Student
Assessment Guide
Physical environmental principles
This subject is assessed holistically and consists of the following units;
Unit Code
Unit Title
MSS024003A
Apply an understanding of environmental principles to a site
MSS024008A
Recognise common geological landforms and samples
Physical environmental principles
SAG
Subject Purpose
This subject covers the ability to;

‘read the landscape’ in terms of the physical components of the environment and
the physical, geological and chemical linkages in operation at a site. Students are
required to apply basic principles of geomorphology, hydrology and ecology in a
systematic, scientific appraisal of site condition and to;

recognise common geological landforms and relate these to basic geological
processes and other ecosystem components. Personnel are also expected to obtain
(near) surface samples of common rocks, minerals and soils and identify them using
classification tables and charts.
This requires sufficient knowledge of chemistry, physics and geology to support a scientific
approach to fieldwork.
Assessment
Assessment for this subject will consist of assignment and examination based evidence
constructed from specific tasks spread out throughout the subject duration.
The assessment weighting for each component will be as follows;
Assessment Task
Weighting
Written Exam – Intro Chemistry
20%
Written Exam – Applied Chemistry
20%
Resources Assignment (Earth Sciences)
10%
Written Exam – Earth Sciences
20%
Worksheet completion – Environmental
Chemistry
Worksheet completion – Applied Organic
and Biochemistry
TOTAL
15%
15%
100%
Subject content
This subject deals with the chemistry, geology and other physical properties of
environments, including the following aspects;

applying a working knowledge of relevant terminology, concepts and principles in
geology, geomorphology, hydrology and ecology to provide a scientific, systematic
appraisal of site environmental condition
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Physical environmental principles
SAG

applying sampling, testing and data quality procedures to accurately perform field
tests

recording and reporting appraisal of site condition

following relevant procedures and methods for conducting field surveys

recognising common geological landforms and explaining their formation

identifying handheld specimens of common rocks and minerals

obtaining and classifying samples of common soils

relating local geology to other ecosystem components

accurately recording field data
These aspects will be performed using the following tools;

Reference sample materials

Charts or online identification tools
Grading
The assessment for this unit/ module is recorded as a Class Mark. All assessment events
used to determine your result will be locally set and locally marked.
Your results will be reported as DISTINCTION, CREDIT, PASS or FAIL. To receive a particular
grade you must get at least the mark shown below:
Grade
Class mark
DISTINCTION
83%
CREDIT
70%
PASS
50%
FAIL
<50%
Delivery strategy
This subject employs holistic delivery strategies and has been designed to include the
components of twounits of study (MSS024003A&MSS024008A). Holistic delivery strategies
require unit mapping to explain how the units are related to the subject. Outlined below is
the unit map for this subject which is derived from the Unit Guides.
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Physical environmental principles
SAG
Elements
Performance
Criteria
Subject
Weighting
Unit
Weighting
MSS024003A
All
All
50%
50%
MSS024008A
1, 2, 3, 4
1.2, 2.2, 3.1, 3.3,
4.1
50%
100%
Unit
NOTE: The subject weighting MUST add up to 100 for the subject, but the Unit Weighting MAY NOT add up to
100 as each unit is weighted differently in each subject it is used in. Refer to cffet.net/env/assessment for
further explanation.
What you will need
To complete this subject successfully you will need;

Leaner resource
Where to get help
Contact your teacher if you run into any trouble this unit. You would be surprised how
flexible we are at accommodating your needs, but communication is key. If you don’t let us
know you are having trouble, we may have trouble trying to help you.
Resources and references
More about assessment
You can access more information about assessment from the following two sites;

http://www.tafensw.edu.au/courses/about/assessment_guide.htm

http://www.cffet.net/env/assessment
Resources

As provided by teacher
Submission
Students are to submit all assessments by the due date to the subject teacher by email using
the following filename format;
firstname-surname-assessmentname-duedate
Visit cffet.net/env/assessment for more information on submitting assessments, file names
and available file extensions that you can use.
References
You are not expected to purchase these resources, they are provided for interest only. Note
that the list below may not be complete, and that some of these resources might be
available from your teacher or library.
As provided by teacher
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