the sciences sc2000ca course and assessment guide sciences selection ncea level 2

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1 te mātauranga pūtaiao the sciences sc2000ca course and assessment guide sciences selection ncea level /2

2 the sciences (sc2000) teacher contact details When you first make contact with your teacher, please fill out their details below, for future reference. teacher s name: telephone: ext: alternative telephone number: address: Private Bag 39992, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045 Please keep your Science selection (SC2000) Course and assessment guide in a safe place so that you can use it to plan your study and to record your assessment results. For further information about courses at this level, please refer to Student Guide to Years and the Student Guide to National Certificates, both are available on the school website ( Cover image: Scientist looking through microscope, istockphoto Copyright 2016 Board of Trustees of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, Private Bag 39992, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045, New Zealand. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu.

3 contents 1 Welcome to SC Getting started information 3 Assessment information 4 Designing your Sciences programme 5 Sample Sciences programme 6 Planning a Sciences programme timetable 7 NCEA Level 2 Sciences matrix 8 My Sciences assessment record (SC2000) SC2000CA 1

4 1 welcome to sc2000 Welcome to the Science selection level 2 (SC2000) programme offered by Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu. overview of sc2000 Science offers valuable skills and ways of thinking that benefit students as informed citizens and who are considering careers in a range of industries. SC2000 is available to students who want to do a selection of achievement standards across physics, chemistry or biology at level 2. The programme can be done along with Social Sciences, Arts, English, Health and PE or Technology. SC2000 provides a huge range of choice for you, so that you can follow your interests and study goals. Your programme is built up from topics from PH2000, CH2000, BY2000 or HT2000 that teach towards the achievement standards you have selected. A maximum of 2 can be achieved across physics, chemistry, biology and horticulture. There are 20 standards to choose from of which nine are externally assessed and the other 11 internally assessed. In a one year course you can study up to six standards. The course consists of the course booklets, supplementary learning material and access to our online learning environment (OTLE). Of the 20 standards on offer, 9 standards are assessed with an external exam, run by NZQA, in November each year. If you aim to get your Science course endorsed on your NCEA certificate you need to do at least 1 external standard. The other 11 standards are internally assessed. For internal assessment your teacher will send you an assessment task. Most of the internals for science standards involve an investigation a practical investigation, information research, or both. A few standards also involve tests. Some topics give you the option of studying for internally-assessed or externally-assessed standards When you have enrolled for SC2000 you will work on the start up module Fundamentals of chemistry (CH2001). This module covers the basic concepts in chemistry that provide a good foundation before starting on your level 2 science selection. To make your selections look at the matrix at the end of this guide and visit our OTLE website. Work out a tentative programme and decide which standard you want to do first. You can then contact your teacher to arrange your first topic in physics, chemistry, biology or horticulture. Give your science teacher a call and talk to them about selecting standards that suit your interests and study goals. course endorsement This course can be endorsed with Merit or Excellence if, in a single year, you gain 14 or more credits at Merit and/or Excellence within Level 2 Sciences. At least three of these credits must be from externally assessed standards and three from internally assessed standards. 2 SC2000CA

5 2 getting started information how this course is delivered SC2000 is a programme with printed material and an online component delivered in Te Kura s online teaching and learning environment (OTLE). Dual enrolled students are expected to access material from OTLE. Other enrolled students may request printed materials to be posted, accepting there will be a delay between enrolment and receiving the first posting. You will receive an explaining how to log in to OTLE. This includes a link to set your password if you have not logged into the OTLE before. You can access OTLE by clicking on It is recommended that you bookmark this site in your browser. This will take you to a page with links to your courses. Your username and initial password is your Te Kura student ID number. You will be asked to set a new password when you first log in. After that, if you need to reset your password you can click on the Forgot password link on the OTLE login page. If you have difficulties logging in, please helpdesk.otle@tekura.school.nz organising your study Plan a regular time to study. Some people learn best from frequent short sessions while others do better with fewer, longer sessions. It is important to have a plan or a timetable and to keep to it. For more information on how to study successfully, refer to the Student Guide to Years ( te kura codes Your course code is: SC2000. SC is the code for Science and 2 refers to Level 2. BY2 refers to a booklet that covers a Biology learning topic in the SC2000 course. CH2 refers to a booklet that covers a Chemistry learning topic in the SC2000 course. PH2 refers to a booklet that covers a Physics learning topic in the SC2000 course. HT2 refers to a booklet that covers a Horticulture learning topic in the SC2000 course. BY2 Y1 CH2 Y1 PH2 Y1 refer to the first assessment for an Achievement Standard. For example: BY2011Y1 refers to the first assessment for the standard AS AS is the code for Achievement Standard. A code ending in A (e.g. PH2044A) refers to a teacher-marked assignment which will help you prepare for your achievement standard assessment task or external examination. SC2000CA 3

