Implementation workshop VCE Physics 2013−2016 July 2012

Purpose The aims of this session include: to provide specific information regarding changes to curriculum and assessment for VCE Physics 2013−2016 as a result of a move to a single end-of-year examination of two-and-a- half hours duration to gather feedback/questions/comments regarding implementation in order to produce a set of FAQs to support delivery of the revised study design for VCE Physics from 2013.

Online publication of VCE Study Designs From 2013, all VCE study designs, advice for teachers, resources and assessment handbooks will be available in an online format only (i.e. no hard copies) Online publications will include a publication/update date Teachers will be advised of major updates through the VCAA Bulletin VCE, VET and VCAL

Summary of changes Eleven key knowledge points across Units 3 and 4 have been edited for clarity, and two have been deleted. These have been published in The Bulletin VCE, VCAL and VET Supplement 1, No. 97, July Reminder: teachers may subscribe to the VCAA Bulletin Online – refer to VCAA home page.VCAA home page

Teaching and learning resources Changes to the study design have been made with the intention that teachers may continue to use existing teaching and learning resources The Summary of changes for VCE Physics on the VCAA website should assist teachers to identify study content and sections in current texts which may no longer be applicable to the accredited 2013–2016 course Teachers should note that some publishers are producing revised materials. It is a school/teacher-based decision as to whether new resources are purchased and/or utilised

Overview of changes Curriculum changes: Only one Detailed Study will be assessed through School-assessed Coursework and an end-of-year examination Minor editing of key knowledge for clarity Assessment changes: Single end-of-year examination of 2½ hours duration Examination:SAC = 60:40 (change from 66:34) Extended practical investigation and summary report of selected practical activities may each be undertaken in either Unit 3 and/or Unit 4

Key Knowledge: removal of content Two key knowledge points have been deleted Detailed Study 3.1 (Einstein’s Special Relativity): explain the impossibility of motion faster than light in terms of relativistic mass m=m o γ at speeds approaching c Detailed Study 3.4 (Synchrotron and its applications): emission of photoelectrons by synchrotron radiation and how this process differs from the emission of photoelectrons by visible light

Detailed Studies: Assessment requirements Only one Detailed Study (pp of the study design) is mandated across Unit 3 or Unit 4 (currently, one Detailed Study is undertaken in each of Units 3 and 4) A selected Detailed Study (one of six): may be undertaken during Unit 3 or Unit 4 will be recorded as part of the School-assessed Coursework (SAC) assessment for Unit 4 will be examined in an end-of-year examination

Detailed Studies: Delivery models Detailed Studies may be selected such that, for example: all students undertake the same Detailed Study OR a selection from two or more different Detailed Studies is offered to students at the same time OR a selection from two or more Detailed Studies is offered to students at different times Teachers and/or students may be involved in selection of Detailed Studies

Practical work As a guide: between 3.5 and 5 hours of class time should be devoted to student practical work for each prescribed Area of Study between 3.5 and 5 hours of class time should be devoted to student practical work for a selected Detailed Study (pp. 26 & 31)

FAQs A set of Frequently Asked Questions will be published on the VCE Physics study page of the VCAA website to support implementation of the revised study design 2013−2016

School-assessed Coursework contributes 40% to the study score requires that students must complete an extended practical investigation in either Unit 3 and/or Unit 4 requires that students must complete a summary report of selected practical activities in either Unit 3 and/or Unit 4 should form part of the teaching and learning program, both in terms of formative (including diagnostic) and summative assessment

Advice for Teachers The Advice for Teachers has been updated to include relevant employability skills derived from the Employability Skills Framework against specified assessment tasks for Units 1–4

Assessment Handbook The Assessment Handbook for VCE Physics 2013−2016 will be available from the VCE Physics study page prior to Term

Resources The list of resources will be updated annually by the VCAA and will be available from the VCE Physics page Educators may submit suggested references for inclusion on the resource list to the Curriculum Manager for Science at the VCAA

Examination conditions 15 minutes reading time 150 minutes writing time Question and answer book + Multiple Choice answer sheet 60% contribution to Study Score

Examination content All outcomes in Units 3 and 4 All the key knowledge and key skills Students will be required to apply Physics knowledge and skills to both Unit 3 and/or Unit 4

Examination: Section A mark allocations Total = 128 marks Area of Study 1 and Area of Study 2 of both Units 3 and 4 -Motion in one and two dimensions: marks -Electronics and photonics: marks -Electric power: marks -Interactions of light and matter: marks

Examination: Section A format All questions compulsory Mix of short answer questions and questions requiring numerical calculations Some questions will be built around a scenario Multiple Choice type questions will be answered in the question and answer book

Examination: Section B Total = 22 marks 11 Multiple Choice questions worth 2 marks each Will cover the Detailed studies (Area of study 3 of Units 3 and/or 4) Students respond to one detailed study only - 3.1: Einstein’s special relativity OR - 3.2: Materials and their use in structures OR - 3.3: Further electronics OR - 3.4: Synchrotron and its applications OR - 3.5: Photonics OR - 3.6: Sound

Approved examination materials Approved: Stationery: pens, pencils, highlighters, erasers, sharpeners and rulers Scientific calculator Notes: up to four pages (two A4 sheets) of pre-written notes Typed or handwritten or commercially available notes OK Formula sheets will be provided Not approved: Blank sheets of paper Correction fluid or tape

Examination Advice Each examination will follow the examination specifications and will test a representative sample of the key knowledge and key skills The number of marks provides a guide to the complexity of the expected answer/s Students may be asked to draw upon their practical experience when answering questions

Sample examination paper Questions were sourced from previous years' papers Solutions can be accessed by referring to the relevant Assessment Reports available on the VCAA website Students may be asked to draw on their practical experience when answering questions Sample examination paper will be published on the VCAA website in the VCE Physics study pages

Contact VCAA branchScience ManagerContact Details CurriculumMaria JamesTel: AssessmentSimona WengritzkyTel: © Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority 2012