Assessment
Assessment is an integral part of a student’s learning and it is used by teachers to collect evidence about a student’s progress towards the achievement of outcomes listed from the subject syllabus. Assessment also helps students know and recognise the standards they are aiming for and this is reflected in the marking guidelines. It also provides evidence that students have satisfactorily completed a course.
Why have an assessment policy?
- It will ensure consistency across the College curriculum
- It will ensure fairness and justice to all students
- It will enable parents and students to be better informed of College procedures on assessment.
What is the responsibility of the student?
- It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that they know the date of the formal Assessment Tasks and know what is being assessed and how.
- Every student must follow the procedures regarding submission of formal Assessment Tasks.
- Formal Assessment Tasks are to be submitted to the subject teacher unless otherwise directed.
- If any queries about the tasks or procedures arise students should check with the subject teacher or Leader of learning-Curriculum to seek clarification. Students are encouraged to seek help to enable them to fully understand the requirements and obtain a creditable level of achievement in all Tasks.
- Seek help and advice early and plan effectively.
- It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the Task is submitted to their subject teacher only. Tasks may not be submitted at the office or be given to another teacher to pass on.
- It is the responsibility of all students to return marked assessment tasks to their parents/guardians for their signature.
- Students need to ensure that they complete all informal tasks in class. Students need to understand that information collected from both their formal and informal tasks will be used to determine a grade for their Semester Reports.
What happens if a student is absent for a formal task or examination?
A letter from a Parent/Guardian (year 7-9) or medical certificate (10-12) explaining the absence is to be given to the Director of Studies on the first day of return to the College. The letter also needs to indicate that the Parents/Guardians were aware a task was due on the day of absence. The letter also needs to be separate from the normal diary entry. A phone call can be made out of courtesy but does not replace the letter. Failure to hand in the letter or medical certificate as required may result in a detention and the normal penalty.
If a student knows they will be absent on the due date of a formal Assessment Task a letter must be submitted to the Director of Studies prior to the due date.
What happens if a student submits a formal task late?
First day an Assessment Task is late will result in a 30% penalty (thereafter a zero mark is awarded); an Assessment Task is assumed to be one day late if not received by the designated time on the due date;
Each day of a weekend is regarded as part of the late total; (every day of the weekend is counted) and even if the Assessment Task is a late, student must still submit the work to meet the course requirements.
A Notice of Penalty (year 7-10) or Warning Letter (year 11-12) will be sent home to indicate award of a penalty.
What happens if a student fails to submit a formal task?
Students are required to submit all formal Assessment Tasks. After the second day, a detention will be arranged and a Notice of Penalty (year 7-10) or Warning Letter (year 11-12) will be sent home to indicate award of a penalty. The Notice of Penalty or Warning Letter will indicate that the student will still be required to submit the Assessment Task and notifies the Parent/Guardian of a zero mark.
Can I get an extension of time?
In the case of illness or misadventure, extensions of time may be given but will depend on the circumstances. If a student realises that the Assessment Task will not be completed on time the student must approach the Director of Studies for an extension of time well in advance of the due date. Extensions will not be granted on the due date.
What happens if a student copies work from another student or from a text or electronic source without acknowledgement?
Plagiarism: Taking and using another person’s work and claiming it as your own is plagiarism. If direct words are used, they must be referenced; i.e. they must be placed in quotation marks and the source and page number acknowledged. If a student copies someone’s work exactly and claims it to be his or her own, this is plagiarism. Parents/Guardians will be informed and some disciplinary action may result. Notice of Penalty (year 7-10) or Warning Letter (year 11-12) will also be sent home to indicate a penalty.
What happens in the case of computer or printer breakdown?
No extensions of time can be given. Students will incur a penalty if the Task is late. Students who use the computer for Assessment Tasks are strongly advised to:
- Regularly back up their work on a external drive such as a USB flash drive.
- Print a draft version prior to the due date.
- Complete the final copy of the assignment at least 24 hours before the due date (not on the night before or on the morning of the due date).
- Students are advised they can use the library printing facilities.
- Not to rely on emailing assessments to the College on the due date.
Who should I see if I have a problem?
Students should talk to their subject teacher first. If the problem is not resolved, he or she can then discuss it with the Leader of Learning- Curriculum or Leader of Learning- Pastoral. For major issues, an appointment to speak to the Director of Studies should be made.
Advice for Parents
Parents can take an active interest in the education of their children by encouraging them to:
- Keep up to date of all assessment activities (Calendar, Subject Assessment Outlines).
