James Ruse

Agricultural High 2023

School

This document outlines

procedures and information for
assessments and examinations,
and outlines the assessment
schedule for each subject.

Year 9

Assessment Handbook

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 1

Dear student

At James Ruse Agricultural High School, we understand that summative assessment

throughout school is an important part of preparation for future academic success.
The results from these tasks will be reflected in the grades and outcomes that appear
on your Semester 1 and Semester 2 reports.

To help you organise your time and be successful in each assessment task we have
compiled this assessment handbook for you.

It is very important that you read this handbook carefully. It contains the guidelines
and expectations for your school-based summative assessment tasks.

The aim of this handbook is to provide students and parents with:

• advance notification of all summative assessment tasks for the calendar year in
each subject
• communication of school assessment and examination practices and
procedures
• assessment schedules for each subject with the type of task and the
approximate week it may be due for submission

Summative assessment tasks are just one component of your learning at Ruse. In
addition, you will be expected to undertake classwork, homework and formative
assessment tasks. Together these elements will enable you to develop your
knowledge and understanding so that you can reach your full academic potential.

The staff at James Ruse Agricultural High School are here to support you to gain your
academic personal best. If you feel that you need additional assistance please speak
to your class teacher or your Year Adviser as soon as you can.

Yours sincerely

Ms Rachel Powell

Principal

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 2

Table of Contents

ASSESSMENT PRACTICE AND PROCEDURES YEAR 9 ................................................................................................................ 4

EXAMINATION PRACTICE AND PROCEDURES YEAR 9 .............................................................................................................. 8
ADVICE TO STUDENTS ...................................................................................................................................................... 9
ASSESSMENT SCHEDULES ............................................................................................................................................... 10
Agricultural Technology Stage 5 Year 9 .............................................................................................................. 10
Commerce Stage 5 Year 9 ................................................................................................................................... 10
Design and Technology Stage 5 Year 9 ............................................................................................................... 11
Drama Stage 5 Year 9.......................................................................................................................................... 11
English Stage 5 Year 9 ......................................................................................................................................... 12
History Elective Stage 5 Year 9 ............................................................................................................................ 12
HSIE Stage 5 Year 9 (History and Geography semesterised)............................................................................... 13
Japanese Stage 5 Year 9 (compacted course) ..................................................................................................... 13
Latin Stage 5 Year 9............................................................................................................................................. 14
Mathematics Stage 5 Year 9 ............................................................................................................................... 14
Music Stage 5 Year 9 (compacted course) .......................................................................................................... 15
Physical Activity and Sports Studies (PASS) Stage 5 Year 9 (compacted course) ................................................ 15
PDHPE Stage 5 Year 9.......................................................................................................................................... 16
Photographic and Digital Media Stage 5 Year 9 ................................................................................................. 16
Science Stage 5 Year 9......................................................................................................................................... 17
Visual Arts Stage 5 Year 9 ................................................................................................................................... 17
ASSESSMENT CALENDAR ................................................................................................................................................ 18

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 3

Assessment Practice and Procedures Year 9

Any changes will be communicated to students

Purpose of assessment
Assessment is the process of identifying, gathering and interpreting information
about student’s learning to inform the reporting process. The central purpose of
assessment is to provide information on student achievement and progress and set
the direction for ongoing learning.

Procedural fairness
All faculties support student learning by adopting a consistent approach to
assessment by ensuring that:

• all students receive two weeks’ notice of an assessment task

• a parent/caregiver is notified within 2 school days after the due date if a task
has not been submitted

Assessment Tasks
Assessment tasks are mandatory for each course. Students are expected to complete
set work regularly, in order to be determined as having satisfactorily studied the
course. A variety of assessment task styles - for example speaking, listening, reading
and writing - are included in assessment programs to provide students with varied
opportunities to demonstrate achievement of outcomes.

Submission of tasks
Students are required to complete and submit mandatory assessment tasks on or
before the due date.

