AS 91431 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, 780 KB]

TKI Geography assessment resources (external link)

For Achieved, the student needs to analyse aspects of a contemporary geographic issue.

This involves:

• explaining the nature of the contemporary geographic issue
• explaining how people’s values and perceptions of the issue have led to their responses
• proposing a suitable course of action to address the issue and justifying the proposed solution.

The student has explained the nature of the geographic issue of bottom trawling in a New Zealand context.

The student identifies the values and perceptions of two groups, Greenpeace and the Sealord Fishing company. The values and perceptions of the issue are clearly linked to the different responses made. For example, the Greenpeace responses reflect the urgency and increasingly critical situation as they perceive bottom trawling as creating a critical stage in seabed damage and extinction of sea life. Whereas the Sealord responses balance economic and environmental perspectives to frame the issue as requiring a scientific and long-term response.

A suitable course of action is proposed and clearly explained. “Managing fisheries to ensure sustainability” is justified using the alternative course of action of “banning bottom trawling”. The solution is justified through discussion of both the economic significance of fishing and strategies to protect the seabed. The justification clearly compares the economic impacts of both possible solutions, but also recognises that managing bottom trawling is needed.

To reach Merit, the student could include more specific detail in the explanation of the responses to the issue. Additionally, a detailed justification of the proposed solution ideally needs to consider more than one alternative solution. 

For Merit, the student needs to analyse, in depth, aspects of a contemporary geographic issue.

In addition to the Achieved criteria, this involves:

• explaining in detail how people’s values and perceptions of the issue have led to their responses
• proposing a suitable course of action to address the issue and providing a detailed justification of the proposed solution. The justification demonstrates why the chosen course of action is better than alternatives.

The nature of the issue (Japan’s declining population) is clearly explained, demonstrating understanding of the issue in a depth needed to support analysis.

Responses from both the Japanese Government and a sociologist are examined.  Explicit linking to show how the values and perceptions of the issue influence the different responses supports depth of explanation. While both responses consider economic and social courses of action, the government responses reflect their perception that economic stability is the most critical, whereas the sociologist favours a more integrated approach with social, cultural and economic actions.

A suitable course of action is proposed and alternatives used to justify its selection. Understanding of the complexity of the issue and use of evidence regarding different responses demonstrates in depth analysis. Connection and relationships are identified and used to strengthen the explanation. For example, the relationship between declining birthrates and ageing population, leading to the need for labour and economic stability. Understanding and depth of analysis is continued through consideration of the implications of the immigration solution from a cultural and social perspective.

For Excellence, the student could further develop the evidence in their response. For example, including further explanation and supporting evidence for the traditional social values and the strain on health and welfare systems. Use of more additional statistical information or further detail regarding political actions would reflect a comprehensive analysis.

An Excellence response would include a full justification of the solution showing insight and using clarity of argument. The structure of the argument would effectively integrate the alternative courses of action to support the proposal. Solutions to this issue need both immediate actions and a long-term approach, which would be expected as a proposed solution in a comprehensive analysis.

For Excellence, the student needs to analyse, comprehensively, aspects of a contemporary geographic issue.

In addition to the Merit criteria, this involves:

• fully explaining how people’s values and perceptions of the issue have led to their responses
• proposing a suitable course of action to address the issue and providing a full justification of the solution, showing insight. The full justification is an in-depth response that uses clarity of argument and holistic understanding to demonstrate why one course of action is better than the alternatives. 

The nature of the issue (South Dunedin flooding) is clearly explained, demonstrating understanding of the issue in a depth needed to support comprehensive analysis.

The student has fully explained how the values and perceptions held by Dave Cull and Eleanor Doig led to their responses. The selection has deepened the analysis by providing varied responses which demonstrate understanding of the nature of the issue, and its causes and impacts. This evidence has also strengthened the analysis, as it has clearly informed the student’s decision making.

A suitable course of action is proposed by the student, through clearly arguing the need for a planned and voluntary managed retreat combined with long term flood mitigation development. The decision has been informed by the needs of both the council and the community, and clearly reflects understanding of the geography involved and how it will determine the final outcome for the flood risk areas of South Dunedin.