- Start tasks early, so that they have time to ask for help if they need it.
- Break tasks into a series of smaller steps and set deadlines for completing each step.
- Record the sources of information they use as they find them, so that acknowledgements do not become major tasks at the end.
- All sources need to be acknowledged.
- Frequently save and back up. Failure of technology is not an acceptable excuse for late submission.
- Keep a copy of all tasks.
- Ask their teacher if in doubt.
- Students should not be sharing their own work with others. Who knows where the work could end up?
- Parents are not encouraged to complete the task for their child!
- Parents are required to sign every assessment task after it has been marked. This is a way parents can monitor and account for their daughter/son’s learning.
College Formal Assessment Tasks
This is to be read to students before the commencement of any formal assessment task from Years 7 to 12.
“If you have accidentally brought into the room any books, notes, paper or any equipment other than the specified aids, please hand them to the supervising teacher before the assessment task commences. Mobile phones or other electronic devices must not be taken into the room under any circumstances. If you have accidentally brought a phone or electronic device in the room please hand them to your supervising teacher now. Any student found with notes, phones or unauthorised material in the room will have a penalty imposed, such as zero for the task. There will be no penalty if any such material is handed in now to the teacher before the task commences.”
Examination Procedures
The examination procedures and rules below apply to all examinations and assessment tasks. Students should read them carefully, as it is essential that each student understands them. It is assumed that all students have familiarised themselves with these procedures.
- Where applicable a copy of the examination timetable for each year will be distributed to all students and posted on the student notice boards.
- Students should note carefully the STARTING TIME of examinations, LENGTH of the paper and the LOCATION of examinations. No allowance will be made for candidates who arrive late or do not attend an examination session because they misread the timetable. Students should ensure they are present at least 15 minutes prior to the posted starting time.
- A reading time of FIVE minutes is generally allowed prior to each examination. Some papers have TEN minutes.
- Full College uniform is to be worn throughout the examination period. Failure to do so may result in a student NOT being permitted to sit an examination.
- In the event that a student is late due to misadventure they should report the matter to the Director of Studies as soon as the examination is completed. A determination will then be made as to any consideration that will be given or action needed. If a student is prevented from sitting an examination due to illness a telephone call should be made as soon as possible to the Director of Studies informing them of the reason. The student must bring a Medical Certificate (Years 10-12) or a note from parents (Years 7-9) to the Director of Studies on the first day they return to the College. Failure to do so will lead to a no result being awarded for the task.
- Prior to the examination, students are required to assemble quietly in lines outside the examination room. Orderly and silent entry into the examination room is compulsory. Similarly, when leaving the examination room under instructions, students must remain silent until they have left the room.
- Students must NOT take into the examination room any bags, books, notes, folders, mobile phones, electronic devices, equipment or anything which may be perceived as an attempt to gain an unfair advantage. Pens and other permitted materials must be in a clear plastic sleeve. Calculators will be checked.
- Students must NOT take any writing booklets or examination pads, whether used or not, from the examination room. Examination question papers may only be removed from the examination room under the instruction of the examination supervisor.
- It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they have been provided with the correct examination paper and in the reading time you should check the question papers to ensure there are no pages missing.
- Students must not begin writing until told and when the supervisor tells them to stop writing, do so immediately.
- Students must write in black ink. Pencil may be used only where specifically directed. Liquid paper is not to be used in any examination.
- Students may NOT leave an examination prior to the official completion time. If you complete your examination before the expiration of the allotted time you must remain seated and silent.
- Students may NOT leave the examination room, except in an emergency. If you have to leave, you must be under supervision during your absence from the examination room.
- If a student does not make a serious attempt at an examination, they may be ineligible to receive a mark for that course.
- Misconduct during examination or failure to comply with these rules will be reported to the Principal. If the allegations are substantiated the student may receive no marks for the course.
Personal Study Programme
As students mature and progress through the College they will be expected to assume more responsibility for their own education. This responsibility should be met by way of homework and set study.
Homework
Students at St Patrick’s Marist are expected to do homework. Homework is important because:
- it reinforces learning that occurs in the classroom
- it increases the amount of time available for learning and so enriches the student
- it encourages students to develop independent study habits.
Usually homework will be set by each teacher after each lesson. Students must record their homework in their Diary and work systematically to complete each task by the date required. If no formal homework is set by a teacher, students should still work at that subject by revising the day’s lessons, researching and working on assignment tasks, reading the textbook and looking for other books or resources.
