Clarification details
Updated December 2017. This document has been updated in its entirety to address new issues that have arisen from moderation.
The purpose of clarifications
We create clarification documents to help people understand the current requirements of achievement standards. Clarifications do not introduce new criteria, change the intent of the standard, or change what we expect from assessment.
These documents unpack and explain the language and intent of the standard so people interpret and apply the standard consistently. We provide examples or guidance as illustrations only. They are not prescriptions or requirements.
For official requirements, always refer to the current version of the achievement standard as published by NZQA.
Assessment guidance
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.