1. Implementation workshop VCE Environmental Science 2013−2016 August 2012

2. Purpose The aims of this session include:
to provide specific information regarding changes to curriculum and assessment for VCE Environmental Science 2013−2016 as a result of a move to a single end-of-year examination of two 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 Environmental Science from 2013.

3. 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

4. Summary of changes
A number of key knowledge points across Units 3 and 4 have been edited and expanded for clarity, and three Outcome statements have been modified. These changes have been published in the VCAA Bulletin VCE, VCAL and VET Supplement 1, No. 97, July 2012.
Reminder: teachers may subscribe to the VCAA Bulletin Online – refer to VCAA home page.

5. 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 Environmental Science 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

6. Overview of changes Curriculum changes:
Changes to Unit 3 Outcomes 2 and 3, and Unit 4 Outcome 2
Minor editing and/or deletion of some key knowledge for clarity and scope
Assessment changes:
Single end-of-year examination of two hours duration
Examination:SAC = 50:50 weighting (change from 66:34)
SAC tasks and mark allocations have changed
Some content assessed though School-assessed Coursework only (specific details related to a threatened animal, a pollutant and an environmental science project) and not in end-of-year examination

7. Unit 4 Key Knowledge: removal of content
A key knowledge point, and its associated key skill, have been deleted in Unit 4.
Unit 4, Area of Study 2 key knowledge:
assessment of the impact of ecotourism on the environment and the strategies required to manage ecotourism
Unit 4, Area of Study 2 key skill:
analyse the impact of ecotourism

8. Changed Unit 3 Outcome
Current Unit 3 Outcome 2: On completion of this unit the student should be able to describe the characteristics of biodiversity, and evaluate strategies to reduce the effects of threatening processes on one selected endangered animal Revised Unit 3 Outcome 2: On completion of this unit the student should be able to describe the characteristics of biodiversity, evaluate strategies to reduce the effects of threatening processes on biodiversity, and apply this knowledge to one selected threatened animal

9. Changed Unit 3 Outcome 3 Current Unit 3 Outcome 3:
On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain how scientific data is applied to the assessment of environmental risk in ensuring biodiversity
Revised Unit 3 Outcome 3:
On completion of this unit the student should be able to explain how scientific data is used in the evaluation of biodiversity and is applied to the development of management strategies to ensure biodiversity

10. Unit 4 Outcome 2 change
Current Unit 4 Outcome 2: On completion of this unit the student should be able to use the principles of ecologically sustainable development and environmental management to evaluate a selected environmental science project Revised Unit 4 Outcome 2: On completion of this unit the student should be able to use the principles of ecologically sustainable development and environmental management to evaluate environmental science projects, including a focus on one selected environmental science project

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

12. School-assessed Coursework
contributes 50 per cent to the study score
- Unit 3 SAC: 25 per cent
- Unit 4 SAC: 25 per cent
should form part of the teaching and learning program, both in terms of formative (including diagnostic) and summative assessment

13. Student-selected SACs
Specific details related to three student-selected assessment tasks are examined by School-assessed Coursework only:
- threatened animal
- pollutant
- environmental science project
The student-selected fossil fuel and non-fossil fuel energy resources are assessed through both a SAC and the end-of-year examination

14. 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

15. Assessment Handbook
The Assessment Handbook for VCE Environmental Science 2013−2016 will be available from the VCE Environmental Science study page prior to Term

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

17. Examination conditions
15 minutes reading time
120 minutes writing time
Question and Answer book + Multiple Choice answer sheet
50 per cent contribution to Study Score

18. Examination content
Questions will be based on the key knowledge and key skills that underpin the outcomes in Unit 3 and Unit 4, with the exception that specific details related to student-selected threatened animal, pollutant and environmental science project will be assessed through SACs
Students will be required to apply the knowledge and skills of the environmental science areas undertaken in Unit 3 and Unit 4

19. Examination content (continued)
There will be a balance of content across four Areas of Study in Units 3 and 4 to reflect the weighting in the School-assessed Coursework
Some questions may include content from more than one Area of Study within a unit and/or content which crosses both Units 3 and 4

20. Examination format and mark allocation
Two sections
Section A
30 multiple choice questions
one mark each
Section B
short answer questions
90 marks total
Examination will be out of 120 marks

21. Section A TOTAL MARKS: 30 multiple choice all questions compulsory
some questions built around a short scenario
questions will be answered on a Multiple Choice answer sheet

22. Section B TOTAL MARKS: 90 short answer questions scenarios
1-5 or 6 mark questions maximum per question
Note: No essays but there could be extended responses

23. Approved examination materials
stationery: pens, pencils, highlighters, erasers, sharpeners and rulers
scientific calculator
Not approved:
blank sheets of paper
correction fluid

24. Examination advice
The 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

25. Sample examination paper
Sample examination paper is composed largely of past examination questions
Solutions to past examination questions can be accessed by referring to the relevant Assessment Reports available on the VCAA website
Some questions were specifically developed to illustrate that questions can draw upon understanding of concepts across Units 3 and 4
Sample examination paper will be published on the VCAA website in the VCE Environmental Science study pages

26. Contact VCAA branch Science Manager Contact Details Curriculum
Maria James
Tel:
Assessment
Claudia Cicuttini
Tel:
© Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority 2012