Homework not done
If a student does not complete an assigned task on time, without adequate reason or if a student submits work that is sub-standard, then the teacher will write a note in the student’s Diary or a homework letter will be sent home with the student. Parents are asked to co-operate with the teacher by signing the Diary or letter and responding in the space provided if it is deemed necessary. There will always be occasions when students are justifiably unable to do their homework and we ask parents to write a brief note in the student’s Diary to explain the situation.
Hours of Homework/Study
These guidelines indicate the amount of time students should spend on set homework/study.
- Years 7 & 8 1 ½ hours / day totalling approx. 10 hours / week
- Years 9 & 10 2 hours / day totalling approx. 12-14 hours / week
- Years 11 & 12 3 hours / day totalling approx. 20-21 hours / week
NB: Before examinations students should increase their study by at least ONE hour each day.
Assessment Tasks not done
Students will be given assessment tasks that must be completed by a set date. If a student cannot complete and submit the task then:
- for Years 7 – 9 a note from parents
- for Years 10-12 a medical certificate must be produced to their Director of Studies. This procedure is in keeping with the College’s Assessment Policy.
Technology and Homework
The College encourages the use of technology to solve or enhance homework tasks or assignments. Care should be taken to use appropriate technology wisely. Much time can be wasted searching the internet or formatting a typed assignment. Computer or printer failure will not be accepted as an excuse for failure to present tasks.
Study
Study is best done when the subject matter is fresh in your mind and you are fully alert. To this end, the following points should be considered:
- Study Timetable:
- Set up a study schedule for each day of the week (including weekends)
- This schedule should include family life, work commitments, meal times, sporting interests and social time eg. TV programmes
- There must be appropriate times for homework / study / assignments
- All subjects must be given adequate time
- Once you have organised your timetable
- YOU MUST KEEP TO IT.
- Place to Study:
- A student should have a suitable location at home in which to do their study
- This location should be quiet – exposure to noise from television, radio, and computers will distract a student from their task
- Keep your study equipment handy and make sure your folders are well organised.
- Time for Study:
- Plan your study periods to be 50 minutes with a 5 minute break between each session. During the break take a walk, have a drink and relax.
Illness and Misadventure
If a student is unable to sit for, or complete an assessment or examination due to illness, leave or other unforeseen circumstances, they are required to complete an online form and supply a parent letter (Year 7-10) or Medical Certificate (Years 11-12)
The College has a series of forms on our website under 'Assessment'.
Approved Leave:
- An application for “exemption from attendance at school form” must be completed and submitted to the Principal prior to leave
- Once written confirmation is provided from the College the student must complete the online assessment variation form (specific to approved leave)
- Once the form is submitted the Director of Studies will liaise with the relevant Leader of Learning to determine the most appropriate path of action students will then be notified of the outcome via email.
Illness /Misadventure:
- Parent/Guardian must contact the Leader of Learning
- A parent letter (year 7-10) or medical certificate (11-12) or evidence of misadventure must be obtained and handed to the Director of Studies on return to school. Alternatively this can be emailed to the
Director of Studies
- The student must complete the online assessment variation for specific to:
- Illness
- Misadventure
- Illness prior to examinations
- Once the form is submitted the Director of Studies will liaise with the relevant Leader of Learning to determine the most appropriate path of action students will then be notified of the outcome via email.
Subject Changes
Parents and students are advised that if they wish to change subjects. The cut-off date is Friday 13th February. This request should be made in writing, signed by the parent/guardian and handed to Ms Ellison (Director of Studies).
Year 9 and 11 students were given ample time to prepare for and make subject choices regarding their subjects, during the lengthy subject selection process last year. Year 10 students should be aware that changing electives after one year is not recommended, and students should be completing 200 hour courses at stage 5. Year 12 students must consider the number of units they have. Particularly when needing and an ATAR.
Students wishing to change classes or subjects must:
- See the Director of Studies with a note form their parents requesting the change
- Get relevant Leader of Learning and class teachers to sign the form
- Get the forms signed by the Finance Officer (office)
- Return completed form to the Director of Studies.
If approved confirmation will be a new timetable. Please note students cannot change classes until they receive a new timetable specifying the new class allocation.
Cut off dates for each year groups are:
- Year 12: End of week 5 (Term 4)
- Year 11: End of week 4 (Term 1)
- Year 10: End of week 4 (Term 1)
- Year 9: End of week 4 (Term 1)