the conclusion of their investigation to real life applications and chemistry ideas (3).

The student has provided evidence of evaluating the reliability of the data and the procedure used as well as possible sources of error (4).

For Excellence, the student needs to carry out a comprehensive investigation in chemistry involving quantitative analysis.

This involves:

• accurate processing of the data using appropriate significant figures and units
• presenting a report that shows evidence of justifying the steps used in the procedure in relation to the reactions occurring and to the nature of the samples being analysed
• a comprehensive evaluation of the investigation that includes a selection from evaluation of the reliability of the data by considering the procedure used and possible sources of error, justification of how the processed data supports the conclusions and linking the conclusion to chemical principles or real-life applications.

This student has accurately processed data using appropriate significant figures and units (1), evaluated the reliability of the data by considering the procedure (2) and possible sources of error (3), and attempted to justify how the processed data supports the conclusion(s) (4). 

For a more secure Excellence, the student could link the conclusion(s) to chemical principles or real-life applications.

For Merit, the student needs to undertake effective project management to support technological practice.

This involves:

• the collection of quality data, which includes standardising the standard solution(s) and the control of significant variables
• accurate processing of the data to reach a valid conclusion
• providing evidence of the mathematical steps used to process the experimental data
• presenting a report that contains a description of the procedure in sufficient detail for the investigation to be duplicated, a conclusion that links the processed data to the purpose of the investigation and an explanation of how the procedure used contributed to the collection of quality data.

This student has accurately processed data (1), given a conclusion that links the processed data to the purpose of the investigation (2), and explained how the procedure contributed to the collection of quality data (3).

This student begins to justify the steps used in the procedure in terms of the reactions that are taking place to allow for the collection of the data.

This evidence does not reach Excellence because the student needs to evaluate their investigation in terms of how the conclusion(s) relate to chemistry ideas and/or real-life applications, the reliability of the data, and how the processed data supports their conclusion(s).

For Merit, the student needs to carry out an in-depth investigation in chemistry involving quantitative analysis.

This involves:

• collection of quality data which includes standardising the standard solution(s) and control of significant variables
• accurate processing of the data to reach a valid conclusion
• providing evidence of the mathematical steps used to process the experimental data
• presenting a report that contains a description of the procedure in sufficient detail for the investigation to be duplicated, a conclusion that links the processed data to the purpose of the investigation and an explanation of how the procedure used contributed to the collection of quality data.

This student has accurately processed data (1), given a conclusion that links the processed data to the purpose of the investigation (2), and given an explanation of how the procedure used contributed to the collection of quality data (3).

To reach Excellence, the student could use appropriate significant figures and give a more comprehensive evaluation.

For Merit, the student needs to carry out an in-depth investigation in chemistry involving quantitative analysis.

This involves:

• collection of quality data which includes standardising the standard solution(s) and control of significant variables
• accurate processing of the data to reach a valid conclusion
• providing evidence of the mathematical steps used to process the experimental data
• presenting a report that contains a description of the procedure in sufficient detail for the investigation to be duplicated, a conclusion that links the processed data to the purpose of the investigation and an explanation of how the procedure used contributed to the collection of quality data.

This student has accurately processed data (1), given a conclusion that links the processed data to the purpose of the investigation (2), and given an explanation of how the procedure used contributed to the collection of quality data (3).

For a more secure Merit, the student could provide evidence of the mathematic steps used to determine the concentration of S2O32-, use appropriate significant figures and units, and give a more comprehensive evaluation.

For Merit, the student needs to carry out an in-depth investigation in chemistry involving quantitative analysis.

This involves:

• collection of quality data which includes standardising the standard solution(s) and control of significant variables
• accurate processing of the data to reach a valid conclusion
• providing evidence of the mathematical steps used to process the experimental data
• presenting a report that contains a description of the procedure in sufficient detail for the investigation to be duplicated, a conclusion that links the processed data to the purpose of the investigation and an explanation of how the procedure used contributed to the collection of quality data.

This student has accurately processed data (1), given a conclusion that links the processed data to the purpose of the investigation (2), and given an explanation of how the procedure used contributed to the collection of quality data (3).

For a more secure Merit, the student could provide evidence of the mathematic steps used to determine the concentration of S2O32-, use appropriate significant figures and units, and give a more comprehensive evaluation.

For Achieved, the student needs to carry out an investigation in chemistry involving quantitative analysis.

This involves:

• exploring a possible trend or pattern in the quantity of substance in a sample
• developing and carrying out a procedure to collect data about a possible trend or pattern in the quantity of a substance
• collecting and recording a sufficient quantity of data to enable a conclusion to be reached
• processing of the data to reach a conclusion
• presenting a report that contains a statement of the purpose of the investigation, a description of the procedure that includes preparation of samples and the analytical technique used, a summary of the collected and processed data and a a conclusion based on the processed data.

