Science
Areas for Assessment
Knowing and understanding
Questioning and predicting
Planning and conducting investigations
Processing and analysing data and information
Problem-solving
Communicating
Grade A
A student at this grade typically:
- applies extensive knowledge and understanding of scientific models, theories and laws, and about the nature, use and influence of science
- identifies and proposes valid scientific hypotheses, asks questions and makes evidence based predictions
- creates, plans and organises appropriate, risk-assessed, safe, and ethical first-hand scientific investigations both individually and collaboratively
- uses critical thinking skills to evaluate trends, patterns and relationships to draw evidence-based scientific conclusions
- effectively gathers, selects, organises and processes first-hand and secondary sourced data and information to evaluate issues and inform creative solutions using appropriate digital technologies
- communicates comprehensive understanding of scientific ideas, and related evidence for a particular purpose and audience using scientific units, language conventions and text types.
Grade B
A student at this grade typically:
- applies thorough knowledge and understanding of scientific models, theories and laws, and about the nature, use and influence of science
- identifies and proposes coherent hypotheses, asks questions and makes logical predictions
- plans and organises appropriate, risk-assessed, safe, and ethical first-hand scientific investigations
- uses critical thinking skills to explain trends, patterns and relationships to draw scientific conclusions
- systematically gathers, selects, organises and processes first-hand and secondary sourced data and information to explain issues and inform problem-solving using appropriate digital technologies
- communicates well-developed understanding of scientific ideas to an audience using scientific units and language conventions.
Grade C
A student at this grade typically:
- demonstrates sound knowledge and understanding of scientific models, theories and laws, and about the nature, use and influence of science
- identifies and proposes related hypotheses, asks questions and make predictions
- plans and performs safe, ethical first-hand scientific investigations
- explains trends, patterns and relationships to draw scientific conclusions
- gathers and selects first-hand and secondary sourced data and information to identify issues and participate in problem-solving using appropriate digital technologies
- communicates sound understanding of scientific ideas to an audience.
Grade D
A student at this grade typically:
- demonstrates basic knowledge and understanding of scientific models, theories and laws, and about the use and influence of science
- asks questions and makes some predictions
- performs safe, ethical first-hand scientific investigations
- describes trends, patterns and draws some conclusions
- uses first-hand and secondary sourced data and information, and appropriate digital technologies, to assist in the problem-solving process
- communicates basic scientific understanding to an audience.
Grade E
A student at this grade typically:
- demonstrates elementary knowledge and understanding of some scientific principles, and about some uses of science
- asks questions and attempts prediction
- performs safe, ethical first-hand scientific investigations with guidance
- recounts conclusions
- uses information provided and, with assistance, participates in problem-solving activities
- with guidance, communicates elementary scientific information to an audience.