Topic outline

  • Junior Examinations

        Palmerston North Boys’ High School

    Arrangements for Junior Examinations

    MONDAY 6th NOVEMBER to FRIDAY 10th NOVEMBER 2023


    Year 9 Science

    Topics to be examined are:

     

    Unit 4

    Plants (Deforestation)

    Multiple Choice and Written

    40 marks (spend 40 mins)

    Unit 5

    Ecology (Overfishing)

    Multiple Choice and Written

    40 marks (spend 40 mins)

    Unit 6

    Human Biology (Healthy Lifestyle)

    Multiple Choice and Written

    40 marks (spend 40 mins)

     

    The examination will consist of multiple-choice questions testing content knowledge, which are listed in the learning outcomes at the beginning of every unit.

    The short answer and long answer questions will be testing the skills learnt (investigative approaches, “read and write about science” and “interpreting and understanding representations”).

    A graphing question will also be included. 


    Year 9 Mathematics

    Number: Integers, fractions, decimals, ratios, percentages

    Measurement: Units, perimeter, area, volume, time

    Geometry: Shape naming, transformations, 3d drawing, grid referencing, direction, angles. 

    Statistical literacy: Interpreting statistical graphs and information.

    Probability: Basic probability, probability trees, two-way tables


    Year 9 English

    There are three sections to the examination:

    Written Text Study - 30%

    ·       Writing an introduction and one extended paragraph on a text they have studied in class this year.  All questions for this task begin with “Describe….and Explain…”.  

    ·       This section is marked on the ideas presented by student, depth and accuracy of supporting examples and their relevance to the question.

    ·        Students should expect to spend around 35 minutes planning and writing this section.

    Unfamiliar Text – Fiction, Poetry & Non-fiction - 50%

    ·         3 texts to read and answer questions about.

    ·         Students will be tested on their reading comprehension, as well as knowledge and understanding of language terms from the Junior English Vocabulary list (available on Stratus).

    ·         Question types include short answer, identification of language features, and analysis of language and its effects.

    ·         Students should spend approximately 1 hour on this section

    Punctuation & Grammar - 20%

    ·         Same format as mid-year exam (Identification and application).

    ·         Skills include parts of speech, capital letters, full stops, commas, apostrophes, sentence types, conjunctions, plurals, homophones.  (see Vocabulary list on Stratus).

    ·         Students should spend approximately 25 minutes on this section

     

    Year 9 Social Studies

    There are 4 sections in this examination.

    This examination is worth 90% of the end-of-year report grade. A common assessment completed during term 3 forms the remaining 10%.

    The sections are:

    1.    Resource Interpretation (25%)

    2.    Identify and Demonstrate parts of a Paragraph (25%)

    3.    Data Skills (30%)

    4.    Current Events (10%)

    Section 1: Resource Interpretation (25%)

    Students will be assessed on their ability to make sense of written texts and interpret sources, including those with different perspectives and views, and provide evidence-based conclusions (‘Do’ 9 and 11).

    The topic will be:

    ·         Historical reasons for the migration to New Zealand, and the government and public attitudes/reactions towards this. The context will be the Pacific.

    Section 2: Paragraph Writing (25%)

    Students will be assessed on their ability to write a PEEL paragraph. This means writing meaningful text for the purpose of formal writing (Literacy Connection).

    The topic will be:

    ·         Migration to New Zealand.

    Students will be provided with two questions from which they can select ONE to write their response to. Their paragraph must follow the convention of Point, Evidence, Example, and Link sentence/s.

    The two options for the questions will be based on the themes of:

    1.    A contribution which a specific group of immigrants have made to New Zealand in terms of enriching our culture, economy and/or changing perceptions of what makes us a New Zealander.

