A student will be considered to have satisfactorily completed a course if, in the Principal’s view, there is sufficient evidence that the student has:

• followed the course developed or endorsed by NESA
• applied themselves with diligence and sustained effort to the set tasks and experiences provided in the course by the school
• achieved some or all the course outcomes.

Non-Completion Warning letters (also known as N-Warning letters) will be sent home if a student has:

• not followed the course developed or endorsed by NESA
• not applied themselves with diligence and sustained effort to the set tasks and experiences provided in the course by the school, such as classwork and assessment tasks
• not addressed some or all of the course outcomes
• failed to attend an assessment task without a valid illness or misadventure claim
• not made a genuine serious attempt at the task
• engaged in malpractice or a non-serious attempt in assessment tasks or exams.

N-Warnings can be redeemed by a student. The N-Warning letters outline the task to be completed and a new due date. If a student submits a serious attempt at the task, then the N-Warning is redeemed. While the student will receive zero for the task, which will affect their final mark, the N-Warning is cleared from their record.

While NESA does not mandate attendance requirements, principals may determine that, because of absence, the course completion criteria has not met. Clearly, absences will be regarded seriously by principals who must give students early warning of the consequences of such absences. Warning letters must relate the student’s absences to the non-completion of course requirements.

Any student who enters a non-serious attempt (including but not restricted to: not making a genuine effort, inappropriate comments to questions, challenging markers to take away marks, making abusive, rude or derogatory comments or inappropriate diagrams) will receive zero marks for that assessment task. Students will be required to re-attempt the assessment task to satisfy course outcomes and avoid an N-Warning; however, a zero will be recorded as the mark for the task.

Malpractice includes:

• failing to comply with the Rules of Conduct set out by the school
• failing to maintain honesty and integrity regarding assessment
• misconduct that affects another student’s performance, and
• plagiarism, including the use of artificial intelligence.

Candidates who do not comply with these principles, or who engage in malpractice in assessment tests or examinations, or in the preparation of assessments, will typically receive no marks for that task. Students will be required to re-attempt the assessment task to satisfy course outcomes.

Where a task takes the form of a test or examination, the supervisor's instructions must be always followed.

Candidates must:

• not speak to any person other than the supervisor during the examination
• not behave in any way likely to disturb the work of any other candidate or upset the conduct of the examination
• not bring mobile phones into the exam room. All mobile phones are to be turned off and left in students’ bags or in lockers. Mobile phones are not to be in students’ pockets.
• not wear a watch of any kind
• not take any books, notes, paper or equipment, other than that specifically permitted by the supervisor, into the venue (classroom, library or auditorium) where the assessment task or exam is taking place
• only use NESA-approved calculators
• place all acceptable stationery in a clear, see-through bag. NO pencil cases.
• only use see-through water bottles
• make a genuine, serious attempt at all tasks
• follow and adhere to all administration instructions (either written or verbal) regarding the administration of the exam, eg. (but not restricted to) reading time instructions, equipment permitted, toilet breaks.

All tasks must be the work of the student submitting them. All sources used in preparation of a task must be acknowledged. Teachers will use their professional judgement to decide what is the student’s own work. (Please refer to All My Own Work, Plagiarism and Use and Detection of Artificial Intelligence on the following pages for more details.)

Students must be entirely honest when completing assessment tasks, exams and submitted works. Students will be marked only on the quality and originality of the work the student has produced. All plagiarised material will not be taken into consideration.

Students must acknowledge any part of their work that was written, created or developed by someone else. This includes any material from other sources like books, journals, electronic resources, the internet and generative AI tools. Students do not need to formally acknowledge material that they learned from their teacher in class.

The emergence of generative AI programs has proven a challenge to ensuring the integrity of all assessment tasks. Therefore, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) programs to either generate, write, modify, improve, edit or review student submissions is prohibited unless otherwise specified by in the assessment task notification.

Without permission, students should not use AI in ANY capacity when creating and reviewing their work. This includes using AI to:

• generate all or part of an assessment task
• run their work through an AI detection tool.

