te mĀtauranga pŪtaiao
the sciences
sc1000ca
course and assessment guide
science
ncea level 1
2015
science (sc1000)
teacher contact details
When you first make contact with your teacher, please fill out their details below, for future
reference.
teacher’s name:
telephone: 0800 65 99 88
ext:
alternative telephone number:
email address:
Private Bag 39992, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045
Please keep your Science (SC1000) Course and assessment guide in a safe place so that you can
use it to plan your study and to record your assessment results.
For future information about courses at this level, please refer to Student Guide to Years 11–13
and the Student Guide to National Certificates, both are available on the school website
(www.tekura.school.nz)
Cover photo: Apollo 17 image, 1972. © NASA/Goddard Space Flight Centre Scientific Visualisation Studio.
Copyright © 2012 Board of Trustees of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu, Private Bag 39992, Wellington Mail Centre, Lower Hutt 5045,
New Zealand. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without
the written permission of Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu.
© te ah o o te k u ra p ou n am u
contents
1
Welcome to SC1000
2
Getting started information
3
Designing your science programme
4
NCEA Level 1 sciences matrix
5
Assessment information
6
My course planner
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welcome to sc1000
Welcome to the Level 1 Science (SC1000) course offered by Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu.
overview of sc1000
SC1000 is a twenty-first century course for twenty-first century students. It enables you to study
the traditional mainstream topics in science at NCEA Level 1, or to choose your own topics to
study science topics that match your specific goals and interests. It also allows you to choose a
programme with a specific theme. For example a student interested in medical science should
contact their teacher to plan a programme around standards and topics useful as background
for a career in medicine. There are 31 standards in all. A one year course would normally involve
studying for at least five of these.
The course consists of the course booklets, available online or in print form (depending on your
enrolment), supplementary learning material and access to our online learning environment (OTLE).
If you want to continue studying the sciences at NCEA Level 2 then you should consider studying
for more credits. This is best done by enrolling for two or more science subjects.
Of the 31 standards on offer, 12 standards are assessed with an external exam, run by NZQA, in
November each year. We recommend that you try at least one externally-assessed standard. This
will give you practice at doing exams, and if you do well enough it means that you will be able to
get your science course endorsed on your NCEA certificate.
The other 19 standards are internally assessed. For internal assessment your teacher will send
you an assessment task. Most of the internals for science standards involve an investigation – a
practical investigation, information research, or both. A few standards also involve tests. Some
topics give you the option of studying for internally-assessed or externally-assessed standards.
If you have enrolled for SC1000 you may have already been asked where you want to start.
Give your science teacher a call and talk to them about selecting standards that suit your career
and future study goals.
course endorsement
This course can be endorsed with Merit or Excellence in a single year if you gain 14 or more
credits at Merit and/or Excellence within Level 1 Science. At least three of these credits must be
from externally assessed standards and three from internally assessed standards.
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getting started information
how this course is delivered
SC1000 is a print-based course, with course material and supplementary material accessed
from the online teaching and learning environment (OTLE). Dual enrolled students are expected
to access material from OTLE. Other enrolled students may request printed materials to be
posted, accepting there will be a delay between enrolment and receiving the first posting.
You will receive an email explaining how to log in to OTLE. This email includes a link to set your
password if you have not logged into the OTLE before.
You can access OTLE by clicking on www.tekura.school.nz/login. It is recommended that you
bookmark this site in your browser. This will take you to a page with links to your courses.
Your username and initial password is your Te Kura student ID number. You will be asked to set
a new password when you first log in. After that, if you need to reset your password you can click
on the ‘Forgot password’ link on the OTLE login page.
If you have difficulties logging in, please email: helpdesk.otle@tekura.school.nz
organising your study
Plan a regular time to study. Some people learn best from frequent short sessions while others do
better with fewer, longer sessions. It is important to have a plan or a timetable and to keep to it.
There is a suggested planner in the back of this guide for you to plan your programme of study.
You may wish to consult with your subject teacher to help you decide on your plan.
Getting your study underway is very important. Your first return of work should be two to three
weeks after you first received your initial work. If you have any issues returning your work within
this time please contact your subject teacher.
For more information on how to study successfully, refer to the Student Guide to Years 11–13
(www.tekura.school.nz).
te kura codes
Your course code is: SC1000. SC is the code for Science and 1 refers to Level 1.
‘SC1---’ refers to a booklet that covers a particular learning topic in the SC1000 course.
‘SC1---Y1’ refers to the first assessment for an Achievement Standard. For example: SC1101Y1
refers to the first assessment for the standard AS90949.
‘AS’ is the code for Achievement Standard, and ‘US’ is the code for Unit Standard.