6 getting started information resources you need For full time students - Te Kura booklets, stationery, paper, calculator. There are many hands-on activities. You will be provided with some specialist equipment for the topic you are studying, if it is needed, but for most activities you will also need to find everyday items from around your home. As you study your science selection you will find it very useful to have a computer with Internet access. The teaching and learning materials for each topic are supported both with printed booklets and with a topic webpage. Print booklets are provided for all students, with duplicate electronic versions available through the topic webpages. The webpages also contain useful web links, and interactive and multimedia learning materials essential for some activities. choosing topics and standards NZQA advises that a one-year course should lead to credits. You may only wish to do some topics. For example, you may want to do only internal standards for this course. You should look carefully at the Science standards matrix (on page 12) and make your choices. It is important to consider how well this will meet your learning goals (such as gaining enough credits to achieve your NCEA Level 2, or meeting the entry requirements for selected science standards at NCEA Level 3 or any future study). You should discuss your options with your Learning advisor and/or your teacher. self-marking Many activities are self-marked. You ll find an Answer guide in each resource. Use these answers to mark your own work and make corrections where necessary. Self-marking is important as it gives you instant feedback on how well you understand the ideas, concepts or information that has been covered. assessment Students are required to send in their self-marked and teacher-assessed work. Teachers return student work with feedback and advice in preparation for NCEA internal and external assessments. assessments for this course are: closed book tests a research investigation and scientific report. The detailed criteria for Achievement Standards will be given in the relevant booklets. They can also be found by searching the subject and level in the NCEA part of the NZQA website ( and then finding the relevant standard(s). If there are two assessment opportunities for an Achievement Standard, one is called Y1 and the other is called Y2. assessment preparation includes: teacher-marked activities Te Kura practice examinations. 4 SC2000CA

7 getting started information time commitment You should be aiming to do at least five achievement standards in this course. The number of booklets for each topic varies, depending on the number of credits given to each standard. It is expected that 10 study hours are required per credit. Each booklet will take approximately 10 hours of work to complete at the normal pace, representing about two weeks of work at five hours per week. Before deciding on the pace of learning, read through this Course and assessment guide and ask yourself the following: How much time can I set aside for study each week? Will I be attempting both externally and internally assessed standards? Will I be able to keep a steady pace of five hours of study each week? Do I intend to sit the external examination at the end of the year? Do I need specific external or internal credits for next year s study or work? normal pace of learning As a guide, expect to do at least five hours work per week in this subject. This means five booklets each term so that you complete the course before the external examination at the end of the school year. flexible pace of learning If you have less than a year because you start later or need to finish earlier, you can decide the pace at which you work. You could still complete the whole course by devoting more time and effort to it. Your teacher can ensure that you receive the resources you need in time to do this. cover sheets The back cover of the booklets is the cover sheet for your work. Fill it in; sign it before sending back to Te Kura. If applicable, your supervisor also signs this sheet as part of our authenticity requirements. All students are encouraged to submit as much as possible of their work online via the OTLE Dropbox. When work requires authentication, students will follow the instructions provided in OTLE. queries about your work It is important to contact your teacher if you have any queries about your work. It helps to have your ID number, booklet code (for example, BY2011) and the activity or question number when you contact your teacher, but it is not essential. SC2000CA 5

