HSC MINIMUM STANDARDS
On Thursday Year 10, will make their first attempt at the HSC Minimum Standards Tests. These tests are an opportunity for students to demonstrate their level of competency in writing, reading and numeracy. To show they meet the HSC minimum standard, students need to achieve Level 3 or 4 in short online reading, writing and numeracy tests of skills for everyday life. Many students will meet this level on their first attempt, however if not, they will have multiple opportunities throughout Yr 10, 11 and 12 to meet the minimum standard.

In preparation for these tests, students have been asked to download a lockdown browser and will need a well charged laptop to complete the tests over Period 1-3 on Thursday 3 March.

Students in Year 11 and 12 who are yet to meet the standards, will have opportunities later in the term to attempt the tests.

PAT TESTS - Year 8-10
Earlier this term Year 7 completed their PAT (Progressive Assessment Tests) assessments in Reading, Maths and Science. Over the coming weeks students in Year 8-10 will also complete these tests. The intention and purpose of these tests is to collect a snapshot of students' knowledge and skills at the beginning of a school year, so that teachers can identify targeted areas of intervention and strategies required to best support students' learning needs. At the end of the year, students will complete a second test which will show learning growth over the year.

Overview of each assessment:

PAT Maths Adaptive assesses a range of content areas and proficiencies to ensure that the breadth of students’ mathematical abilities are captured. The assessments are designed to be engaging and to encourage students to interact with the content to the best of their ability. Reading load is minimised and item types are limited to avoid unnecessarily complicating the skill being assessed. Where the skill is better captured in a different format, interactive items are utilised as appropriate.

PAT Reading Adaptive assesses a range of text types and skill areas to ensure that the breadth of students’ reading comprehension abilities are being captured. The assessment is designed to be engaging and to encourage students to interact with the content to the best of their ability. Item type complexity is minimised to avoid unnecessarily complicating the skill being assessed, except in those instances where the skill is better captured in a different format. Interactive items are utilised as appropriate in these cases.

PAT Science provides information to teachers about the level of achievement attained by their students in the concepts, skills and processes of science. PAT Science assesses knowledge and concepts across four broad areas: physical systems (ie Energy and Change), chemical systems (ie Materials), geological and space systems (ie Earth and Space) and living systems (ie Life and Living).

In preparation for these assessments, students will need to ensure that they have a well charged laptop and headphones. A calculator and pencil may also be required.

Schedule for PAT Testing:
01/03/2022: Year 9 (p2-4)
08/03/2022: Year 8 (p2-4)
17/03/2022: Year 10 (p4-6)

DUE DATES FOR UPCOMING FORMAL ASSESSMENT TASKS
Week 5
02/03/2022: 12 IT: Timber Hand in Task

Week 6
08/03/2022: 12 English Ext. 1 Task
08/03/2022: 12 Maths Ext. 2 Task
09/03/2022: 11 SLR (2 Unit) Task
09/03/2022: 9 Maths 5.2 and 5.3 Task
10/03/2022: 11 Investigating Science Task