A code ending in ‘A’ (e.g. SC1111A) refers to a teacher-marked assignment which will help you
prepare for your achievement standard assessment task or external examination.
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getting started information
resources you need
Te Kura booklets, stationery, paper, calculator.
There are many hands-on activities. You will be provided with some specialist equipment for the
topic you are studying, if it is needed, but for most activities you will also need to find everyday
items from around your home.
As you study science you will find it very useful to have a computer with internet access. The
teaching and learning materials for each topic are supported both with printed booklets and with
a topic webpage. The booklets can be downloaded from the topic webpage for each topic. The
webpages also contain useful links, and interactive and multimedia learning materials essential
for some activities.
choosing topics and standards
NZQA advises that a one-year course should lead to 18–20 credits. You may only wish to do
some topics. For example, you may want to do only internal standards for this course. You should
look carefully at the course outline and make your choices. It is important to consider how well
this will meet your learning goals (such as gaining enough credits to achieve your NCEA Level 1,
or meeting the entry requirements for the Sciences at NCEA Level 2 or any future study).
To be awarded NCEA Level 1, you will need to gain a minimum of 80 credits at Level 1 (or above)
including the 10 credits for literacy and the 10 credits for numeracy.
A list of achievement standards from levels 1, 2 and 3 that count towards Level 1 literacy and
numeracy can be accessed from:
www.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/our-role/legislation/nzqa-rules/secondary-schools-supportinginformation/level-1-literacy-and-numeracy-requirements/
You should discuss your options with your learning advisor and/or your teacher.
self-marking
Many activities are self-marked. You’ll find an Answer guide in each resource. Use these answers
to mark your own work and make corrections where necessary.
Self-marking is important as it gives you instant feedback on how well you understand the ideas,
concepts or information that has been covered.
assessment
Students are required to send in their self-marked and teacher-assessed work. Teachers
return student work with feedback and advice in preparation for NCEA internal and external
assessments.
Internal assessments for this course may include:
•• practical investigation (for example, Practical Chemistry)
•• information research (for example, Physics Application)
•• closed book test (for example, Life Processes).
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getting started information
The detailed criteria for Achievement Standards will be given in the relevant booklets. They
can also be found by searching the subject and level in the NCEA part of the NZQA website
(www.nzqa.govt.nz) and then finding the relevant standard(s). If there are two assessment
opportunities for an Achievement Standard, one is called ‘Y1’ and the other is called ‘Y2’.
External assessment preparation includes:
•• teacher-marked activities
•• Te Kura practice examinations.
time commitment
You should be aiming to do at least five achievement standards in this course. The number of
booklets for each topic varies, depending on the number of credits given to each standard. It
is expected that 10 study hours are required per credit. Each booklet will take approximately
10 hours of work to complete at the normal pace, representing about two weeks of work at five
hours per week. Central concepts are repeated in a number of topics, enabling you to progress
more quickly after you have completed your first level 1 topic.
Before deciding on the pace of learning, read through this Course and assessment guide and ask
yourself the following:
•• How much time can I set aside for study each week?
•• Will I be attempting both externally and internally assessed standards?
•• Will I be able to keep a steady pace of five hours of study each week?
•• Do I intend to sit the external examination at the end of the year?
•• Do I need specific external or internal credits for next year’s study or work?
normal pace of learning
As a guide, expect to do at least five hours work per week in this subject. This means five
booklets each term so that you complete the course before the external examination at the end
of the school year.
flexible pace of learning
If you have less than a year because you start later or need to finish earlier, you can decide the
pace at which you work. You could still complete the whole course by devoting more time and
effort to it. Your teacher can ensure that you receive the resources you need in time to do this.
cover sheets
The back cover of the booklets is the cover sheet for your work. Fill it in and sign it before sending
it back to Te Kura. If applicable, your supervisor also signs this sheet as part of our authenticity
requirements.
All students are encouraged to submit as much as possible of their work on line via the OTLE
Dropbox. When work requires authentication, students will follow the instructions provided in OTLE.
queries about your work
It is important to contact your teacher if you have any queries about your work. It helps to have
your ID number, booklet code (for example, SC1101) and the activity or question number when
you contact your teacher, but it is not essential.
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designing your science programme
You should aim to complete at least five standards in one year. Your choices will depend on how
your interests develop. You may have already decided what you want to study, but you may not
be sure. External exams take place in November. You will have to decide which external exams
you want to enter by July.
With 31 standards to choose from there is a lot of choice. Where do you start? Start with
something that interests you. Talk to your teacher and to your Learning advisor. Try to choose at
least one standard from each of the main curriculum strands – the Physical World, the Material
World, the Living World and Earth and Space Science.