Additionally, students must ensure that they adhere to all assessment task requirements regarding technology. This may include, but is not limited to:

• specifying the software program/s allowed to be used to create the student's work. For example, for text-based tasks only Microsoft Word may be used. This means that this software is the only software that may be used in the creation of a student's work and only the embedded tools in these software programs are to be used.
• ensure that "track changes" is turned on from the time a student begins to create their task.
• ensure that no other software programs are used in the development of the task apart from those allowed by the assessment notification.

This aligns with NESA’s Assessment Certification Examination (ACE) manual: “Should malpractice [plagiarism] be suspected, students will be required to demonstrate that all unacknowledged work is entirely their own. Such evidence might include, but is not limited to, the student:

• providing evidence of and explaining the process of their work, which might include diaries, journals of notes, working plans or sketches and progressive drafts work (eg. Word change tracker) to show the development of their ideas.
• answering questions regarding the assessment task, examination or submitted work under investigation, to demonstrate their knowledge, understanding and skills.” (Reference: Honesty in HSC Assessment – the Standard ACE 9022)
• in the case of suspicion that AI has been used in the development of an assessment task, students may be asked to demonstrate the authenticity of the work by producing the kind of evidence referred to above. Additionally, teachers may may use a third-party online software program to review all submissions and determine if students have used AI programs.

If it appears that a student is at risk of being given a N-Determination in any course, the Principal (or Principal’s delegate) must warn the student as soon as possible and advise the parent or guardian (if the student is under 18 years) in writing. This warning should be given in time for the problem to be corrected.

Students who do not make a genuine attempt to complete the course work outlined in an N-Warning cannot be regarded as having satisfactorily completed the course. The Principal will then apply the N-Determination. The principal will complete the formal NESA procedures including formal notification and the appeals process.

Where a student receives an N-Determination in a course, that course will not appear on the student’s HSC. In some cases, the student may not then meet the pattern of study requirements and hence be ineligible for the award of the HSC in that year.

If the N-Determination is upheld or NESA withholds course results of a student not satisfactorily completing the required pattern of study, the student may either repeat that course or undertake another course(s) within the five-year accumulation period.

If a student is found to have engaged in malpractice for more than one course in any single year, then all courses attempted in that year may be withheld by NESA. Students may, however, meet the requirements of the award of the HSC within the five-year accumulation period.

The HSC may not be withheld for reasons related to school management of codes of conduct, such as non-payment of fees, participation in prohibited activities, non-wearing of school uniform or misuse of school equipment. Similarly, N-Determinations may not be made on such grounds. The basis for withholding the HSC is the Education Act 1990, s 95.

Note: An N-Determination or NESA decision to withhold a course will have the following consequences:

• in a 1- or 2-unit course, that course will not contribute in that year to the required pattern of study
• in the common component of related courses, that course and the related Extension course will not contribute in that year to the required pattern of study
• in the Extension course, that course only will not contribute in that year to the required pattern of study.

Each year, NESA publishes a calendar of when and how students can appeal Non-Completion Determinations.

For further details, visit NESA’s website.

Disability provisions address students’ formal assessment needs related to learning, medical, vision, and hearing disabilities. These provisions also cover specific diagnosed anxiety disorders or concentration disorders.

For example, students with a:

• learning disability may use reader or writer
• medical disability may access toilet breaks or use adapted furniture
• vision disability may use Braille or large-print papers
• hearing disability may use an oral or sign interpreter
• diagnosed anxiety disorder may use rest breaks.

Note: There is no guarantee NESA will grant the same provisions as those given by the school.

1. Provisions are not granted solely based on a diagnosis. Disability impacts students in different ways and to different degrees. Applying a one-size-fits-all approach does not recognise the individual needs of each student. Students with the same disability may need and receive different provisions. It is therefore possible that students with the same disability can have different approved provisions. Provisions are determined based on functional evidence.
2. Approved provisions must not confer an advantage. The HSC is recognised for being a level playing field, where students sit for assessments and exams at approximately the same time and under the same conditions. A student with an approved unjustified provision, such as extra time to work, would receive a significant advantage over students without that provision. The school must balance the interests of all students, including those without provisions.
3. The HSC remains a handwritten exam. Access to a computer can facilitate faster word production and easier editing compared to handwriting. For this reason, use of a computer is rarely approved for exam condition assessment tasks. For access to a computer to be granted, it must be evident that no other provisions can address the specific needs of the disability for an individual student.

