Philosophy and Ethics: ATAR - a summary of syllabus changes
This table summarises the main changes that have occurred in the process of adapting Stage 2 and Stage
3 of this course into Year 11 and Year 12 syllabuses for implementation in 2015 (Year 11) and 2016 (Year
12).
Content changes
overall
 Some content dot points have been revised for greater clarity
Content changes
Year 11 specific
 See overall content changes above
Content changes
Year 12 specific
 See overall content changes above
Changes to the
assessment table
Year 11
 Some assessment types have been re-named for consistency of language across the
units:
o Philosophical inquiry has been re-named Critical reasoning
o Analysis, clarification and evaluation has been re-named Philosophical analysis and
evaluation.
 Minor changes have been made to the wording of the assessment descriptions
Changes to the
assessment tables
Year 12
 Some assessment types have been re-named for consistency of language across the
units:
o Philosophical inquiry has been re-named Critical reasoning
o Analysis, clarification and evaluation has been re-named Philosophical analysis and
evaluation.
 Minor changes have been made to the wording of the assessment descriptions
Changes to
assessment type
weightings
Year 11
 Weightings of each assessment type are fixed:
o Critical reasoning - 20% (previously in Stage 2: Philosophical inquiry 10–30%)
o Philosophical analysis and evaluation - 30% (previously in Stage 2: Analysis,
clarification and evaluation 20–40%)
o Construction of argument - 20% (previously in Stage 2: 20–40%)
o Examination -30% (previously in Stage 2: 10–30%).
Changes to
assessment type
weightings
Year 12
 Weightings of each assessment type are fixed:
o Critical reasoning - 20% (previously in Stage 3: Philosophical inquiry 10–30%)
o Philosophical analysis and evaluation - 30% (previously in Stage 3: Analysis,
clarification and evaluation 20–40%)
o Construction of argument - 20% (previously in Stage 3: 20–40%)
o Examination - 30% (previously in Stage 3: 10–30%).
Changes to the examination design brief
Section/s renamed
Section/s format or
weighting
Sections removed
 Some sections have been renamed to match assessment types:
o Critical reasoning (previously Reasoning and inquiry skills)
o Philosophical analysis and evaluation (previously Philosophical analysis)
o Construction of argument (previously Extended argument).
Nil
Nil
Sections added
Nil
Other changes
Nil
2014/10379
Philosophy and Ethics | ATAR | a summary of syllabus changes