Achievement level descriptions for English Studies

Descriptions of typical performance at each grade level

These achievement level descriptions provide the standards to be used when reporting student achievement on school-based assessment in English Studies for the HSC from 2019.

All students who complete the course receive a grade representing their overall achievement on school-based assessment. This grade is reported on the HSC credential.

Grade A

The typical performance at this level:

• demonstrates detailed knowledge and understanding of how language and other techniques are used to convey meaning in various forms of appropriate short and extended texts
• demonstrates well-developed skills in constructing a range of short and extended written, spoken and multi-modal texts at an appropriate level for present and future contexts
• displays a well-developed ability in selecting appropriate text forms, vocabulary, style and tone to write and speak for a range of purposes, audiences and contexts
• demonstrates well-developed skills in planning, researching, organising and communicating information for a variety of tasks, working both individually and collectively, and in reflecting on learning.

Grade B

The typical performance at this level:

• demonstrates sound knowledge and understanding of how language and other techniques are used to convey meaning in various forms of appropriate short and extended texts
• demonstrates sound skills in constructing a range of short and extended written, spoken and multi-modal texts at an appropriate level for present and future contexts
• displays sound ability in selecting appropriate text forms, vocabulary, style and tone to write and speak for a range of purposes, audiences and contexts
• demonstrates competent skills in planning, researching, organising and communicating information for a variety of tasks, working both individually and collectively, and in reflecting on learning.

Grade C

The typical performance at this level:

• demonstrates developing knowledge and understanding of how language and other techniques are used to convey meaning in various forms of appropriate short and extended texts
• demonstrates developing skills in constructing a range of short and extended written, spoken and multi-modal texts at an appropriate level for present and future contexts
• displays developing ability in selecting appropriate text forms, vocabulary, style and tone to write and speak for a range of purposes, audiences and contexts
• demonstrates developing skills in planning, researching, organising and communicating information for a variety of tasks, working both individually and collectively, and in reflecting on learning.

Grade D

The typical performance at this level:

• demonstrates basic knowledge and understanding of how language and other techniques are used to convey meaning in some forms of short and extended texts appropriate to the course
• demonstrates basic skills in constructing appropriate short and extended written, spoken and multi-modal texts at an appropriate level for present and future contexts
• displays basic ability in selecting appropriate text forms, vocabulary, style and tone to write and speak for a range of purposes, audiences and contexts
• demonstrates basic skills in planning, organising and communicating information, working both individually and collectively, and in reflecting on learning.

Grade E

The typical performance at this level:

• demonstrates elementary knowledge and understanding of how language and other techniques are used to convey meaning in appropriate texts
• demonstrates elementary knowledge and skills in constructing written, spoken and multi-modal texts at an appropriate level for limited contexts
• displays elementary skills in comprehending written, spoken and multi-modal texts and in writing, speaking and representing for limited contexts
• demonstrates elementary skills in organising and communicating information, working both individually and collectively, and in reflecting on learning.