Chemistry resources

Clarifications of Internally Assessed standards in Chemistry

NB: Evidence required for Achievement (or Merit) is also assumed for Merit (and Excellence).

90169 Version 3 (1.1) Carry out a practical chemical investigation with direction

The standard involves carrying out a practical investigation which includes planning, collecting and processing data, and interpreting and reporting the findings.

• The investigation is with direction and the purpose may be given as part of the instructions. The purpose of the investigation needs to be appropriate to level 6 of the curriculum and may be a fair test or pattern seeking.
• The student will be involved in the complete process, carrying out the practical work and collecting primary data. (EN 3)
• 'With direction' means that general instructions including the purpose, equipment available and chemicals available will be provided, as well as a template for planning the investigation. (EN 3)
• The student must select the values for the independent variable, and must describe what is to be measured (dependent variable) and how this will be done. (EN 5)
• Repeats, or an extended range of values, may be used to provide valid data.
• Judgement made between Achievement, Merit and Excellence is based on the "quality" of the investigation.

Summary of requirements

Further detail, and advice, related to this standard is found in the circular Assessment Matters A2008/011 (April 2008).

90170 Version 3 (1.2) Process information to describe a use of chemistry knowledge with direction

The following notes provide clarification of the assessment requirements for this Achievement Standard, and should be read in conjunction with the Achievement Standard.

The outcome of this standard has two key parts:

• to process information - the aim here is to sift and sieve information for the report
• to describe a use of chemistry knowledge in the report.

The assessment activity and the judgement of the associated evidence need to cover both aspects of this standard.

Explanatory Note 2: The context for the study will be provided and general instructions for processing will be specified in writing. This is direction.

Explanatory Note 4 requires a range of sources.

At least three different sources of information need to be used.

A range of information may be supplied by the teacher, and can include secondary information. Students do not have to complete their own research to achieve this standard. Sources of information need to be recorded by students so they are accessible by others. For example, students and assessors need to be able to go to the web page, book page, magazine page which information was taken from.

Processing is a requirement for Achievement, Merit, and Excellence, and is clarified in Explanatory Note 5. Students are required to present evidence of their processing of information, such as listing, sorting, collating, highlighting, or summarising. Evidence for higher grades in the criteria from describe (Achievement) to explain (Merit) and to discuss (Excellence) will be found within the student's report.

In summary:

Achievement:

• requires processed information according to Explanatory Note 5
• describes a use of chemistry knowledge (described in Explanatory Note 6).

Students give an account of or the characteristics of the chemistry knowledge. They summarise the processed information.

Merit:

• requires processed information according to Explanatory Note 5
• explains a use of chemistry knowledge (described in Explanatory Note 6).

Students give two clear reasons for how, or why, the chemistry knowledge applies to its use.

Excellence:

• requires processed information according to Explanatory Note 5
• discusses a use of chemistry knowledge (described in Explanatory Note 6).

Students must show analysis skills according to Explanatory Note 6. They need to link the chemistry ideas to the use. This can be done as an elaboration of the links, a justification of the links, an evaluation of the links, an analysis of the links, or comparing or contrasting.

Summary of requirements

Last updated: 02 March 2010