2013 Notes from the Marking Centre – Construction
Introduction
This document has been produced for the teachers and candidates of the Stage 6 Construction course. It contains comments on candidate responses to the 2013 Higher School Certificate examination, highlighting their strengths in particular parts of the examination and indicating where candidates need to improve.
This document should be read along with:
- the Construction Stage 6 Syllabus
- the 2013 Higher School Certificate Construction examination
- the marking guidelines
- advice for candidates attempting VET examinations
- Advice for HSC students about examinations
- other support documents developed by the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards NSW to assist in the teaching and learning of Construction in Stage 6.
Section II
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- understanding safety (Q.16)
- recognising categories of power tools (Q.16)
- using industry terminology
- recognising types of non-verbal and verbal communication (Q.19)
- understanding how a variety of strategies lead to effective communication (Q.19).
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- naming the components of a timber frame (Q.18)
- outlining methods for testing squareness (Q.18)
- precisely identifying the name of tools and components
- answering all aspects of a question
- using correct units and converting units in calculations (millimetres to metres) (Q.21)
- writing a sequential procedure when providing an outline for a process (Q.20).
Section III
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- understanding trade sequencing
- identifying a range of benefits
- using industry terminology
- providing benefits of successful sequencing
- identifying the role of management in preparing/avoiding delays.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- providing relevant examples
- clearly explaining (cause and effect)
- covering crucial aspects of the question, such as finance, time and materials
- responding to all aspects of the question.
Section IV
Candidates showed strength in these areas:
- describing DRABC as a first aid response
- explaining the importance of the hierarchy of risk/hazard control
- understanding the communication required when a workplace incident occurs
- identifying common risks within the construction industry
- outlining emergency procedures.
Candidates need to improve in these areas:
- mandatory components of reporting, such as WorkCover
- responding to verbs used in the questions
- understanding the implications of planning for safety on a worksite
- using the appropriate terminology
- supporting the explanation of an assessment with examples/evidence.
NSW Government