Furthermore, students must:

• Make a serious attempt at all assessment tasks.
• Approach any task with honesty and avoid any malpractice, including cheating
or plagiarism.
• Submit work directly to the relevant teacher.
• Inform their teacher in advance if they know they will be absent for a task.
• Ask their teachers about any assessment tasks which may have been issued
during any absence.

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 4

Late submission
Assessment tasks submitted late, without prior arrangement, will lose marks.

Penalties for late submission of tasks

For Year 9:

A penalty of 20% per day (including weekend days) will be applied for the late
submission of tasks without a valid reason, such as a medical reason or those involving
misadventure. After 5 days, a zero mark will be awarded.

Extensions
If an extension of time is needed, the student must negotiate with the Classroom and
Head Teacher of the course 5 school days before the due date.

Absence, illness & misadventure

o When a student knows in advance that they will be absent on the day when a
task is due or an in-class assessment is to be performed, the student must
make arrangements for the task to be submitted on, or completed before, the
due date.
o A note from the parent/caregiver is required to explain the student’s absence
from an assessment task. This is required on the student’s first day back at
school.
o Where special consideration is required, the teacher, in consultation with the
Head Teacher, may make arrangements for one of the following options:
(i) completing the original task or
(ii) completing an alternate task or
(iii) giving an estimate

Examples of illness / misadventure include (but are not limited to):

✓ Bereavement
✓ Illness
✓ Family Leave
✓ School Representation for sports or academic pursuits
✓ Personal circumstances

Parental Notification
Year 9
All assessment tasks not submitted will result in an Academic Warning Letter being
sent to the parent/caregiver. Teachers are required to send one warning per task.

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 5

Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is a term used to describe honest and ethical behaviour in
relation to academic work (student homework, assessments, performance tasks and
conduct in examinations or in-class tasks).
Academic misconduct is a term used to describe any act by a student that fails to
meet the accepted standards of academic integrity. This includes any unfair
advantage gained by a student, for example a student who arrives late to an
assessment task without reason, or who is absent the day before an assessment task
to prepare for that task.
Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s words, ideas, thoughts, opinions, data or
images as one’s own. Please also refer to malpractice outlined below.

Malpractice
Malpractice is any activity undertaken by a student that allows them to gain an unfair
advantage over others. It includes, but is not limited to:
• copying someone else’s work in part or in whole, and presenting it as their own
• using material directly from books, journals, or the internet without reference
to the source
• building on the ideas of another person without reference to the source
• buying, stealing or borrowing another person’s work and presenting it as their
own
• submitting work to which another person such as a parent, coach or subject
expert has contributed substantially using words, ideas, designs or the
workmanship of others in practical and performance tasks without appropriate
acknowledgement
• paying someone to write or prepare material
• breaching school examination rules
• using non-approved aids during an assessment task
• contriving false explanations to explain work not handed in by the due date
• assisting another student to engage in malpractice

* Where cheating is detected a mark of zero will be given for the task to each
student involved.

Student Responsibilities

• Students are expected to complete ALL assessment tasks by the due dates
and times specified.
• Where assessment tasks involve attendance at excursions, field studies etc,
attendance is compulsory.
• All work submitted for assessment must be the student’s own work. (See
Malpractice above)
• It is each student’s responsibility to be aware of assessment task dates for all
courses and to organise a study schedule accordingly.

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 6

What happens if I experience technological failure?
Students must protect themselves against technological failure. Technological failure
may result in a mark of zero. Students should be aware that computer equipment
failure would not normally be accepted as an excuse for failure to submit assessment
tasks on time.

An extension due to misadventure pertaining to failure of electronic forms of

assessment will only be considered if a student can provide adequate physical
evidence of a task - such as a draft, hard copy or materials of a similar level - and will
require the approval of the faculty Head Teacher.