Each standard is described in the following format:
90940 Mechanics Science 1.1
 This line shows the standard number
and its short title
Demonstrate understanding of aspects of
Mechanics
 This is the title of the standard.
4 credits
 This is the number of credits in the
standard and the mode of assessment.
External
On the final page of this guide is a table of all the Science standards available at NCEA Level 1.
Use the table to make a list of the standards you would like to study for. Consider the following
recommendations when you are making your list:
•• your choices should reflect your interests, as well as your future study and career goals
•• five standards or 18–20 credits make up a full year’s programme for a science subject
•• you should aim to do at least one standard that is externally assessed
•• an example of a ‘normal’ science course for the year is given on the next page – use this as a
starting point to select topics you are interested in.
Once you have a list of standards to study, give your science teacher a call to discuss your
choices. They will then be able to plan your programme to ensure you are sent the learning
materials.
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designing your science programme
Some students want a ‘normal’ school science course. The new 31 standard matrix means that
every school in New Zealand is doing something slightly different. Most schools are running two
courses: one for students who like academic study and who are aiming to study at university, the
other for students who find that they can’t ever do well in exams and who are more practicallyskilled.
A traditional academic programme could be:
CREDITS
ASSESSMENT
Genetics (90948)
4
November examination
Mechanics (90940)
4
November examination
Acids and Bases (90944)
4
November examination
Practical chemistry (90930)
4
practical investigation
Physics application (90936)
2
information research
18
This programme gives a good preparation for study of biology, chemistry or physics at NCEA
Level 2. The study for externally assessed standards is completed in time for the Te Kura practice
exams in September.
By following this programme you would develop both practical and information research skills.
Because there is a balance of internally and externally assessed standards, if you got good grades
you could get a science course endorsement.
A weakness of this programme might be that there is no Earth science or astronomy. A student
interested in these could add a substitute standard from the Earth and Space science strand of
the matrix.
This is a good starting point, but the choice is yours. Look at the list of standards available
in Science at NCEA Level 1 – you’ll find it on pages 8 and 9 of this guide.
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ncea level 1 sciences matrix
Physical World
AS90940
Material World
Science 1.1
AS90944
Science 1.5
Demonstrate understanding of aspects of
mechanics
Demonstrate understanding of aspects of acids
and bases
4 credits
4 credits
AS90941
External
Science 1.2
AS90945
External
Science 1.6
Investigate implications of electricity and
magnetism for everyday life
Investigate implications of the use of carbon
compounds as fuels
4 credits
4 credits
AS90942
Internal
Science 1.3
AS90947
Internal
Science 1.8
Investigate the implications of wave
behaviour for everyday life
Investigate selected chemical reactions
4 credits
4 credits
Internal
AS90931
Chemistry 1.2
AS90943
Internal
Science 1.4
Investigate the implications of heat for
everyday life
Demonstrate understanding of the chemistry in
a technological application
4 credits
2 credits
Internal
AS90932
Chemistry 1.3
AS90935
Internal
Physics 1.1
Carry out a practical physics
investigation that leads to a linear
mathematical relationship, with direction
Demonstrate understanding of aspects of
carbon chemistry
4 credits
4 credits
External
AS90933
Chemistry 1.4
AS90936
Internal
Physics 1.2
Demonstrate understanding of the
physics of an application
Demonstrate understanding of aspects of
selected elements
2 credits
4 credits
External
AS90934
Chemistry 1.5
AS90937
Internal
Physics 1.3
Demonstrate understanding of aspects of
electricity and magnetism
Demonstrate understanding of aspects of
chemical reactions
4 credits
4 credits
AS90938
External
External
Physics 1.4
Demonstrate understanding of aspects of
wave behaviour
4 credits
AS90939
External
Physics 1.5
Demonstrate understanding of aspects
of heat
4 credits
8
External
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ncea level 1 sciences matrix
Living World
AS90948
Earth Space Science
Science 1.9
AS90955
Science 1.16
Demonstrate understanding of biological
ideas relating to genetic variation
Investigate an astronomical or Earth science
event
4 credits
External
4 credits
AS90949
Science 1.10
Internal
Investigate life processes and
environmental factors that affect them
4 credits
Internal
AS90950
Science 1.11
Investigate biological ideas relating to
interactions between humans and microorganisms
4 credits
Internal
AS90951
Science 1.12
Investigate the biological impact of an
event on a New Zealand ecosystem
4 credits
AS90925
Internal
Biology 1.1
Carry out a practical investigation in a
biological context, with direction
4 credits
AS90926
Internal
Biology 1.2
Report on a biological issue
3 credits
AS90927
Internal
Biology 1.3
There will be
exclusions between:
•• S1.2 and P1.3
•• S1.3 and P1.4
•• S1.4 and P1.5
•• S1.6 and C1.3
Demonstrate understanding of biological
ideas relating to micro-organisms
•• S1.7 and C1.4
4 credits
•• S1.8 and C1.5
AS90928
External
Biology 1.4
•• S1.11 and B1.3.