Students should expect to submit or sit a task the day after the end of their illness or misadventure as noted on their Illness or Misadventure form.

NB. This end date should be consistent with the medical or misadventure documentation.

If a student misses a task, they must still submit or sit the task at an agreed date to avoid or redeem an N-Warning, even if they are awarded a zero for failing to submit a valid and approved Illness or Misadventure claim.

Completing an assessment task to avoid a N-Warning and potentially a N-Determination for a course is a separate process to applying for an Illness or Misadventure claim, which determines if a zero mark applies.

Where there is no valid reason for non-completion of an assessment task or an Illness or Misadventure Application form is not received within 3 school days after the student returns to school immediately after an illness or misadventure, a zero mark will be recorded for that task.

Note: Students who do not attempt or make a serious attempt at more than 50% of assessment tasks within a course will receive a Non-Completion Determination for the final assessment submitted to NESA.

Calderwood Christian School’s Illness and Misadventure claim processes are aligned to NESA’s policy and this extends to the limitations of Illness or Misadventure claims.

You cannot submit a claim based on:

• difficulties in preparation or loss of preparation time except under exceptional circumstances (please see below and read carefully the information under the heading “Illness or Misadventure Claim Due to Disruption Prior to an Assessment Task”) e.g. because of an earlier or pre-existing illness or misadventure
• long-term illnesses such as glandular fever, unless you suffer a flare-up of the condition during the task or exam
• the same grounds for which you received disability provisions
• alleged deficiencies in teaching e.g. extended teacher absences
• loss of study time or facilities prior to the task or exam
• misreading the assessment/exam timetable. If you miss an exam or submission of a task or arrive late to an exam because you misread the timetable, contact the school immediately.
• misreading exam instructions
• other commitments, such as participation in non-school events; e.g. family holiday, work, in entertainment or sporting events, unless an Exemption from School claim has been approved by the principal for elite sporting or entertainment industry commitments.

Note: Participation in a school-authorised event MUST have the prior approval of the Head of School. It is the responsibility of the student to advise their teacher and/or Head of School as soon as possible that they will be unable to attend or submit an assessment task because of a clash with a school event.

An Exemption from School will not be granted for family holidays, when an assessment task or exam is scheduled.

Illness Claim forms must be completed by an independent medical practitioner either on the day of the task or immediately prior to the task. This form must be specific to the date and time of the assessment task or exam. Backdated Illness Claim forms will not be accepted. If a student is sick on days beyond the days covered by the original Illness Claim form, the student will be required to complete an additional Illness Claim form. The Illness Claim form must cover all subsequent days of illness NOT just the day of the task.

Misadventure refers to unforeseen misfortune. Holidays/travel are NOT a valid excuse for missing an assessment task/exam NOR for requesting an alternate date for the task/exam. This includes asking to sit a task/exam early to accommodate a holiday.

Technological malfunctions are not automatically considered a valid excuse. (Please refer to notes below on ‘Technology Problems’.) The Head of School will judge whether the Misadventure Claim and supporting documents provide a valid reason.

Computer and/or printer malfunction is not automatically considered a valid excuse. Problems with computers crashing and printers not working may be a reason to apply for misadventure. However, it will not be automatic that a student has a misadventure appeal granted due to a technology malfunction. A student will be required to show evidence of their work to be considered for a misadventure appeal.

This evidence may be in the form of a:

• draft printout of the task
• handwritten draft version of the task
• USB handed to the teacher containing an electronic version of the task.

A student:

• must keep a back-up copy of tasks in progress. The school recommends this be done through the school’s One Drive. Students can also email their work (as they progress through it) to their own email address, thereby having it accessible to show their teacher on request
• will be awarded a zero mark if they are unable to show evidence of the task in draft form
• must not expect to be granted a misadventure appeal if they leave the printing of the task until the night before it is due, and then find that they experience technology problems
• must be able to supply independent evidence of computer malfunction (eg. letter from a computer company)

The Subject Coordinators and/or Head of School will make a considered judgement as to the validity of the claim and, if approved, the appropriate outcome. Where a valid reason has been supplied, one of the following outcomes will apply:

• an extension of time, or
• awarding of a mark based on completion of a substitute task, or
• where neither is feasible nor reasonable, or where the missed task is difficult to duplicate, the Head of School may authorise the use of an estimate for that task based on other appropriate evidence.

