AS 91107 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.

Download all exemplars and commentary [PDF, 249 KB]

TKI English assessment resources (external link)

For Excellence, the student needs to analyse aspects of visual and/or oral text(s) perceptively, through close viewing and/or listening, supported by evidence.

This involves demonstrating insightful and/or original understanding of significant aspects of texts.

This student has perceptively analysed significant aspects of The Dark Knight through the techniques of camera work, pace, dialogue and symbolism. This is done by demonstrating insightful understanding of how camera work develops the audience’s understanding of the Joker and Batman (1), and how the editing of the pace of the film combines with the use of silence to present the Joker as a predator (2).  

Perceptive understanding is shown through the analysis of how the actions and dialogue of one brave man contrast with the self-preservation of the group, and how this foreshadows later actions in the film (3). Insightful understanding is shown in the analysis of the symbolism of weaponry, where the characters are compared to terrorists and modern governments in their continual fight for society’s good (4).

For a more secure Excellence, the student could further develop the analysis of the idea that Batman is feared by Gotham’s criminal society, and that although Rachel is a strong character she still trembles in the presence of the Joker (1) .

For Merit, the student needs to analyse aspects of visual and/or oral text(s) convincingly, through close viewing and/or listening, supported by evidence.

This involves demonstrating understanding of how significant aspects of visual and/or oral text(s) work together to create meaning.

This student has analysed how the use of dialogue works together with character actions in The Dark Knight to help the audience understand both the Joker’s intentions (1) and the ideas behind Harvey Dent’s demise into criminality (2).

There is a convincing understanding of how sound and camera work together to create a sense of action and tension (4). The meaning and effect of the symbolic use of lighting (3) is interpreted.

To reach Excellence, the student could:

• develop further insights into the use of prior knowledge (e.g. ‘The Joker is aware...’) as a control mechanism (1)
• further develop how ‘the sinking feeling’ links to the use of silence, Batman and the audience (4)
• provide further insight into how lighting combines with another aspect to create meaning and effects (3).

For Merit, the student needs to analyse aspects of visual and/or oral text(s) convincingly, through close viewing and/or listening, supported by evidence.

This involves demonstrating understanding of how significant aspects of visual and/or oral text(s) work together to create meaning.

This student has convincingly analysed how the aspects of character actions and dialogue in The Dark Knight work together to create meaning, analyzing how these aspects work together to show the Joker’s ruthless nature and disregard for human life (4).

The student has just sufficiently analysed how the close-up on the mask symbolises the Joker’s personality, and has connected this understanding to ideas of hidden identity in modern day terrorists (1). The student has interpreted the meaning and effect of lighting and theme (2) (3).

For a more secure Merit, the student could demonstrate more convincingly:

• how the close up works with the symbolism of the mask (1)
• how lighting (2) and theme (3) work together with other aspects to create meaning.

For Achieved, the student needs to analyse aspects of visual and/or oral text(s) through close viewing and/or listening, supported by evidence.               

This involves making developed interpretations of meanings and effects of visual and/or oral text(s).

This student has analysed aspects of dialogue, lighting, ideas and characters’ actions in The Dark Knight. The student makes developed interpretations of meanings and effects, analysing how dialogue shows how and why Gotham City seems hopeless now that Harvey Dent has been corrupted by the Joker (1).

There is interpretation of how lighting creates atmosphere, suspense and anxiety as to who will live or die, and how moonlight defines Dent’s personality and foreshadows a possible happy ending to the film (2). The student analyses how the character actions of Harvey Dent and Batman reflect ideas about ‘evil’ and ‘devotion’ (3).

To reach Merit, the student could demonstrate more convincing understanding of:

• how aspects work together to create meaning, such as character actions and ideas (3), and lighting and character actions (2)
• how dialogue works with Dent’s actions to emphasise his demise into evil (1).

For Achieved, the student needs to analyse aspects of visual and/or oral text(s) through close viewing and/or listening, supported by evidence.               

This involves making developed interpretations of meanings and effects of visual and/or oral text(s).

This student has analysed aspects of lighting, characters’ actions and theme in The Dark Knight. The student makes developed interpretations of meanings and effects by analysing how lighting is used to signal the Joker’s lack of humanity (1), how the actions of the Joker reveal his ruthless nature (3) and how ideas of greed are shown through the actions of Gotham City’s greedy criminals (4).

For a more secure Achieved, the student could further develop the interpretation of the use of the high and low angle shots to create tension and anxiety (2) and provide further analysis of ideas as an aspect.

For Achieved, the student needs to analyse aspects of visual and/or oral text(s) through close viewing and/or listening, supported by evidence.               

This involves making developed interpretations of meanings and effects of visual and/or oral text(s).

This student has analysed aspects of characters’ actions and theme in The Dark Knight. The student makes developed interpretations of meanings and effects by analysing how the actions of the Joker reveal his ruthless nature (3) and how the ideas of greed are shown through the actions of Gotham City’s greedy criminals (4).  

To reach Achieved, the student could move from description of the Joker to analysis of how lighting is used to interpret his hidden identity or ‘the green tinge’ (1), and analyse how the close-up shot is linked to the Joker’s flight from justice (2).