8 3 assessment information standards The National Qualifications Framework has two types of national standards: Achievement and Unit Standards. Credits from both Achievement Standards and Unit Standards count towards NCEA. Please refer to our Student Guide to National Certificates or Te Kura ( and NZQA ( websites for more information about National Certificates of Educational Achievement, and assessment. internal assessment Some Achievement Standards and Unit Standards are internally assessed. This means that your teacher sets and marks all assessments that count towards credits gained for these standards. external assessment assessment means that an external examiner marks your assessment work. This may be through the NZQA examinations at the end of the year or (for subjects such as Design and Visual Communication, Technology and Art) by submitting a portfolio or project. You will be able to complete practice assessments and Te Kura practice examinations for external standards. te kura practice examinations Students should complete the Te Kura practice examinations for any external standards with an end of year examination they have entered. It is important that students complete all practice external assessments and examinations. If for some reason, such as illness, you are unable to sit the NZQA examinations at the end of the year you will only be eligible for consideration for a derived grade (compassionate consideration) if you have completed the Te Kura practice examinations. resubmissions If you have made mistakes in your standard assessment, your teacher may offer you one resubmission opportunity. This means you have made errors that you are capable of discovering and correcting by yourself. A resubmission allows you to improve your result. further assessment opportunities for internal standards For some standards, you will be able to complete a second assessment called a further assessment opportunity to improve your results. These standards are indicated in the assessment summary. You should take this opportunity where it is available. authenticity Authenticity means that students complete and submit work that is their own. When you submit work to Te Kura, you sign an authentication declaration that the work you are submitting is your own work and was done under the required assessment conditions. Where applicable, your supervisor signs to confirm this declaration. When submitting work online via the OTLE Dropbox, if it requires authentication, students must follow the instructions provided in OTLE. 6 SC2000CA

9 assessment information derived grades (compassionate consideration) If for any unexpected reason you are not able to sit your end of year examination or to submit final work towards an external standard (portfolios or projects), you may be eligible for a derived grade. Please refer to the Student Guide to National Certificates and contact your teacher or learning advisor as soon as possible to find out more should you feel this is necessary. appeals You have the right to query an assessment result if you want further clarification or disagree with the result. If you are still not satisfied, you may appeal. Refer to the Student Guide to National Certificates for more information. You can also appeal any other decisions, procedures or policies about assessments. Contact your teacher or learning advisor if you wish to appeal. Further information and a form that students can use to appeal is available on the Te Kura website in the Student toolkit area ( and go to Student toolkit). SC2000CA 7

10 4 designing your sciences selection course You should aim to complete at least five standards in one year. Your choices will depend on how your interests develop. You may have already decided what you want to study, but you may not be sure. exams take place in November. You will have to decide which external exams you want to enter by July. While you are working on the Fundamental Chemistry module (CH2001) you can work out your draft science selection programme for the year. With 20 standards to choose from there is a lot of choice. Where do you start? Start with something that interests you. Talk to your teacher and to your learning advisor. Each standard is described in the following format: AS91154 Biology 2.2 Analyse the biological validity of information presented to the public BY2021 (online only) BY2040 BY2060 BY credits This line shows the standard number This is the short title of the standard This is the title of the standard These are the study topic numbers and their titles This is the number of credits in the standard and the mode of assessment. On the final page of this guide is a table of all the Science standards available at NCEA Level 2. Use the table to make a list of the standards you would like to study for. Consider the following recommendations when you are making your list: Your choices should reflect your interests, as well as your future study goals Five standards or credits make up a full year s programme for a Science selection programme with a maximum of 2. If you want an endorsement you should aim to do at least one standard that is externally assessed An example of a Science selection programme for the year is given on page 10. prerequisites To do Physics standards at level 2, students should have achieved at level 1 To do Chemistry standards at level 2, students should have achieved at level 1 To do Biology standards at level 2 students should have achieved or at level 1 You may have the equivalent of these, so it is worth contacting the Kaitauku Matauranga (Curriculum Leader) Science to discuss. 8 SC2000CA

11 designing your sciences selection course Also, you need to be mindful of prerequisites for Science selection Level 3 if you have any intentions of achieving level 3 standards in the sciences next year. In the table below the standards are listed for level 2 and 3 with the level 2 standard paired with the level 3 standard it leads on to. Normally, the level 2 standard will be a prerequisite for the level 3 standard. Topic/theme of standards Level 2 standard Level 3 standard Biology investigation Biology socio-scientific issue Adaptation Cell life processes Genetic variation , Ecology Gene expression Quantitative chemistry Chemistry in technology and the world around us Chemical bonding and energy Organic chemistry Chemical reactivity and reactions Oxidation- reduction chemistry Investigating physics variables Physics applications Waves Mechanics Atomic and nuclear physics Electrical systems Physics socio-scientific issue Horticulture primary production Once you have a list of standards to study, give your Science teacher a call to discuss your choices. They will then be able to plan your programme so ensure you are sent the learning materials. SC2000CA 9