Students are encouraged to:

o Always complete work before the deadline. This enables appropriate measures
to be taken in the event of equipment failure.
o Use Google Drive or other electronic platforms to ensure that documents are
automatically saved
o Backup electronic files at home regularly (especially files of assessment tasks)
o Print out copies of drafts and keep them while the assignment is in progress –
not only to continue work on, but to provide evidence in the event of a problem
(printed copies can then be easily scanned, re-typed, or submitted as evidence
of progress).
o Bring files to school via one of the following methods:
o Files less than 4 Mb in size can be emailed to yourself using your school
email address
o Files can be brought to school using a memory stick or flash drive
o Files on Google Drive can be accessed from any device
o Take the following precautions when bringing files to school:
o Make a second copy of assessment tasks or other important files
o Take appropriate care of laptops and external drives, as many students
find them to be unreadable due to lack of care (storage in a bag whilst it
is thrown around can easily cause drive failure)
o Ensure that Windows Updates and Virus Protection are up-to-date, and
use virus protection software on home computers
o Notify the class teacher or Head Teacher immediately if problems occur

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 7

Examination Practice and Procedures Year 9

Preparation

The procedures for examination preparation and entry are:

1. students will be in full school uniform for all examinations
2. students must line up quietly outside the examination room
3. all equipment and writing implements must be in a clear plastic case or sleeve
4. mobile phones, smart watches and personal music devices or players of any
kind are not permitted in examination rooms
5. no school bags are permitted in examination rooms (other than the Hall)
6. students are to silently enter examination rooms when instructed by a teacher

During examinations students must

1. concentrate on their own examination and are not permitted to communicate
(verbally or non-verbally) in any way with other students
2. make a serious attempt at all questions and sections of the examination
3. abide by the Academic Integrity Policy of the school and sit all examinations
honestly and without unfair advantage

Post examination
All students will receive feedback on each examination sat, detailing the mark or
grade achieved and the marking criteria and/or comments. Wherever possible,
examination answers and question papers should be kept by the student for study
and revision purposes.

What disability provisions are available?

Disability provisions are concessions made by NESA in the conditions under which
certain students with disability sit for examinations and assessment tasks.

Disability provisions may be awarded to a student who has a permanent or temporary

disability that would, in a normal examination situation, prevent them from:
1. reading the examination questions; and/or
2. communicating their responses

The Principal has the authority to decide on, and to implement, disability provisions
for school-based assessment tasks, including examinations. The purpose of the
provision is to assist students who may otherwise be unfairly disadvantaged by the
conditions of the examination.

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 8

Advice to Students

There are many ways to be optimally organised around effectively completing your
assessment tasks at James Ruse Agricultural High School, including (but not limited
to):

☺ Be positive and optimistic

☺ Ensure that you are familiar with the sections of this assessment handbook

☺ As an active learner who exercises self-regulation, take responsibility for managing

your assessment schedule and meeting deadlines. The assessment for each term has
been mapped out for you in the following pages. Use the enclosed Assessment
Calendar and a diary or electronic calendar to help with your organisation.

☺ Keep a record of tasks completed for each subject so that, at any given time, you
know exactly what proportion of your course assessment has been completed and
how much remains

☺ Seek feedback from teachers if you are unsure about what you need to do to
improve and make further progress

☺ Open communication helps to minimise misunderstanding and confusion.

Communication regarding assessment tasks is managed by each faculty: the
classroom teacher in the first instance, and then the Head Teacher of the subject
concerned. If issues with your health and wellbeing have impacted your learning,
contact your teachers and Year Adviser so that guidance and support can be
discussed.

