Performance band descriptions for Economics
HSC performance band descriptions for Economics summarise the knowledge, understanding and skills typically demonstrated by students at each band level. NESA uses these holistic descriptions to report a student's level of achievement in the HSC exam.
Band 6
The typical performance in this band:
- integrates economic terms, concepts, relationships and theory in a variety of economic contexts
- displays superior analysis of the role of economic participants and markets in a variety of economic contexts
- uses extensive economic vocabulary and illustrative examples in exposition of problems and policies in a variety of contexts
- demonstrates critical judgment and sound reasoning to select, organise, synthesise and evaluate relevant information from a variety of sources
- presents excellent explanation and evaluation of the impact of government economic policies in contemporary and hypothetical economic contexts
- presents comprehensive application of appropriate mathematical concepts in a variety of economic contexts
- produces comprehensive economic arguments to evaluate the consequences of economic problems and issues on economic participants.
Band 5
The typical performance in this band:
- provides concise definitions of economic terms and applies concepts and relationships in contemporary and hypothetical economic contexts
- demonstrates detailed analysis of the role of economic participants and markets in a variety of economic contexts
- uses precise economic vocabulary and illustrative examples in the exposition of problems and policies in a variety of contexts
- demonstrates accomplished judgement and reasoning to select, organise and evaluate relevant information from a variety of sources
- presents accurate analysis using mathematical concepts appropriately in economic contexts
- provides thorough analysis and evaluation of the policy options and their consequences in a contemporary and hypothetical economic context.
Band 4
The typical performance in this band:
- provides clear definitions of relevant economic terms and sound discussion of economic concepts and relationships in contemporary and hypothetical economic contexts
- demonstrates an understanding of current economic issues, participants, markets, government economic policies and their impact
- demonstrates a clear understanding of economic problems, policies in theoretical and contemporary contexts
- makes competent use of mathematical concepts in appropriate economic contexts
- demonstrates a clear understanding of the implications of changes in economic data for economic policy makers.
Band 3
The typical performance in this band:
- provides basic definition of some economic terms, concepts and relationships
- offers basic descriptions of relationships between economic issues, participants, markets, data and theory in a variety of contexts
- communicates in a descriptive way
- demonstrates basic computational skills
- provides basic descriptions of the main economic problems and policies.
Band 2
The typical performance in this band:
- demonstrates an elementary knowledge of some economic concepts
- provides limited understanding of the links between economic concepts, relationships and theory to a variety of economic contexts
- demonstrates limited interpretation of simple economic data
- attempts simple computational techniques
- uses some appropriate terminology to communicate basic economic ideas.
Band 1
Performance reported as Band 1 indicates that the minimum standard expected was not demonstrated.