Clarification details
Updated May 2015. This document has been updated to reflect issues arising from the implementation of the new standards. In particular, definitions of key terms have been provided.
Definition of terms
Physical environments are the sites or environments in which art works are located. This may be a public space or a gallery, or any other place in which art works may be seen. It may include a digital environment or a book if these environments have a specific relationship to the art work.
Selection of art works
This standard provides the opportunity for students to visit and examine actual art works in their local environment. Care must be taken to ensure that the selected art works provide students with the scope to fully explore and discuss the relationships between art works and their physical environments.
Explanatory Note 2
This provides a range of features which may be described to demonstrate understanding of art works in their physical environment. However, it is unnecessary for students to address each of these features in their response, and it would be inappropriate for assessment decisions to be based on the range and number of features described, explained or evaluated in the response.
Making assessment decisions
Decisions should be based on the demonstration of understanding of the relationships between art works and their physical environments, rather than unlinked descriptions or explanations of either the art works or their environments.
Grade level indicators
- An Achievement level response will typically consist of statements or annotations which describe features of at least two art works and their physical environments. The statements need to identify connections between the art works and their physical environments.
- A Merit level response will typically consist of explanations about relationships between at least two art works and their physical environments, including references to the purposes and/or influences or the art works and their environments.
- An Excellence level response will typically consist of an evaluation of the relationships between at least two art works and their physical environments. Students need to develop conclusions about these relationships to demonstrate critical understanding.