☺ Inform your teacher if you know that you will be absent when a task is due and
make alternative arrangements for the task to be submitted or completed on or
before the due date

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 9

Assessment Schedules
Agricultural Technology Stage 5 Year 9

Year 9 Task Schedule

Task no 1 2 3 4 total
Task Due: Term 1 Week 5 Term 2 Week 4 Term 3 Week 5 Term 4 Week 5
Term/Week assessment assessment
block block
Task Type Agriculture Semester 1 Agricultural Semester 2
commercial examination model examination
Topic Agricultural Semester 1 Model All topics
marketing topics construction
Task 20 30 20 30 100
Weighting %

Commerce Stage 5 Year 9

Year 9 Task Schedule

Task no 1 2 3 total
Task Due: Term 1 Week 6 Term 2 Week 4 Term 4 Week 5
Term/Week assessment block assessment block
Task Type Multimodal Research and Semester 2
Presentation Written Component Examination
Topic Core: Consumer and Option: Law, Society All topics
Financial Decisions and Political
Involvement
Task Weighting 30 30 40 100
%

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 10

Design and Technology Stage 5 Year 9

Year 9 Task Schedule

Task no 1 2 3 4 total
Task Due: Term 2 Week Term 2 Week Term 4 Week 6 Term 4 Week 6
Term/Week 6 6
Task Type Storage Storage 3D Modelled 3D Modelling
product Design and product design and
Production production folio
Folio
Topic Material Material Information and Information and
technologies technologies Communication Communication
technologies technologies
Task 30 20 35 15 100
Weighting %

Drama Stage 5 Year 9

Year 9 Task Schedule

Task no 1 2 3 4 total
Task Due: Term 1 Week 9 Term 2 Week 6 Term 3 Week 10 Term 4 Week 5
Term/Week assessment
block
Task Type Performance Theatrical Form and Style Performance
and Analysis Designs Performance and Logbook
Topic Performance Design Outdoor Logbook and
and written submissions Shakespeare performance in
analysis Performance progress
Task 10 – 20 20 WiP – 20 100
Weighting Performance Logbook - 20
% 10 - Analysis

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 11

English Stage 5 Year 9

Year 9 Task Schedule

Task no 1 2 3 total
Task Due: Term 2 Week 6 Term 3 Week 6 Term 4 Week 5
Term/Week assessment block
Task Type Creative (CR) Multimodal Analytical essay
Writing & Presentation
Reflection (RS) -
Hand in
Topic Voices of the Past Shakespeare Study Novel Study
Task Weighting 25 – CR 30 30 100
% 15 - RS
(40 Total)

History Elective Stage 5 Year 9

Year 9 Task Schedule

Task no 1 2 3 4 total
Task Due: Term 1 Week 6 Term 2 Week Term 3 Week 7 Term 4 Week
Term/Week 6 4
Task Type Source task Multimodal Essay Research
presentation project

Topic TBC TBC TBC Personal

interest
Task 20 30 20 30 100
Weighting
%

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 12

HSIE Stage 5 Year 9 (History and Geography
semesterised)

Year 9 Task Schedule

Task no 1 (Geography) 2 (Geography) 3 (History) 4 (History) total
Task Due: Term 1 Week Term 2 Week 3 Term 3 Term 4 Week 2 in
Term/Week 8 in class Week 7 class

Task Type Group Project Examination Research Examination

+ Individual Task
Component
Topic Changing - Changing Australians Australians at War
Places Places at War
- Sustainable
Biomes
Task 40 60 100
Weighting %
Task 40 60 100
Weighting %

Japanese Stage 5 Year 9 (compacted course)

Year 9 Task Schedule

Task no 1 2 3 4 total
Task Due: Term 1 Week 9 Term 2 Week Term 3 Week Term 4 Week 3
Term/Week 4 assessment 4 assessment
block block
Task Type Design your Topic test Pitch and Skit Semester 2
own castle Examination and
Skit
Topic Howl’s Moving Weather Food truck All topics
Castle
(houses)
Task 15 20 35 30 100
Weighting
%

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 13

Latin Stage 5 Year 9

Year 9 Task Schedule

Task no 1 2 3 total
Task Due: Term 1 Week 9 Term 2 Week 4 Term 4 Week 5
Term/Week assessment block assessment block
Task Type Research task Semester 1 Semester 2
examination Examination
Topic A cultural topic Oxford Latin Course Oxford Latin Course
from Oxford Latin Chapters 17-24 Chapters 25-30
Course chapters (variable) (variable)
17-24 (variable)
Task Weighting 20 30 50 100
%