    2.    Describing one way in which European settlers have changed the natural environment in the Manawatu.

    Section 3: Data Skills (30%)

    Students will be assessed on their ability to communicate information using social science practises. Specifically, this means their ability to:

    ·         identify key features of a map and bar graph AND show understanding of grid referencing (CI 6)

    ·         read and interpret data from bar graphs and tables (e.g., recognise basic patterns, relationships and/or trends) (‘Do’ 13)

    ·         provide evidence-based conclusions (PI 3)

    Section Four: Current Events (10%)

    This section will involve students answering multichoice-style questions, showing cartoon interpretation, and short-answer questions. The purpose is to assess student understanding of important current events.

    ·         The current events will be from mid-2023 to now.


    Year 10 Science

    Topics to be examined are: 

    Unit 4

    Electricity (Electric Cars)

    Multiple Choice and Written

    40 marks (spend 40 mins)

    Unit 5

    Carbon (Climate Change)

    Multiple Choice and Written

    40 marks (spend 40 mins)

    Unit 6

    Genetics (Dog Breeding)

    Multiple Choice and Written

    40 marks (spend 40 mins)

     

    The examination will consist of multiple-choice questions testing content knowledge, which are listed in the learning outcomes at the beginning of every unit.

    The short answer and long answer questions will be testing the skills learnt (investigative approaches, “read and write about science” and “interpreting and understanding representations”).

    A graphing question will also be included. 

    Year 10 Mathematics 

    Students will be required to bring a calculator, a ruler and pens. 

    Students are advised to access past end-of-year examinations from Stratus and their mid-year examination. 

    Topics to be assessed:  

    Algebra: Simplifying, solving, substitution, rearranging, expanding and factorising, writing expressions for word problems, forming equations to solve problems.  

    Number: Percentage of a quantity, increase, decrease, inverse percent, GST, ratios and rates, fractions, rounding numbers, estimating, integers. Applying these skills to word problems 

    Probability and Statistics: Calculating probability, two-way tables, probability trees, Interpreting and analysing graphs, calculating mean, median, mode and range. 

    Measurement: Measurement conversions, calculating perimeter, area and volume (formula will be provided on the cover page of the examination), time. 

    Geometry (Transformations, Location and Angles, Symmetry, Location (compass points, bearings), Angles (Calculating size of angles and giving geometric reasons (basic angle rules, parallel lines, triangles, quadrilaterals and polygons) 

    Graphs and pattern: Complete patterns (picture patterns, number sequences, tables and graphs) 


    Year 10 English  

    There are four sections to the examination:  

    ·         Film Study – 10% (terms and definitions)

    ·         Literary essay – 30% Introduction and two body paragraphs in response to a written text studied in Term 3 or 4.

    ·         Comprehension and Language Skills – 40%

    ·         Punctuation and Grammar – 20%


    Year 10 Social Studies

    There are 4 sections in this examination.

    This examination is worth 90% of the end-of-year report grade.

    The sections are:

    1.         Resource Interpretation (25%)

    2.         Paragraph Writing (25%)

    3.         Data Skills (30%)

    4.         Current Events (10%)

    5.         Common Assessment (Global Issues) – already completed in class (10%)

    Section 1: Resource Interpretation (25%)

    Students will be assessed on their ability to make sense of written texts and interpret sources, including those with different perspectives and views, and provide evidence-based conclusions (‘Do’ 6)

    This will involve: 

     •           Identifying and explaining perspectives of an issue – resources for this are

    provided in the examination

    •           Identifying different solutions that people are developing to address the issue

    Section 2: Essay Writing (25%)

    Students will be assessed on their ability to demonstrate understanding of a Global Issue case study they have examined in class, through the creation of an essay. This means they will be writing meaningful text for the purpose of formal writing (Literacy Connection).

    The topic will be a Global Issue they studied in class. Students will be provided with generic questions to choose from.

    1.         Describe a cause and impact of a global issue

    2.         Discuss two reasons for a global issue studied

    3.         Discuss a global issue and the solution/s for this issue.

    The end-of-year exam is a full essay that will require an introduction, 2 body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Students need to use a PEEL paragraph structure.

