AS 91433 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, 2.4 MB]

TKI Geography assessment resources (external link)

For Excellence, the student needs to comprehensively apply spatial analysis, with consultation, to solve a geographic problem.

This involves:

• evaluating the manipulations
• fully justifying the solution to the geographical problem. 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.

This student has addressed the problem of a parking shortage at a school. The student has evaluated the manipulations made to the spatial data by assessing the strengths (1) (4) and weaknesses (3). The evaluation includes how specific techniques enable the presentation to illustrate more complex data without compromising clarity (2). The student uses data from the layout to support their evaluation (5).

A solution to the geographic problem is provided (6) which is fully justified through evidence from the spatial data (7). Several alternative solutions (8) (9) are examined in detail. 

For a more secure Excellence, the student could more clearly justify their solution to the problem by more closely comparing the alternatives to the proposed solution.

A fully justified solution could also examine combinations of strategies.

For Merit, the student needs to effectively apply spatial analysis, with consultation, to solve a geographic problem.

This involves:

• collecting sufficient spatial data to address the geographic problem
• completing manipulations of the spatial data to produce an accurate layout related to the problem
• explaining the manipulations in detail
• justifying the solution to the geographic problem. The justification demonstrates why the chosen course of action is better than the alternatives.

This student has addressed the problem of a parking shortage at a school. The student has explained the manipulations in detail with reference to the data, software and techniques used (1). The detailed explanation shows clear understanding of several techniques for manipulating spatial data such as creating layers (2) and buffers (3).

The student clearly explains the problem (5) before proposing and explaining the solution (6). The solution is justified with the use of supporting evidence from the layout (7). An alternative solution is examined in some detail (8).

To reach Excellence, the student could develop the evaluative statements further.

Evaluation of the actual manipulations is needed. This could be attained by extending the explanation when a strength and weakness of the results of the manipulation are identified (4). 

To fully justify a solution, the student could support their suggested alternatives with evidence from the spatial data and more explicitly compare them with the proposal.

For Merit, the student needs to effectively apply spatial analysis, with consultation, to solve a geographic problem.

This involves:

• collecting sufficient spatial data to address the geographic problem
• completing manipulations of the spatial data to produce an accurate layout related to the problem
• explaining the manipulations in detail
• justifying the solution to the geographic problem. The justification demonstrates why the chosen course of action is better than the alternatives.

This student has produced a layout which indicates that sufficient spatial data has been collected and manipulated to address the geographic problem of a parking shortage at a school. The layout is appropriately displayed, including a range of tables, graphs and maps which are annotated with supporting explanations (1).

Some of the manipulations have been explained in detail. Evidence is provided both on the layout (1) and in the body of the student evidence (2).

An appropriate solution has been proposed and justified (3). Alternatives are suggested and compared with the proposed solution (4).

For a more secure Merit, the student could explain more of their manipulations and provide detail as to why that technique was used or what the intended outcome was.

Further justification for the chosen solution could be achieved by discussing the solution in relation to the alternatives. Alternatively, further explanation of how weaknesses of the alternatives could be solved by implementing the chosen solution.

For Achieved, the student needs to apply spatial analysis, with consultation, to solve a geographic problem.

This involves:

• collecting and presenting spatial data relevant to the geographic problem
• completing manipulations of the spatial data to produce a layout related to the problem
• explaining the manipulations
• proposing a solution to the geographic problem.

This student has produced a layout indicating that spatial data relevant to the problem of a parking sshortage at a school has been collected (1). A variety of relevant evidence is presented following most geographic conventions and data transformations are appropriate.

Several manipulations have been explained, clearly addressing why each method was used. For example, the creation of layers (2) and buffers (3).

The student proposes a solution to the geographic problem with the use of supporting evidence from the layout (4).

To reach Merit, the student could collect more spatial data and complete more manipulations, to support effective analysis. For example, data related to occupancy of the car park or modes of travel to school could be collected, and a second buffer added to the map. 

The layout could show a higher degree of accuracy, such as clearer coding on the maps and use of all geographic conventions.

The justification for the solution needs to demonstrate why the proposal is better than the alternatives outlined (5), for example explaining that the cost of building additional car parks would be prohibitive.

For Achieved, the student needs to apply spatial analysis, with consultation, to solve a geographic problem.

This involves:

• collecting and presenting spatial data relevant to the geographic problem
• completing manipulations of the spatial data to produce a layout related to the problem
• explaining the manipulations
• proposing a solution to the geographic problem.

This student has produced a layout (1) using a variety of relevant spatial and statistical data. Data manipulations have been combined and transformations relate to the problem of flood risk in the Hutt valley.

The manipulation technique of selecting ‘layers’ is used to emphasise aspects of relief data on the maps (2). The explanation links this relief data to the potential river and tsunami flood risk areas, thereby showing the relevance of this data.

A solution to the geographic problem is proposed with reference to the spatial data (4). The student’s justification for their proposal demonstrates understanding of the spatial data (5) and some ability to apply spatial analysis to solve a geographic problem.

For a more secure Achieved, the student could attain greater accuracy with the layout (1) by using geographic conventions and place names, and more logical presentation.

The student needs to extend the descriptions of the manipulations to explanations. This explanation needs to include why a selected technique was used with the data and how it helped them to resolve the problem. For example, the student could explain how and/or why the manipulation through creating themes allows for an easy comparison (3).

For Achieved, the student needs to apply spatial analysis, with consultation, to solve a geographic problem.

This involves:

• collecting and presenting spatial data relevant to the geographic problem
• completing manipulations of the spatial data to produce a layout related to the problem
• explaining the manipulations
• proposing a solution to the geographic problem.

This student has collected and presented spatial data relevant to the problem of flooding in the Hutt Valley, and produced a layout (1).

Some manipulations have been explained (2) showing understanding of the spatial data.

A solution to flooding is provided (4) which demonstrates the student’s ability to apply the spatial evidence.

To reach Achieved, the student could collect and present more spatial data. Effective use of geographic conventions is expected at this level, specifically scale, orientation and clear titles.

The descriptive evidence (3) needs to be developed further to show understanding of why selected techniques were used.

When proposing a solution to the geographic problem (4) the student needs to show that it is based on the spatial analysis. This means that explicit reference must be made to the spatial data presented on the layout to support the proposal.