Mathematics Stage 5 Year 9

Year 9 Task Schedule

Task no 1 2 3 4 5 total
Task Due: Term 1 Term 2 Week Term 3 Term 3 Term 4
Term/Week Week 9 4 assessment Week 4 weeks 7-9 Week 5
block assessment
block
Task Type Common Semester 1 Common Assignment Semester 2
Test examination Test examination
Topic - Algebra All topics - Quadratics Finance All topics
revision covered in - Coordinate
- Products Semester 1 geometry
and
factors
- Irrational
numbers
and surds
Task 10 30 10 15 35 100
Weighting
%

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 14

Music Stage 5 Year 9 (compacted course)

Year 9 Task Schedule

Task no 1 2 3 4 total
Task Due: Term 1 Week 10 Term 2 Week 4 Term 3 Week Term 4 Week 5
Term/Week assessment 10 assessment
block block
Task Type Composition Performance Ensemble Musicology
Performance Exam and
and Performance
arrangement
Topic Australian Australian Small Small
Music Music Ensembles Ensembles
Task 20 20 20 40 100
Weighting
%

Physical Activity and Sports Studies (PASS) Stage 5

Year 9 (compacted course)

Year 9 Task Schedule

Task no 1 2 3 4 total
Task Due: Term 1 Week Term 2 Week 6 Term 3 Weeks Term 4 Week 5
Term/Week 10 6 - 10 assessment
block
Task Type Practical Digital Media Teaching FMS – Semester 2
Laboratory presentation – Group task Examination
test (in class) Pairs Task (In-class)
(Hand-in)
Topic The Moving The Australian FMS Modules 1-4
Body sporting development
experience and technology
Task 25 25 25 25 100
Weighting %

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 15

PDHPE Stage 5 Year 9

Year 9 Task Schedule

Task no 1 2 3 4 total
Task Due: Term 1 Term 2 Week 4 Term 3 Weeks Term 4 Week 5
Term/Week Weeks 2-11 assessment 2 - 10 assessment
block block
Task Type Practical Written Practical Skills Semester 2
Skills response – and self- Examination
(In-class) individual task evaluation
(Hand-in) (In-class)
Topic Striking Healthy for Life Evolution of Units 1-7
Games dance
Task 25 25 25 25 100
Weighting %

Photographic and Digital Media Stage 5 Year 9

Year 9 Task Schedule

Task no 1 2 3 4 total
Task Due: Term 1 Week 11 Term 2 Week 5 Term 3 Week 1 Term 4 Week 5
Term/Week assessment
block
Task Type Pinhole Analogue/Digital Photographic Video and
Camera and and Folio Projections, Examination
Assignment Documentary
Assignment
and Folio
Topic Environment Objects and Social Fantasy and
and Research Theory Commentary, Theory
Atmosphere,
Research and
Theory
Task 20 25 35 20 100
Weighting
%

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 16

Science Stage 5 Year 9

Year 9 Task Schedule

Task no 1 2 3 4 total
Task Due: Term 2 Week 4 Term 2 Week Term 3 Week Term 4 Week 5
Term/Week assessment 2/3 8 assessment
block block
Task Type Semester 1 Competitions First-hand Semester 2
examination investigation examination
and Oral
presentation
Topic Working Working Student Working
Scientifically Scientifically Research Scientifically
Project
Knowledge Knowledge Knowledge and
and and understanding
understanding understanding
Task 20 5 35 40 100
Weighting %

Visual Arts Stage 5 Year 9

Year 9 Task Schedule

Task no 1 2 3 4 total
Task Due: Term 1 Week 11 Term 2 Week 5 Term 3 Week 1 Term 4 Week 5
Term/Week assessment
block
Task Type Drawing and Printmaking Painting and Response
Assignment and VAPD VAPD Artwork and
Examination/
Assignment
Topic People and The Self and Still Life and Place and
Research Theory Theory Theory
Task 25 25 25 25 100
Weighting
%

