Clarification details
Updated December 2017. This document has been updated in its entirety to address new issues that have arisen from moderation.
The intention of this standard is for learners to demonstrate that they have understood the concepts and terms related to atomic and nuclear physics by giving explanations appropriate to Level 7 of the New Zealand Curriculum.
Assessment
Assessment should provide sufficient opportunity to demonstrate understanding of connections between atomic and nuclear physics concepts, as suggested in Explanatory Note 4. Assessors must ensure the learners have provided sufficient evidence to make a confident judgement that, on balance, the evidence is consistent with the grade.
Resources
Where information has been used from other sources, there should be clear evidence that this information has been processed and understood. While paraphrasing and summarising are useful skills, they do not provide sufficient evidence of understanding. Referencing of sources should be encouraged as part of good practice and to ensure authenticity, but may not be a basis for assessment judgements.
Interpretation of evidence
For Achieved, learners should be describing relevant atomic and nuclear physics concepts and terms.
For Merit, learners should be describing and explaining relevant atomic and nuclear physics concepts and terms.
For Excellence, learners should be describing, comprehensively explaining and connecting relevant atomic and nuclear physics concepts and terms. A thorough coverage of appropriate concepts and a clear understanding of the concepts and the links between them is required.