    There will be no stimulus material provided in the examination paper for this section – student responses rely on preparation and revision of content they have learned in class. They are advised to write on a topic they have been prepared for with their teacher.

    Section 3: Data Skills (30%)

    Students will be assessed on their ability to communicate information using social science practises. Specifically, this means their ability to

    •           identify key features of a bar graph AND draw a bar graph (CI 6)

    •           read and interpret data from graphs and tables (e.g., recognise basic patterns,

    relationships and/or trends) (‘Do’ 13)

    •           provide evidence-based conclusions (PI 3)

    Section 4: Current Events (10%)

    This section will involve students answering multichoice-style questions, cartoon interpretation, and short-answer questions. The purpose is to assess student understanding of important current events.

    The current events will be from mid-2023 to now.



    Palmerston North Boys’ High School                               

    ARRANGEMENTS FOR 10SC AND 10PA Examinations

     

         GENERAL INFORMATION FOR 10PA AND 10SC ONLY

     

    Study Leave Details:

    ·         10SC and 10PA have study leave from the end of prize-giving on Wednesday 1 November. They will return to school on Thursday 16 November. Note that the students will have one final examination (Biology) on Tuesday 21 November.

    PLEASE NOTE: 10SC and 10PA do not sit any of the PNBHS Core examinations. They will sit option examinations as outlined below.

    PNBHS Option Examinations: Monday 6th November

    ·         Times: 1.10pm – 3.10pm

    ·         All option examinations are in the hall.  

    ·         Each option examination is of one hour duration.

    ·         Those students who have two option examinations will sit both their option examinations (one after the other) in the afternoon within the allocated two-hour examination time period. Those students who only have one option examination will be permitted to leave after one hour.

    ·         Travel arrangements will need to be made. Any student who cannot be picked up or make their own way home must report to the library after their examination(s).

     

    Please Note:

    ·       All option examinations are on Monday, 06 November afternoon in the school hall.

    ·         Students are expected to be at the examination room at least 20 minutes before the examination starts.

    Important Things to Remember:

    ·         Students must wear the correct school uniform to the examinations and be appropriately groomed.

    ·         Students are to go to the toilet before the examination commences if they need to. The supervisors are not going to let a huge number of students go to the toilet during the examination as it disrupts other students.

    ·         Note that students are not permitted to have their own writing paper in the examination room.

    ·         Students may not drink water during the examination.

    ·         Students who finish exceptionally early will be instructed to make a better effort or expect to re-sit it in their own time.  In such cases, the finish time will be recorded on their paper. School procedures for poor performance will be followed in such cases.

    ·         Students who finish within 30 minutes of the end of the examination (and not before) may read their SSR book.

    ·         Students must make sure they have the correct stationery for their examinations.

    ·         All students are to remain in the hall/examination room for the full duration of the examination.

    ·         On Monday 06 November, students who only have one option examination will be permitted to leave after one hour.


    Examination Summary for 10SC and 10PA:

    Please note the following dates and times of the NCEA & School Exams you will be sitting:

    Monday 6 November:             PNBHS Option Examinations (1.10pm – 3.10pm)

    Tuesday 7 November:            NCEA Geography (2.00pm – 5.00pm)

    Thursday 9 November:           NCEA Maths & Statistics (9.30am – 12.30pm)

    Friday 10 November:              NCEA English (9.30am – 12.30pm)

                                                    NCEA Biology (2.00pm – 5.00pm)

    Tuesday 14 November:          NCEA Science (9.30am – 12.30pm)

    Wednesday 15 November:    NCEA History (2.00pm – 5.00pm)

    Thursday 16 November:      Return to school (Current Events & Junior Road race)

     

    Year 10

    Monday 6th

    9.15am -11.15am

    10MAO (A6+C10)

    1.10pm –

    3.10pm

     

    OPTIONS

    (Hall)

    10EXE, 10COM, 10DRA, 10FRE, 10GER, 10JAP, 10NZS, 10SSC.