12 5 sample sciences programme Some students want a normal school science course. The new 31-standard matrix means that every school in New Zealand is doing something slightly different. Most schools are running two courses: one for students who like academic study and who are aiming to study at university, the other for students who find that they can t ever do well in exams and who are more practicallyskilled. An example of a SC2000 Sciences selection academic programme could be: Topic Credits Assessment Start up module CH2001 fundamental chemistry Genetic variation (AS91157) 4 November examination Mechanics (AS91171) 6 Practical investigation in biology context (AS91153) 4 investigation Chemistry used in current technology (AS91163) 4 report Physics application (91169) 3 information research This programme gives a good preparation for study of biology, chemistry or physics at level 2. The study for exams can be done before most of the internals, so you would be ready to do practice exams for these standards at the end of August. You would develop skills for both types of science internals. If you got good grades from this your NCEA certificate could get a Science endorsement. This is a good starting point, but the choice is yours. Look at the list of standards available in the Sciences at NCEA Level 2 you ll find it on page 12 of this guide SC2000CA

13 6 planning a sciences programme timetable If you wish to complete six of the standards offered at level 2, a suggested timeline is given below. If you enrol later in the year, or wish to attempt only certain standards, you can adjust this guideline accordingly. If you wish to continue towards studying the sciences at level 2, you should complete the work for at least four standards. The topics are written so that each topic has all the relevant learning for a particular achievement standard. This means you can complete the topics in a different order if you wish (talk to your teacher about this). If you would like to tailor your SC2000 course to suit your interests and goals, talk to your teacher about which of the other standards from the NCEA Level 2 matrix you would like to do. The NCEA Level 2 Sciences matrix is on the final page of this guide. February March April May June July August September October November Start up module CH2001 then two booklets from your first standard, for example, Genetics BY2042, BY2051 BY2052, BY2053, BY2053A BY2011, BY2011Y1 (School holidays) PH2041, PH2042 PH2043, PH2044 PH2044A (School holidays) CH2031 plus online component Revision of Genetics and Mechanics Te Kura practice exams PH2051, PH2052 (School holidays) PH2052Y1 plus any catch up Revision and NCEA examinations SC2000CA 11

14 7 ncea level 2 sciences matrix Physics Chemistry Biology Horticulture AS91168 Physics 2.1 AS91161 Chemistry 2.1 AS91153 Biology 2.1 AS91298 AHS 2.1. Carry out a practical Investigation that leads to a non-linear relationship Carry out quantitative analysis Carry out a practical investigation in a biology context, with supervision Report on the environmental impact of the production of a locally produced primary product. PH2011 CH2011 CH2012 CH2013 Laboratory required BY2011 HT2101 HT2102 HT2103 AS91169 Physics 2.2 AS91163 Chemistry 2.3 AS91154 Biology 2.2 an physics relevant to selected contexts. (Open book research task) understanding of the chemistry used in the development of a current technology Analyse the biological validity of information presented to the public 3 credits 3 credits 3 credits PH2051 PH2052 CH2031 and online component BY2021 (online only) BY2040 or BY2060 or BY2070 depending on chosen issue 12 SC2000CA

15 ncea level 2 sciences matrix Physics Chemistry Biology Horticulture AS91170 Physics 2.3 AS91164 Chemistry 2.4 AS91155 Biology 2.3 an waves 4 Credits PH2031 PH2032 PH2034 bonding, structure, properties and energy changes 5 credits CH2041 CH2042 CH2043 CH2044 adaptation of plants or animals to their way of life 3 credits BY2031 AS91171 Physics 2.4 an mechanics 6 credits PH2041 PH2042 PH2043 PH2044 AS91165 Chemistry 2.5 the properties of selected organic compounds CH2051 CH2052 AS91156 Biology 2.4 life processes at the cellular level BY2041 BY2042 BY2043 BY2044 AS91172 Physics 2.5 an atomic and nuclear physics PH2051 PH2052 AS91166 Chemistry 2.6 chemical reactivity CH2061 CH2062 CH2063 AS91157 Biology 2.5 genetic variation and change BY2042 BY2051 BY2052 BY2053 SC2000CA 13

16 ncea level 2 sciences matrix Physics Chemistry Biology Horticulture AS91174 Physics 2.6 AS91167 Chemistry 2.7 AS91158 Biology 2.6 an understanding of electricity and electromagnetism 6 credits PH2061 PH2062 PH2063 oxidation-reduction 3 credits CH2071 Investigate a pattern in an ecological community, BY2061 BY2062 BY2063 AS91159 Biology 2.7 gene expression BY2042 BY2071 BY2072 BY2073 BY SC2000CA

17 8 my sciences assessment record (sc2000) Standard Topic Due date Grade awarded Credits achieved