Assessment program audit tool
For Authority subjects
Ancient History 2004
The purpose of this audit tool is to enable schools to compare the requirements of their assessment program with the minimum assessment
requirements of the syllabus, and to subsequently consider possible amendments to their school work program.
Assessment instruments
required in Year 12
(including objectives and
dimensions assessed)
Conditions required by the
syllabus — e.g. word
length, time, genre
School assessment
instruments (including
objectives and dimensions
assessed)
Conditions in school work
program
Variations
Refer to syllabus verification
and post-verification
requirements
Refer to the syllabus
assessment section
Refer to the school’s
approved work program
Refer to the school’s
approved work program
How does the school’s
assessment program differ
from syllabus requirements?
Syllabus, p. 59
School assessment
program
Verification requirements
1.
14811
A minimum of four
instruments, one from each
of the following categories:
 Category 1 — Extended
written response to historical
evidence
 Category 2 — Written
research tasks
 Category 3 — Multimodal
presentations
 Category 4 — Other test
format.
Assessment instruments
required in Year 12
(including objectives and
dimensions assessed)
Conditions required by the
syllabus — e.g. word
length, time, genre
School assessment
instruments (including
objectives and dimensions
assessed)
Assessment categories
Category 1 — Extended
written response to
historical evidence
Instruments must allow
students to produce a
response that is mainly
developed from the sources
provided.
Conditions:
 essay under test conditions
 unseen question
 no notes allowed
 1.5–2 hours recommended
 some sources seen, some
unseen or all sources
unseen
 types, relevance and
reliability of sources varied
 contestable sources
requiring evaluation of
perspectives
 600–800 words
Syllabus, p. 54
2.
Instruments must allow
students to produce a
response that is either:
 written assignment —
analytical essay in which a
hypothesis is tested or
research question answered
or
 other form of presentation in
which the results of the
research are presented in a
3.
Criteria assessed:
 Forming historical
knowledge through critical
inquiry
 Communicating historical
knowledge.
Category 2 — Written
research tasks
Criteria assessed:
 Planning and using a
historical research process
 Forming historical
knowledge through critical
inquiry
 Communicating historical
knowledge.
Assessment program audit tool
Ancient History 2004
Conditions in school work
program
Variations
Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
July 2014
Page 2 of 5
Assessment instruments
required in Year 12
(including objectives and
dimensions assessed)
Conditions required by the
syllabus — e.g. word
length, time, genre
School assessment
instruments (including
objectives and dimensions
assessed)
Conditions in school work
program
Variations
written genre.
Conditions:
 assignment 1000–1500
words, 2000 words where
depth of topic warrants
 other tasks — up to 1500
words
 negotiated research
question with rationale
 evidence of research
process
 referencing appropriate to
the genre.
Syllabus, p. 55
Category 3 — Multimodal
presentations
Criteria assessed:
 Planning and using a
historical research process
 Forming historical
knowledge through critical
inquiry
 Communicating historical
knowledge.
Instruments must allow
students to produce a
multimodal presentation that
is the outcome of research.
 range of formats possible.
 Conditions:
 negotiated research
question with rationale
 evidence of research
process
 referencing appropriate to
the genre.
Syllabus, p. 56
4.
Assessment program audit tool
Ancient History 2004
Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
July 2014
Page 3 of 5
Assessment instruments
required in Year 12
(including objectives and
dimensions assessed)
Conditions required by the
syllabus — e.g. word
length, time, genre
Category 4 — Other test
formats
 Supervised test, variety of
Criteria assessed:
 Forming historical
knowledge through critical
inquiry
 Communicating historical
knowledge.
School assessment
instruments (including
objectives and dimensions
assessed)
Conditions in school work
program
Variations
formats possible.
Conditions:
 tests — some sources seen,
some unseen or all sources
unseen
 essay tests — no sources or
additional material
 essays 600–800 words
 other 500 words.
Syllabus, p. 57
Post-verification requirements
One instrument from any of
the four categories which
assesses one or more
criteria including:
 Criterion 2 — Forming
historical knowledge
through critical inquiry.
Syllabus, pp. 54–57, 60
Assessment program audit tool
Ancient History 2004
Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
July 2014
Page 4 of 5
Summary
Where the school’s assessment plan differs from the minimum syllabus requirements, consider:
 are these choices the most effective way to gather information about student learning?
 what is the rationale behind these school decisions?
 what changes could be made to the school’s work program?
More information
Please email qau@qcaa.qld.edu.au or phone (07) 3864 0375.
Assessment program audit tool
Ancient History 2004
Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority
July 2014
Page 5 of 5