AS 91410 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.

TKI Earth and Space Science assessment resources (external link)

Download all these exemplars and commentary [PDF, 345 KB]

For Excellence, the student needs to comprehensively carry out an independent practical Earth and Space Science investigation.

This involves:

• justifying how the investigation method supports the collection of valid and reliable data
• evaluating the investigation with respect to relevant Earth and Space Science

This student has carried out a comprehensive and independent investigation into the effects of carbon dioxide on water acidification. The student has justified their method (1) and explained how it gave the collection of valid and reliable data (2).  The student has evaluated the investigation with respect to relevant Earth and Space Science knowledge. (3).

For a more secure Excellence, the student could comprehensively explain the timings of their investigation. Why were the cockle shells left in the solution for 2 days?

For Merit, the student needs to carry out an in depth independent practical Earth and Space Science investigation.

This involves:

• carrying out a valid method to collect reliable and valid data
• interpreting the processed data to draw a valid conclusion related to the purpose of the investigation
• explaining in depth how the Earth and Space Science links to the investigation
• explaining in depth how the investigation method allows for valid and reliable data to be collected.

This student has carried out an in depth and independent investigation into the effects of carbon dioxide on water acidification. The conclusion reached is valid and linked to the data collected (1). The student has explained in depth how their method allowed the collection of valid and reliable data (2). The student has explained the significance of the investigation with respect to relevant Earth and Space Science knowledge (3).

To reach Excellence, the student could comprehensively explain the effects of changing the carbon dioxide levels linked to the geological past.

For Merit, the student needs to carry out an in depth independent practical Earth and Space Science investigation.

This involves:

• carrying out a valid method to collect reliable and valid data
• interpreting the processed data to draw a valid conclusion related to the purpose of the investigation
• explaining in depth how the Earth and Space Science links to the investigation
• explaining in depth how the investigation method allows for valid and reliable data to be collected.

This student has carried out an in depth and independent investigation into the effects of carbon dioxide on water acidification. The conclusion reached is valid and linked to the data collected (1). The student has explained in depth how their method allowed the collection of valid and reliable data (2). The student has explained the significance of the investigation with respect to relevant Earth and Space Science knowledge (3).

For a more secure Merit, the student could explain in depth how our knowledge of the past foretells the future. For example, the student could explain the relevance today of what happened in the Permian.

For Achieved, the student needs to carry out an independent practical Earth and Space Science investigation.

This involves:

• carrying out a method to collect raw data
• interpreting the processed data to draw a conclusion related to the purpose of the investigation
• explaining how Earth and Space Science links to the investigation
• explaining how the investigation method allowed for reliable data to be collected

This student has carried out an independent investigation into the effects of carbon dioxide on water acidification. Raw data has been processed (1). The conclusion reached is linked to the data collected (2). The student has explained how their method allowed the collection of data (3). The student has explained the link between their investigation and the relevant Earth and Space Science knowledge (4).

To reach Merit, the student could explain in depth why the actions taken during the investigation were taken. For example why was the dry-ice dropped into the sea-water.

For Achieved, the student needs to carry out an independent practical Earth and Space Science investigation.

This involves:

• carrying out a method to collect raw data
• interpreting the processed data to draw a conclusion related to the purpose of the investigation
• explaining how Earth and Space Science links to the investigation
• explaining how the investigation method allowed for reliable data to be collected

This student has carried out an independent investigation on the effects of carbon dioxide on water acidification. Raw data is collected (1). The conclusion reached is linked to the data collected (2). The student has explained how their method allowed the collection of valid and reliable data (3). The student has explained the link between their investigation and the relevant Earth and Space Science (4).

For a more secure Achieved, the student could fully explain the link between the ESS and the investigation. For example explain the significance of lowering the amount of carbonate ion in sea water.

For Achieved, the student needs to carry out an independent practical Earth and Space Science investigation.

This involves:

• carrying out a method to collect raw data
• interpreting the processed data to draw a conclusion related to the purpose of the investigation
• explaining how Earth and Space Science links to the investigation
• explaining how the investigation method allowed for reliable data to be collected.

This student has demonstrated an investigation by carrying out a valid independent investigation on the effects of carbon dioxide on water acidification. The conclusion reached is linked to the data collected (1). The student has explained how their method allowed the collection of valid and reliable data (2).

To reach Achieved, the student could explain the link between their investigation and the relevant Earth and Space Science knowledge. For example how do the collected results link to known data – what has happened in the past?