If the Illness or Misadventure Claim form:

• is incomplete
• is submitted more than three days after the student has returned to school
• has not been returned to school or is not available for a rescheduled task immediately after their illness or misadventure, or
• is not accepted by the Head of School,

a zero mark will be recorded for that task.

Note: Students who do not make a serious attempt at more than 50% of assessment tasks within a course will receive an N-Determination for the final assessment submitted to NESA.

School-based assessment accounts for 50% of the overall mark in most NESA-developed courses and is reported on the HSC Record of Achievement. School-based assessment tasks are designed to measure performance in a wider range of objectives than may be tested in an examination. Assessment tasks may include tests, written or oral assignments, practical activities, fieldwork and projects. The assessment requirements for each NESA-developed course are set out in each syllabus.

Assessment for HSC courses should reflect the standards referenced approach determined by NESA.

Assessment procedures should assess the accomplishment of students against specified standards of performance.

In the HSC, the term standards refers to:

• The syllabus standard - what students are expected to know and be able to do as a result of studying the course.
• The performance standard - the different levels of achievement by students in the course.

Assessment procedures for the Higher School Certificate courses should allow students opportunities to show which outcomes of the course they have achieved and the degree of their achievement of these outcomes.

Prior to each task, the course teacher will provide further information to be used in conjunction with this booklet. The information will include the following:

• notification of the exact date
• notification of the exact nature of the task’s activities and all requirements for completion
• an indication of the criteria to be used for marking.

Course teachers will also provide clear feedback on your performance, indicating your relative position within the group for each task and outcomes you have or have not attained. Teachers are required to assess your actual performance, not potential performance. Assessment marks cannot be modified to consider possible effects of illness or domestic situations. If you believe that your performance in an assessment has been affected, you may apply for illness/misadventure consideration.

Students are not to take a partial absence on the due date of an assessment task unless a medical certificate supports this partial absence, or the Head of Secondary School grants leave.

Submission for assessment tasks will be one of the following (unless specified by the Assessment Notification):

• directly to the teacher in class
• directly to the Secondary Coordinator (by 9.15am)
• students may be instructed, via their assessment notification, to submit their assessment via the Learning Management System.

Any assessment task submitted after 9.15am, or other than specified by the assessment task, will be deemed late.

Students will be given feedback on performance in assessment tasks that are linked to the marking guidelines within 2 weeks of the due date. Students will be given the opportunity to examine their marked assessment tasks and to discuss with their teachers marking criteria and the student’s ability to show the degree of their achievement of course outcomes. An indication of student achievement will be given to parents in Semester Reports. Students and parents will be advised in writing if their student is in danger of failing to meet course requirements.

In the event of a mobile telephone sounding during an assessment task the student may be deemed as having attempted to gain an unfair advantage and awarded a mark of zero. All incidents relating to the sounding of a mobile telephone or use of a smart watch during an assessment task will be referred to the Head of Secondary School to investigate and determine the consequences.

Proper referencing:

1. Acknowledges sources: Referencing allows you to give credit to the original authors and creators of the ideas, theories, or research you are using. This acknowledgment shows respect for their work and contributions.
2. Avoids plagiarism: Plagiarism is the act of using someone else’s work or ideas without proper attribution, which is considered unethical and can have serious consequences. Proper referencing helps you avoid plagiarism by clearly indicating which parts of your work are based on others’ ideas.
3. Enhances credibility: Referencing credible sources strengthens your arguments and adds authority to your work. It shows that your research is based on established knowledge and that you have engaged with relevant literature.
4. Supports your arguments: References provide evidence for your claims and arguments. By citing sources, you can back up your statements with data, research findings, and expert opinions, making your work more persuasive and reliable.
5. Enables verification: Proper referencing allows readers to trace the sources of your information. This transparency enables others to verify your claims, follow up on your research, and explore the original sources for more detailed information.
6. Demonstrates academic integrity: Referencing is a fundamental aspect of academic integrity. It shows that you are honest about the origins of your ideas and that you respect the intellectual property rights of others.
7. Facilitates further research: By providing references, you help other researchers and readers find additional resources related to your topic. This can facilitate further research and contribute to the ongoing academic conversation.