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Proposal for the Assessment of Scholarship Physical Education by Portfolio/Report.
Proposal: That from 2015 NZ Scholarship Physical Education will be assessed by formal report authenticated by the teacher and marked
externally by NZQA.
Background:
New NZ Scholarship Performance Standards were developed in 2012, and assessed for the first time in 2013. These standards are based on
the New Zealand Curriculum (NZC) up to and including Level 8 and not directly on the Level 3 Achievement Standards. The NZ Scholarship
standards assess performance across the curriculum in line with the following statement about NZ Scholarship on the NZQA website:
“Scholarship provides recognition and monetary reward to top students in their last year of schooling. Scholarship examinations enable
candidates to be assessed against challenging standards, and are demanding for the most able candidates in each subject.
Scholarship candidates are expected to demonstrate high-level critical thinking, abstraction and generalisation, and to integrate, synthesise and
apply knowledge, skills, understanding and ideas to complex situations.”
Scholarship » NZQA
The essential scholarship skills are common across all scholarship subjects and the generic Performance Standards reflect this.
Scholarship Performance Descriptor
The student will demonstrate aspects of high level:
 analysis and critical thinking
 integration, synthesis, and application of highly developed knowledge, skills, and understanding to complex situations
 logical development, precision and clarity of ideas.
Outstanding Performance Descriptor
In addition to the requirements for Scholarship, the student will also demonstrate, in a sustained manner, aspects of:
 sophisticated integration and abstraction
 independent reflection and extrapolation
 convincing communication.
The Explanatory Notes contain definitions of any words used in the generic descriptors where a subject specific meaning is required. Physical
Education Scholarship documents can be found at New Zealand Scholarship Physical Education » NZQA
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Rationale
Physical Education is exclusively internally assessed for all levels of NCEA. Teachers and students are therefore familiar with the curriculum
requirements being assessed through a direct relationship with teaching and learning programmes. It follows that the subject would be better
assessed through a similar mode of assessment for NZ Scholarship. Examinations are always limited to a selection of skills and knowledge
based on the curriculum. In a subject with learning contexts as diverse as Physical Education this makes setting a fair and valid examination
challenging.
Allowing students to select their own context for assessment is a logical way of addressing this challenge. Students will be able to develop selfselected aspects of their Curriculum Level 8 Physical Education course into a detailed evidence based report. The report will include, in all
likelihood, a practical component. Physical Education is well established as a New Zealand Scholarship subject with clear criteria for
assessment already recognised across a wide range of contexts.
Instructions for the format of the report will be described in assessment specifications similar in detail to those published for NZ Scholarship
Technology. New Zealand Scholarship Technology » NZQA Assessment specifications for all NZQA external assessments are published in
November of the year preceding the external assessment.
Draft detail plan:
In summary candidates will be required to produce a report on their study and/or investigation of an aspect of Physical Education at Level 8 of
the New Zealand Curriculum. The report must integrate key concepts of planning, implementation and evaluation across the Health and
Physical Education curriculum and must satisfy the requirements of the NZ Scholarship Performance Standard for Physical Education.
Assessment Specifications published in December 2014 will detail the format for the report. The report will be able to be submitted either
electronically or in hard copy. There will be page limit of 30 A4 pages or equivalent for electronic submission. Digital submission or support
documentation can be on DVD or CD.
The report will be marked against criteria derived directly from the standard. The judgement statement used for marking in 2013 could provide a
basis for a new schedule. (New Zealand Scholarship Physical Education » NZQA) A draft schedule for marking the report will be published on
the NZQA website at the end of 2014.
Examples of possible report topics include:
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A comparative evaluation of two programmes to improve personal performance. At least one of these programmes must have been
planned and implemented by the student.
 A comparative evaluation of policies/initiatives to increase/maintain high levels of physical activity into future years. At least one
initiative must have been developed or implemented by the student.
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The planning, implementation and critical evaluation of a programme of learning or experience designed to improve performance
and/or understanding. As examples, this could be related to an outdoor education expedition or coaching a team.
The development, implementation and critical evaluation of a training programme designed to improve fitness levels required to meet
specified goals.
A comparative evaluation of two major sporting events and the lasting impact on individuals and society.
An extended critical evaluation of the sociological context in which an activity is undertaken by the student.
A critical examination and evaluation of issues associated with physical activity and
Note: These examples are not intended to be limiting. Students and their teachers would work together to develop individual report topics
based on outcomes from The New Zealand Curriculum, and relevant contexts.
Consultation and feedback
Please provide any comments on the above proposal in writing to:
Jennifer Mackrell
National Assessment Facilitator (Physical Education)
Secondary Examinations Team
Assessment Division
NZQA
Email: examinations@nzqa.govt.nz with PE Scholarship in the subject line.
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NZ Scholarship
Impacts on
well-being
Physical Education
Visual Representation
Influences on
participation
Societal Health
Action Plan
Social & cultural
needs
Improved Health
& Wellbeing
Physical
Activity
Action
Plan
Research
Primary
Performance
improvement
Analysis
& critical
thinking
Responsible
attitudes in
challenging
situations
L
Integration
synthesis &
application
of
knowledge
A Report
Self
Other(s)
Secondary
Portfolio
Leadership
principles
Self
Self
Other(s)
Plan, Implement &
Evaluate
Personal
relationships
Improved
physical fitness
Other(s)
Environmental
Health
Relevance
Logical development,
precision & clarity of
ideas
Risk Management Plan
Social attitudes
& values
Application of scientific
& technical
knowledge
Health
promotion