AS 91169 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, 4.7 MB]

TKI Physics assessment resources (external link)

For Excellence, the student needs to demonstrate comprehensive understanding of physics relevant to a selected context.

This involves linking ideas to integrate physics relevant to the selected context. It may involve elaborating, justifying, relating, evaluating, comparing and contrasting, or analysing the physics underpinning the context.

This student has demonstrated comprehensive understanding of how principles of physics are relevant to fibre optics.

This student has analysed how the principles of total internal reflection and Snell’s law are relevant to optical fibres. They have analysed how optical fibres are used to communicate information, including explanations and calculations specifically relevant to the selected context (1).

This student has identified, described, and explained how the principles of wave propagation are relevant to modal and chromatic dispersion in optical fibres (2).

For a more secure Excellence, the student could:

• explain how modal dispersion in optical fibres can be caused by variations in refractive index of the fibre, elaborating on the reasons why these variations are caused
• explain how wave dispersion in optical fibres can be caused by the different wave speeds of different frequencies of light in the fibre, elaborating on how this issue can be overcome when using fibres for communication.

For Merit, the student needs to demonstrate in-depth understanding of physics relevant to a selected context.

This involves providing reasons as to how or why the physics applies to the selected context.

This student has demonstrated in-depth understanding of how principles of physics are relevant to the sport of rowing.

This student has explained and analysed how the principles of torques and forces are relevant to the sport of rowing, and explained how moving the position of the pivot has led to improved efficiencies in rowing (1).

This student has identified, described and explained how and why the physics concept is relevant to the application. They have by explained how the movement of the centre of mass of a system is relevant to the sport of rowing (2).

To reach Excellence, this student could have identified, described, explained and analysed how and why the physics concept is relevant to the application by analysing how the prevention of the relative movement of the centre of mass is relevant to the efficiency of movement of a rowing boat.

For Merit, the student needs to demonstrate in-depth understanding of physics relevant to a selected context.

This involves providing reasons as to how or why the physics applies to the selected context.

This student has demonstrated in-depth understanding of how principles of physics are relevant to car collisions.

This student has identified, described and explained how and why the physics concept is relevant to the application by explaining how Newton’s first law is relevant to car collisions (1).

This student has identified, described and attempted to explain how and why the physics concept is relevant to the application by explaining how impulse is relevant to car collisions (2).

This student has identified, described and attempted to explain how and why the physics concept is relevant to the application by explaining how the conservation of energy is relevant to car collisions (3).

For a more secure Merit, this student could have identified, described, explained and analysed how and why the physics concept is relevant to the application by:

• explaining how impulse relates to the force experienced by a passenger during a car collision
• explaining how the conservation of energy relates to the force experienced by a passenger during a car collision.

For Achieved, the student needs to demonstrate understanding of physics relevant to a selected context.

This involves providing characteristics of, or an account of the physics related to the selected context.

This student has demonstrated understanding of how the principles of physics of refraction and lens behaviour are relevant to the correction of impaired vision.

This student has identified and described how the thickness of a lens affects the amount of bending, and has attempted to link this to the focal length of the lens.  They have used diagrams to show how long-sightedness and short-sightedness can be corrected (1).

This student has identified and described how the value of the refractive index is linked to the degree that light is bent inside a lens based upon the material used (2).

To reach Merit, this student could have identified, described and explained how the physics concept is relevant to the application by:

• explaining why convex lenses refract light to a focal point
• explaining how refractive index links to the thickness of lens required.

For Achieved, the student needs to demonstrate understanding of physics relevant to a selected context.

This involves providing characteristics of, or an account of the physics related to the selected context.

This student has demonstrated understanding of how the principles of physics of refraction and lens behaviour are relevant to the correction of impaired vision.

This student has identified and described and explained how a convex lens converges light to a focal point, and has attempted to link this to the focal length of the lens. They have used diagrams to show how long-sightedness and short sightedness can be corrected (1).

This student has identified and described and explained how the value of the refractive index is linked to the degree that light is bent inside a lens based upon the material used (2).

For a more secure Achieved, this student could:

• identify and describe how the thickness of the lens affects the focal point of the lens
• identify and describe the significance of refractive index in terms of the focal point of the lens.

For Achieved, the student needs to demonstrate understanding of physics relevant to a selected context.

This involves providing characteristics of, or an account of the physics related to the selected context.

This student has discussed the relevance of principles of physics that are relevant to the correction of impaired vision.

This student has attempted to describe the physics of how different shaped lenses refract light to different degrees (1) (4).

This student has attempted to describe the physics of how lenses can correct sight defects (2) (3).

To reach Achieved, the student could:

• include appropriate diagrams to describe more clearly how lenses can be used to correct eye defects
• define relevant terms such as refractive power
• give more detailed descriptions of the physics they are attempting to describe.