This student has given a statement of the purpose of the investigation (1), processed data (2) and given a conclusion that is based on processed data (3).

To reach Merit, the student could investigate a minimum of 5 values of the independent variable in order to reach a valid conclusion, give a conclusion that links the processed data to the purpose of the investigation, and give an explanation of how the procedure used contributed to the collection of quality data.

For Achieved, the student needs to carry out an investigation in chemistry involving quantitative analysis.

This involves:

• exploring a possible trend or pattern in the quantity of substance in a sample
• developing and carrying out a procedure to collect data about a possible trend or pattern in the quantity of a substance
• collecting and recording a sufficient quantity of data to enable a conclusion to be reached
• processing of the data to reach a conclusion
• presenting a report that contains a statement of the purpose of the investigation, a description of the procedure that includes preparation of samples and the analytical technique used, a summary of the collected and processed data and a conclusion based on the processed data.

This student has given a statement of the purpose of the investigation (1), processed data (2) and given a conclusion that is based on processed data (3).

To reach Merit, the student could investigate a minimum of 5 values of the independent variable in order to reach a valid conclusion, give a conclusion that links the processed data to the purpose of the investigation, and give an explanation of how the procedure used contributed to the collection of quality data.

For Achieved, the student needs to carry out an investigation in chemistry involving quantitative analysis.

This involves:

• exploring a possible trend or pattern in the quantity of substance in a sample
• developing and carrying out a procedure to collect data about a possible trend or pattern in the quantity of a substance
• collecting and recording a sufficient quantity of data to enable a conclusion to be reached
  processing of the data to reach a conclusion
• presenting a report that contains a statement of the purpose of the investigation, a description of the procedure that includes preparation of samples and the analytical technique used, a summary of the collected and processed data and a conclusion based on the processed data.

This student has explored a possible trend or pattern in the quantity of substance in a sample and collected a sufficient quantity of data to enable a conclusion to be reached (1). They have processed the data, with some errors (2), to reach a conclusion based on the processed data (3).

For a more secure Achieved, the student could more clearly state the purpose and the conclusion.

For Achieved, the student needs to carry out an investigation in chemistry involving quantitative analysis.

This involves:

• exploring a possible trend or pattern in the quantity of substance in a sample
• developing and carrying out a procedure to collect data about a possible trend or pattern in the quantity of a substance
• collecting and recording a sufficient quantity of data to enable a conclusion to be reached
• processing of the data to reach a conclusion
• presenting a report that contains a statement of the purpose of the investigation, a description of the procedure that includes preparation of samples and the analytical technique used, a summary of the collected and processed data and a conclusion based on the processed data.

This student has explored a possible trend or pattern in the quantity of substance in a sample and collected a sufficient quantity of data to enable a conclusion to be reached (1). They have processed the data, with some errors (2), to reach a conclusion based on the processed data (3).

For a more secure Achieved, the student could more clearly state the purpose and the conclusion.

For Achieved, the student needs to carry out an investigation in chemistry involving quantitative analysis.

This involves:

• exploring a possible trend or pattern in the quantity of substance in a sample
• developing and carrying out a procedure to collect data about a possible trend or pattern in the quantity of a substance
• collecting and recording a sufficient quantity of data to enable a conclusion to be reached
  processing of the data to reach a conclusion
• presenting a report that contains a statement of the purpose of the investigation, a description of the procedure that includes preparation of samples and the analytical technique used, a summary of the collected and processed data and a conclusion based on the processed data.

This student has investigated a possible trend and stated a purpose (1) and made a conclusion based on some of the processed data (2).

To reach Achieved, the student could include a summary of the processed data in the report, and base the conclusion on more than one value of the independent variable.

For Achieved, the student needs to carry out an investigation in chemistry involving quantitative analysis.

This involves:

• exploring a possible trend or pattern in the quantity of substance in a sample
• developing and carrying out a procedure to collect data about a possible trend or pattern in the quantity of a substance
• collecting and recording a sufficient quantity of data to enable a conclusion to be reached
  processing of the data to reach a conclusion
• presenting a report that contains a statement of the purpose of the investigation, a description of the procedure that includes preparation of samples and the analytical technique used, a summary of the collected and processed data and a conclusion based on the processed data.

This student has investigated a possible trend and stated a purpose (1) and made a conclusion based on some of the processed data (2).

To reach Achieved, the student could include a summary of the processed data in the report, and base the conclusion on more than one value of the independent variable.