Italian: Second Language: 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
Content changes
Year 11 specific
Content changes
Year 12 specific
Changes to the
assessment table
Year 11
Changes to the
assessment table
Year 12
2014/10484
 Renaming of the course to Italian: Second Language ATAR Course
 Revision of the Rationale to provide greater clarity and alignment to the Australian
Curriculum: Languages Italian
 Addition of information on the new process for applying for enrolment in a language
course
 Inclusion of the Representation of the General capabilities and the Cross-curriculum
priorities from the Australian Curriculum
 Refinement/changes to names of topics and inclusion of description
 Movement of Textual conventions from Linguistic resources to Text types
 Movement of some grammatical items to different units
 Synthesis of grade descriptions to eliminate repetition and increase clarity
 Inclusion of descriptions of textual conventions for texts types in appendix
 Inclusion of grammar and assumed grammar with elaborations in appendix
 Two content areas have been renamed; Learning contexts and topics was previously
Learning contexts, and Text types and textual conventions was previously Text types
 Content area descriptions have been revised to provide clarity of interpretation and
depth of treatment
 The names for each unit focus have been retained and minor amendments have been
made to the unit descriptions
 Prescribed topics names have been refined or changed to align with the contexts, and a
description is provided with each topic to provide clarity of interpretation
 The number of text types has been reduced and a list of texts types and textual
conventions is included as an appendix
 Grammatical items have been redistributed, a list of elaborations of grammatical items
has been included for each unit and a list of assumed learning is included as an appendix
 Two content areas have been renamed; Learning contexts and topics was previously
Learning contexts, and Text types and textual conventions was previously Text types
 Content area descriptions have been revised to provide clarity of interpretation and
depth of treatment
 The focus for Unit 3 is now Grazie Italia (Thank you Italy), previously made in Italy and
Unit 4 is named Ieri, oggi e domani (Yesterday, today and tomorrow), previously …e poi?.
Minor amendments have been made to the unit descriptions
 Prescribed topics names have been refined or changed to align with the contexts, and a
description is provided with each topic to provide clarity of interpretation
 The number of text types has been reduced and a list of texts types and textual
conventions is included as an appendix
 Grammatical items have been redistributed, a list of elaborations of grammatical items
has been included for each unit and a list of assumed learning is included as an appendix
 Based on previous WACE course assessment table with the following amendments:
o the wording of the assessment types has been modified slightly
o written and practical (oral) examinations have been included as assessment types
o weightings for each assessment type are fixed
 Based on previous WACE course assessment table with the following amendments:
o separate tables for practical and written components
o the wording of the assessment types has been modified slightly
o written and practical (oral) examinations have been included as assessment types
o weightings for each assessment type are fixed
Italian: Second Language | ATAR | a summary of syllabus changes
Changes to
assessment type
weightings
Year 11
Changes to
assessment type
weightings
Year 12
 Weightings of each assessment type are fixed:
o Oral communication – 20%, previously 25 – 30%
o Response: Listening – 15%, previously 20 – 25%
o Response: Viewing and reading – 15%, previously 20 – 25%
o Written communication 20%, previously 25 – 30%.
o Practical (oral) examination 10%, previously not included as an assessment type
o Written examination 20%, previously not included as an assessment type
 The assessment tables for the practical and the written component each total 100%
 For the practical component
o Oral communication – 50%
o Practical (oral) examination – 50%
 For the written component
o Response: Listening – 15%
o Response: Viewing and reading – 15%
o Written communication 20%,
o Written examination – 50%.
 The weighting for the combined mark is practical 30% and written 70%
Examination design brief changes
Section/s renamed
 Practical (oral) examination:
o Part A – Viewing and preparation of stimulus, previously Preparation
o Part B – Discussion of stimulus, previously Stimulus.
 Written examination:
o Section One – Response: Listening, previously Section One Response, Part A: Listening
and responding
o Section Two – Response: Viewing and reading, previously Section One Response, Part
B: Viewing, reading and responding.
Section/s format or
weighting
 Practical (oral) examination:
o Part B – 35% of the practical examination, previously 10% of the total examination
o Part C – 65% of the practical examination, previously 20% of the total examination.
 Written examination:
o Section One
 Response: Listening – 30% of the written examination, previously Section One
Response, Part A: Listening and responding 20% of the total examination
 Number of texts is 2 – 3 short spoken texts and one longer spoken text, previously
2 texts, one short and one long
 Number of questions is 10 -15, previously 14-20 for Section one Response, for
both Parts A and B.
o Section Two
 Response: Viewing and reading – 30% of the written examination, previously
Section One Response, Part B: Viewing, reading and responding 25% of the total
examination.
 Number of texts is 3-4 print texts, previously one audiovisual and two print texts.
 Number of questions is 8-10, previously 14-20 for Section one Response, for both
Parts A and B.
o Section Three
 Written communication – 40% of the written examination, previously 30% of the
total examination.
Sections removed
Nil
Sections added
Nil
Other changes
Supporting information has been refined to ensure clarity in content and process, e.g.
number of times texts are played, types of texts and question formats to be used
2014/10484
Italian: Second Language | ATAR | a summary of syllabus changes