The annotated work samples support teachers:
 when reporting against the achievement standard
 when explaining differences between one student’s achievements and another’s
 in implementing internal moderation practices.
JUDGING STANDARDS
The annotations include black text which reflect an assessment pointer relevant to the
task and/or coloured text which is the task-specific evidence.
YEAR 8 HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
WORK SAMPLE REFLECTING EXCELLENT ACHIEVEMENT
SUMMARY OF TASK:
Earthquakes
Students were learning about the natural causes and spatial distribution of earthquakes.
For this task students researched the topic ‘the likelihood of a large earthquake striking a major Australian city in the
next hundred years,’ with a planning sheet and a list of useful websites to guide them. They completed an in-class
written assessment under supervised test conditions.
Students had four hours in class and their own time to complete their research and planning sheets and 50 minutes to
complete the in-class written assessment.
CONTENT RELEVANT TO THIS TASK
Geography
The causes, spatial distribution, impacts and responses to a geomorphic hazard (e.g. volcanic eruption, earthquake,
tsunami, landslide, avalanche)
Use a variety of methods to collect relevant information and/or data from a range of appropriate sources, such as print,
digital, audio, visual and fieldwork
Draw evidence-based conclusions by evaluating information and/or data to generate a range of alternatives and plan for
action in response to contemporary events, challenges, developments, issues, problems and/or phenomena; make
comparisons; evaluate costs (disadvantages) and benefits (advantages); and infer relationships
Develop texts, particularly descriptions and explanations, using appropriate subject-specific terminology and concepts
that use evidence to support findings, conclusions and/or arguments, from a range of sources
KEY WORDS:
Place, Space, Scale, Change, Interconnection, Environment
Student achievement is reported at the end of the semester or year using the letter grades
and achievement descriptors. Letter grades and achievement descriptors should only be
used to describe student achievement for the purpose of reporting.
2015/100428 [PDF 2015/106177]
Humanities and Social Sciences: Year 8 Excellent Achievement Work Sample
1
WORK SAMPLE
ANNOTATIONS
Interprets information and/or
data to describe, in detail, key
relationships and alternative
perspectives, e.g. provides an
interpretation about the
likelihood of a large earthquake
striking in Australia in the next
100 years.
2015/100428
Humanities and Social Sciences: Year 8 Excellent Achievement Work Sample
2
WORK SAMPLE
ANNOTATIONS
Explains the causes, spatial
distribution, impact of, and
responses to a natural hazard,
e.g. explains the history of
earthquakes, using Meckering
as an example.
Explains the geographical
processes that produce one
specific landform,
e.g. explains interplate
earthquakes, ‘pushing’ the
plate.
2015/100428
Humanities and Social Sciences: Year 8 Excellent Achievement Work Sample
3
WORK SAMPLE
ANNOTATIONS
Evaluates information and/or
data to draw a comprehensive
conclusion, make comparisons
and support discussions, using
evidence, e.g. provides a
reasoned conclusion, citing
supporting evidence.
2015/100428
Humanities and Social Sciences: Year 8 Excellent Achievement Work Sample
4