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 17

Assessment Calendar

Assessment Tasks
Year 9 Term 1 2023
Week Subject Type of task
Due
Week 1
Week 2 PDHPE Mandatory (Weeks Practical skills (ongoing during class time)
2-11)
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5 Agricultural Technology TV Commercial (5 weeks to complete)
Week 6 Commerce Multimodal presentation (handed out Week 2)
History Elective Research presentation (4 weeks to complete)
Week 7 History Research task (handed out Week 3)
Week 8 Geography Group Project (handed out Week 2)
Week 9 Drama Performance and analysis
Mathematics Algebra & Number common test in class
Latin Research task
Japanese Composing task – DYO castle
Week 10 Music Composition submission
PASS Practical Laboratory test (in class)
Week 11 Visual Arts In class drawing and assignment
Photographic and Digital Pinhole camera and assignment
Media

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 18

 Assessment Tasks
Year 9 Term 2 2023
Week Due Subject Type of task
Week 1
Week 2 Agricultural Technology Tocal Field Day report (1 day to complete)
Week 3 Science Big Science Competition
Geography Examination (in class – to be VNRd)
Week 4 Music Performance
assessment PDHPE Written response individual task (Take home
block and hand in)
Agricultural Technology Semester 1 Examination
Science Semester 1 Examination
Visual Arts Art making in class + VAPD
Mathematics Semester 1 Examination
History Semester 1 Examination
Latin Semester 1 Examination
Commerce Research (handed out Week 1)
Japanese Topic test
Week 5 Photographic and Digital Analogue/Digital and folio
Media
Week 6 Drama Design Submissions
English Creative Writing and Reflection hand in task
PASS Digital Media Presentation (Take home and
hand in)
Design and Technology Storage product design and production folio
History Elective Multimodal presentation
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 19

 Assessment Tasks
Year 9 Term 3 2023
Week Due Subject Type of task
Week 1 Visual Arts Art making in class and VAPD
Photographic and Digital Photographic projections, documentary
assignment and folio
Media
Week 2 PDHPE Mandatory (Weeks Practical skills (ongoing during class time)
2-10)
Week 3 History Elective Research Essay (Task handed out mid-late T2)
Week 4 Mathematics Quadratics and Coordinate Geometry
Common Test
Japanese Pitch and Skit
Week 5 PASS (Weeks 6-10) Teaching FMS Group Task (ongoing during
class time)
Agricultural Technology Model (8 weeks to complete)
Week 6 English Multimodal presentation - in class delivery
Week 7 Mathematics Finance Assignment handed out
History Research Task (Handed out Week 3)
History Elective Essay
Week 8 Geography Group Project (Handed out Week 2)
Science Student Research Project Presentations (more
than 11 weeks to prepare whole project)
Week 9 Mathematics Finance Assignment due 15%
Week 10 Music Arrangement submitted and Ensemble
Performance
Drama Performance

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 20

 Assessment Tasks
Year 9 Term 4 2023
Week Due Subject Type of task
Week 1
Week 2 History Semester 2 examination in class to be VNRd
Week 3 Japanese (Accelerated - Semester 2 examination during year 10
ROSA) assessment block
Week 4 History Elective Research project
Week 5 Visual Arts Art making in class and Semester 2
assessment examination
block Music Semester 2 examination and Performance
Agricultural Technology Semester 2 examination
Drama Performance and Logbook
Mathematics Semester 2 examination
PASS Semester 2 examination
PDHPE Semester 2 examination
Geography Semester 2 examination
Latin Semester 2 examination
Commerce Semester 2 examination
English Semester 2 Essay examination
Science Semester 2 examination
Photographic and Digital Video and examination
Media
Week 6 Design and Technology 3D modelled product design and production
folio
Week 7
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10

2023 Year 9 Assessment Handbook updated 6/02/2023 21