AS 90811 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.

For Excellence, the student needs to comprehensively explain how human activity in a biophysical environment has consequences for a sustainable future.

This involves drawing insightful conclusions about the wider implications of how human activity in a biophysical environment has consequences for a sustainable future. The conclusions may include projections of future impacts and consideration of options for actions that show personal and social responsibility for a sustainable future.

This student has comprehensively explained how human activity in the Waitomo caves environment has consequences for a sustainable future.

They have drawn insightful conclusions by making judgements about whether or not current tourism (human activity) is sustainable (1), and by suggesting how to manage the caves for future generations to visit (2).

The student considers the necessity for social responsibility to ensure the future sustainability of the caves (3). The wider implications for future sustainability actions are also considered in line with aspects of sustainability (4).

For a more secure Excellence, the student could explore the wider implications of eco-tourism and consider personal/social actions with regard to a sustainable future. They could provide projections on the potential of eco-tourism to promote and/or disrupt bio-physical environments.

For Merit, the student needs to explain in-depth how human activity in a biophysical environment has consequences for a sustainable future.

This involves drawing informed conclusions about why human activity in a biophysical environment has consequences for a sustainable future.  Conclusions are based on a clear, logical argument and supported by evidence.

This student has explained in-depth how human activity in the Waituna Lagoon catchment has consequences for a sustainable future.

The student explains in a clear and logical way how human activities have disrupted (1) and promoted (2) the sustainability of the Waituna Catchment, supported by evidence (3). The student has drawn some conclusions about how human activity can promote the sustainability of the biophysical environment (4).

To reach Excellence, the student could draw insightful conclusions about the wider implications of how farming has consequences for a sustainable future. They could provide projections of future impacts of implementing organic systems for farming, and the economic and environmental value that these kind of practices could have on this lagoon.

For Merit, the student needs to explain in-depth how human activity in a biophysical environment has consequences for a sustainable future.

This involves drawing informed conclusions about why human activity in a biophysical environment has consequences for a sustainable future. Conclusions are based on a clear, logical argument and supported by evidence.

The student explains how human activities have disrupted (1) and promoted (2) the sustainability of the Waitomo caves, supported by evidence (3). Conclusions about the consequences of human activity are made (4).

For a more secure Merit, the student could discuss whether or not current (human activity) tourism is sustainable and by suggesting how to manage the caves for future generations. For example, by suggesting different venting systems and lighting systems that don’t disrupt the biophysical environment of the cave environment.

For Achieved, the student needs to explain how human activity in a biophysical environment has consequences for a sustainable future.

This involves:

• explaining the characteristics of a biophysical environment, including the ecological system and a physical system it interacts with. This will involve data collection and the use of measurement methods
• outlining the human activity being undertaken in the biophysical environment and investigating the consequences of the activity for the sustainability of the environment
• drawing conclusions about the consequences of the human activity for a sustainable future.

This student has used diagrams to explain the food chain in a cave (1), cave system degradation (2) and the history of the caves is explained (3).

The impact of human activity (tourism) in the caves with regard to environmental sustainability has been described in terms of deforestation above the cave system (4), carbon dioxide (5), vandalism (6), crossing of streams (7), and the negative (8), and positive effects of artificial lighting in the caves (9).

They have described measures taken by the current management (managing airflow, lighting and implementing removable suspended walkways) to minimise impact on the cave’s natural state (10).

To reach Merit, the student could provide their own views on the consequences of tourism on the caves ecology to draw more in-depth conclusions of how this environment could be further managed to ensure economic and cultural aspects of sustainability.

For Achieved, the student needs to explain how human activity in a biophysical environment has consequences for a sustainable future.

This involves:

• explaining the characteristics of a biophysical environment, including the ecological system and a physical system it interacts with. This will involve data collection and the use of measurement methods
• outlining the human activity being undertaken in the biophysical environment and investigating the consequences of the activity for the sustainability of the environment
• drawing conclusions about the consequences of the human activity for a sustainable future.

This student has explained how human activity in the Waitomo caves environment has consequences for a sustainable future.

There is explanation of the biophysical environment (1) inclusive of the ecological (2) and physical systems. Human activity (tourism) is used to show the impact on the biophysical environment (3). Conclusions about the consequences of human activity are made (4).

For a more secure Achieved, the student could discuss in greater depth, using evidence, how caving operations promote and/or disrupt the future sustainability of the biophysical environment.

For Achieved, the student needs to, the student needs to explain how human activity in a biophysical environment has consequences for a sustainable future.

This involves:

• explaining the characteristics of a biophysical environment, including the ecological system and a physical system it interacts with. This will involve data collection and the use of measurement methods
• outlining the human activity being undertaken in the biophysical environment and investigating the consequences of the activity for the sustainability of the environment
• drawing conclusions about the consequences of the human activity for a sustainable future.

The student has attempted to explain the characteristics of the Waitomo caves biophysical environment and the interaction between the physical environment and the biological life forms (1).

The student has outlined how human activity in the Waitomo caves has changed the biophysical environment (2).

There is an attempt to explain how human activity in the Waitomo caves environment has consequences for a sustainable future (3).

To reach Achieved, the student could explain in more detail how human activity promotes or disrupts the sustainability of the Waitomo cave biophysical system.

More detail could also be provided in the explanation of the interacting ecological and physical systems. Further, more detail is also needed in order to draw conclusions about the consequences of tourism in the Waitomo caves for a sustainable future.