     

     











    ARRANGEMENTS FOR 10DT EXAMINATIONS 

    GENERAL INFORMATION FOR 10DT ONLY 

    Study Leave Details: 

    • 10DT have study leave from the end of prize-giving on Wednesday 1 November. They will return to school on Monday 13 November after the Junior Examinations. 

    PLEASE NOTE: 10DT do not sit the PNBHS Core Mathematics examination on Thursday 9th of November, as they sit the NCEA Mathematics & Statistics examination in the morning on this day.  

    Core Examinations:   Tuesday 7th November to Friday 10th of November  

    • Times: 1.10pm – 3.10pm.    

    • Please ensure you are at the Hall by 12.50pm at the latest - 20 minutes before the examination starts.  

    • All Year 10 core examinations are of two hours duration. 

    • Core examinations for 10DT are in room H2.  

    PNBHS Option Examinations: Monday 6th November 

    • Times: 1.10pm – 3.10pm  

    • All option examinations are in the hall  

    • Each option examination is of one hour duration. 

    • Those students who have two option examinations will sit both their option examinations (one after the other) in the afternoon within the allocated two-hour examination time period. Those students who only have one option examination will be permitted to leave after one hour.  

    • Travel arrangements will need to be made. Any student who cannot be picked up or make their own way home must report to the library after their examination(s). 

    Please Note: 

    •  All option examinations are on Monday, 06 November afternoon in the school hall. 

    • Students are expected to be at the examination room at least 20 minutes before the examination starts. 

    Important Things to Remember: 

    • Students must wear the correct school uniform to the examinations and be appropriately groomed.  

    • Students are to go to the toilet before the examination commences if they need to. The supervisors are not going to let a huge number of students go to the toilet during the examination as it disrupts other students. 

    • Note that students are not permitted to have their own writing paper in the examination room. 

    • Students may not drink water during the examination.  

     Students who finish exceptionally early will be instructed to make a better effort or expect to re-sit it in their own time.  In such cases, the finish time will be recorded on their paper. School procedures for poor performance will be followed in such cases. 

    • Students who finish within 30 minutes of the end of the examination (and not before) may read their SSR book. 

    • Students must make sure they have the correct stationery for their examinations. 

    • All students are to remain in the hall/examination room for the full duration of the examination. 

    • On Monday 06 November, students who only have one option examination will be permitted to leave after one hour. 

    Examination Summary for 10DT: 

    Thursday 9 November: NCEA Maths & Statistics (9.30am – 12.30pm) 

    Monday 13 November: Return to school 


    Wednesday 01 November 

    Thurs 2 November 

    Friday 3 November 

     

    Sport & Cultural Prizegiving 

    School Prizegiving 6.00pm 

     

     

    Study Leave 

     

    Study Leave 

    Year 10 

    Monday 6th 

    Tuesday 7th 

    Wednesday 8th 

    Thurs 9th 

    Friday 10th 

    9.15am -11.15am 

    10MAO (A6+C10) 

    10TWD 

     See personal timetable 

    10TWD 

     See personal timetable 

     

    NCEA Mathematics & Statistics 9.30am – 12.30pm 

     

     

    1.10pm – 

    3.10pm 

    OPTIONS 

    (Hall) 

    10EXE, 10COM, 10DRA, 10FRE, 10GER, 10JAP, 10NZS, 10SSC. 

    SOCIAL STUDIES 

    (Hall) 

    10GH – H1 

    10DT – H2 

    10HG – H3 

    ENGLISH 

    (Hall) 

    10GH – H1 

    10DT – H2 

    10HG – H3 

     

     

    SCIENCE 

    (Hall) 

    10GH – H1 

    10DT – H2 

    10HG – H3