Demonstrate understanding of biological
ideas relating to the life cycle of flowering
plants.
4 credits
AS90929
External
Biology 1.5
Demonstrate understanding of biological
ideas relating to a mammal(s) as a
consumer(s)
3 credits
External
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assessment information
standards
The National Qualifications Framework has two types of national standards: Achievement and
Unit Standards. Credits from both Achievement Standards and Unit Standards count towards
NCEA.
Please refer to our Student Guide to National Certificates or Te Kura (www.tekura.school.nz)
and NZQA (www.nzqa.govt.nz) websites for more information about National Certificates of
Educational Achievement, and assessment.
internal assessment
Some Achievement Standards and Unit Standards are internally assessed. This means that your
teacher sets and marks all assessments that count towards credits gained for these standards.
external assessment
External assessment means that an external examiner marks your assessment work. This may
be through the NZQA examinations at the end of the year or (for subjects such as Graphics,
Technology and Art) by submitting a portfolio or project. You will be able to complete practice
assessments and Te Kura practice examinations for external standards.
te kura practice examinations
Students should complete the Te Kura practice examinations for any external standards with an
end of year examination they have entered. It is important that students complete all practice
external assessments and examinations. If for some reason, such as illness, you are unable
to sit the NZQA examinations at the end of the year, you will only be eligible for consideration
for a derived grade (compassionate consideration) if you have completed the Te Kura practice
examinations.
resubmissions
If you have made mistakes in your standard assessment, your teacher may offer you one
resubmission opportunity. This means you have made errors that you are capable of discovering
and correcting by yourself. A resubmission allows you to improve your result.
further assessment opportunities for internal assessments
For some standards, you will be able to complete a second assessment called a ‘further
assessment opportunity’ to improve your results. These standards are indicated in the course
outline. You should take this opportunity where it is available.
authenticity
Authenticity means that students complete and submit work that is their own. When you submit
work to Te Kura, you sign an authentication declaration that the work you are submitting is your
own work and was done under the required assessment conditions. Where applicable, your
supervisor signs to confirm this declaration.
When submitting work online via the OTLE Dropbox, if it requires authentication, students must
follow the instructions provided in OTLE.
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assessment information
derived grades (compassionate consideration)
If for any unexpected reason you are not able to sit your end of year examination or to submit
final work towards an external standard (portfolios or projects), you may be eligible for a derived
grade. Please refer to the Student Guide to National Certificates and contact your teacher or
learning advisor as soon as possible to find out more should you feel this is necessary.
appeals
You have the right to query an assessment result if you want further clarification or disagree
with the result. If you are still not satisfied, you may appeal. Refer to the Student Guide to
National Certificates for more information. You can also appeal any other decisions, procedures
or policies about assessments. Contact your teacher or learning advisor if you wish to appeal.
Further information and a form that students can use to appeal is available on the Te Kura
website in the Student toolkit area (www.tekura.school.nz and go to Student toolkit).
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my course planner
Here is a sample course, for a student who is aiming to complete a balanced academic course,
choosing 3 externals and 2 internals (Note this student is not also enrolled in BY1000). You should
design your course in consultation with your teacher. You should allow 10 study hours per credit.
Remember that you should return work to your teacher within two weeks of starting the course.
Term
Targets
Tick
Term 1
Get my learning space set up and check out the SC1000 course in
OTLE Life processes (AS90949; Internal, 4 credits): Start SC1101
Complete and send in SC1101. Complete and send in SC1102.
Complete SC1101Y1
Acids and bases (AS90944; External, 4 credits) Start SC1051
Complete SC1102Y1: achieve AS90949
Complete SC1051 and SC1051A
Term 2
Complete SC1052 and SC1052A. Complete SC1053 and SC1053A
Complete SC1054 and SC1054A
Mechanics (AS90940; External, 4 credits)
Complete SC1011 and SC1011A
Complete SC1012 and SC1012A
Complete SC1013 and SC1013A
Term 3
Complete SC1014 and SC1014A
Genetic variation (AS90948; External, 4 credits)
Complete SC1091 and SC1091A
Complete SC1092 and SC1092A
Term 4
Revise for Te Kura practice exams
(AS90944, AS90940 and AS90948)
Complete and return Te Kura practice exams
(AS90944, AS90940 and AS90948)
Practical chemistry (AS90930; Internal, 4 credits)
Complete SC1171
Complete SC1221Y1
Exam revision
NCEA Exams
Catch up time to improve my grades if I need to do further assessments
for the internals.
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