2012 HSC Examinations
- Job Application Form
- 2012 Higher School Certificate examinations - application form (Word)
- Information Sheet
- HSC Examination committees and related courses by KLA
Information for prospective Chief Examiners, members of examination committee and assessors
The Board invites applications from teachers and academics with appropriate experience and qualifications who wish to take part in the development of the 2012 Higher School Certificate examinations. Setting or assessing HSC examinations is a rewarding and challenging experience that provides a positive contribution to professional development. It is an opportunity to further develop understanding of assessment techniques and to enhance skills in setting examinations.
Examinations are developed by committees chaired by a Chief Examiner. Examination development will commence in Term 4 this year and continue until about August 2012. A practising teacher assesses each examination or test as part of the development process. Assessing an examination usually takes one day, and will take place in Term 1 2012. A list of committees and courses is attached.
Chief Examiners, committee members and assessors cannot teach the course/s for which they are applying, or be closely related to someone sitting the subject in 2012. (See also note about Extension courses below.) They must maintain complete confidentiality in relation to all HSC examinations and committee discussions, and must sign a Statutory Declaration to this effect.
- Chief Examiner (Applications closed 1 July)
- Examination committee members
- Assessors
- Criteria for selection of Chief Examiners and committee members
- Criteria for selection of Assessors
- Conditions of appointment as Chief Examiner, committee member or assessor
- Remuneration
- Instructions for completing the application form
- Closing dates
- Submitting your application
Chief Examiner (Applications closed 1 July)
The Chief Examiner chairs the examination committee and has further responsibilities in the marking and standards-setting processes. Note that, in some cases, the Chief Examiner may have responsibility for a number of courses.
As chair of the examination committee, the Chief Examiner ensures that the examination paper conforms to the Board's principles and is of high quality, that the marking guidelines are appropriate, and that the final version of the examination paper is accurate.
As part of the marking operation, the Chief Examiner provides guidance to the Supervisor of Marking and Senior Markers in the development and validation of the marking kit and oversees the testing and refining of marking guidelines during test-marking. After reviewing the marking kit and the results of test marking, the Chief Examiner signs a declaration to the effect that each question or task will achieve valid and reliable results. The Chief Examiner is also required to complete a written report to the Consultative Committee, and in some cases attend a meeting with the Consultative Committee (usually held in late November or early December).
All Chief Examiners need to be available throughout the examination setting and marking periods. This may be during school holiday periods. Prospective applicants who are anticipating taking an extended period of leave during this time should not apply.
Chief Examiners are usually appointed for two years. For the 2012 examinations, there are a number of vacancies for Chief Examiner. The committees that have a vacancy for Chief Examiner in 2012 are indicated with an asterisk (*) on the list provided at the back of this information.
Examination committee members
The examination committee develops the examination paper(s) and marking guidelines for the course(s) for which it is responsible. Where possible, each examination committee has a balance of secondary teachers and tertiary educators. Committees have representation from government and non-government schools and gender balance, where feasible. The number of committee meetings will depend on the nature of the paper/s but will involve a minimum of six days. Meetings are held at the Board of Studies, and last a full day. Training in the Board's processes for developing tests and examinations and in item writing is provided. Committee members need to be available from November 2011 to June 2012.
Assessors
As part of the examination development process, draft examinations are assessed by teachers who have recent experience teaching the course. The role of an assessor is to provide an independent assessment of the examination paper by evaluating and commenting on it as a subject expert and as an experienced teacher. The assessor works the draft examination paper and provides advice to the examination committee about the appropriateness of examination questions. Assessing of the 2012 HSC examinations is scheduled between March and May 2012. If you anticipate taking extended periods of leave that would make you unavailable during this period, you should not apply.
Criteria for selection of Chief Examiners and committee members
All applicants will be expected to demonstrate:
- appropriate qualifications and experience as a teacher of HSC students or first year tertiary students in the subject. In general, a minimum of five years recent experience teaching is considered necessary. In the case of secondary teachers, preference will be given to applicants who have taught the HSC course within the last three years. For all committee members, the maximum term is five consecutive years. The maximum term for Chief Examiners is six consecutive years
- high-level professional standing within the teaching community
- superior knowledge of the relevant HSC syllabus
- high-level written and oral communication skills
- the capacity to apply the Board's principles for the development of examinations and marking guidelines
- the capacity to work in a team in the delivery of educational materials to specified deadlines.
In addition, applicants for the Chief Examiner will be expected to demonstrate:
- the capacity to provide leadership to the examination committee in the preparation of the examination and marking guidelines
- the ability to manage the work of the committee and meet deadlines
- the capacity to engage effectively with the Supervisor of Marking and Senior Markers in the development and validation of the marking kit, and to oversee the testing and refining of marking guidelines during test and practice marking
- the capacity to contribute to the standards-setting process.
Criteria for selection of assessors
Applicants must be experienced Year 12 teachers with the necessary experience to assess the examination papers. In general, a minimum of five years recent experience teaching Year 12 is considered sufficient. Preference will be given to applicants who have taught the HSC course in the last three years, and who can demonstrate an understanding of the principles and practices applying to the development of examinations.
Conditions of appointment as Chief Examiner, committee member or assessor
The following conditions must be agreed to prior to appointment as Chief Examiner, committee member, or assessor for each course in which you wish to be considered.
- You must sign a confidentiality agreement in relation to your work on secure examination material.
- You must be available for meetings at the Board of Studies during the setting and reviewing periods. This may be during school holiday periods.
- You may not teach or tutor the relevant HSC course to students in 2012.
- You may not be an author of textbooks or study guides that are in general use in schools or TAFE in the relevant subject area.
- You may not have a close relative (eg spouse, sibling or child) teaching or enrolled as a HSC student, in the relevant course.
- You may not set or review papers in the relevant HSC course(s) for school systems (eg Catholic/TAFE/Regional Trials), or commercial organisations such as test writing organisations, or online organisations, while a member of an HSC examination committee.
- You may not lecture at meetings or study courses for students and teachers, or speak at any meetings on the content or interpretation of the syllabus or examination specifications for the relevant course(s).
- You may not participate in the HSC Advice Line in the relevant HSC course(s).
- Assessors please note that you can be considered to assess an Extension course where you are teaching the related 2-unit, unless you have a 2-unit student sitting the Extension course you wish to assess.
Remuneration
In 2011, the remunerations were as follows:
- An honorarium for each HSC course of $3405 to each Chief Examiner, and $1023 to each committee member. A travel allowance of $106 was also paid. Country members are reimbursed for travel and other expenses.
- Assessors received a fee of $204 per course and a travel allowance of $37.
The Board reimburses schools to cover the cost of employing casual staff to relieve teachers when their involvement in examination development work coincides with their teaching duties.
Instructions for completing the application form
If you are teaching in a school or tertiary institution, your principal/supervisor will need to endorse your application and agree to release you should your application be successful. If you are retired, or will not be working in a school or tertiary institution during the examination development period please ensure that your application is endorsed by an appropriate individual who can verify the information provided. Applications that do not have the required endorsement(s) will not be considered. If you are applying for more than one position, please submit a separate application form for each position.
Part A
Please ensure that you have completed Part A, and that all necessary information is provided and that your application has been endorsed.
Part B
Applicants for Chief Examiner must complete Part B. If you are applying for membership of more than one committee, please submit a separate application form for each committee. Please ensure you provide information relevant to each of the selection criteria. If your application for Chief Examiner is unsuccessful, we will consider you for appointment to the committees you nominated in Part A. If you do not wish to be considered for committee membership, please tick the box as indicated. The application form can be completed electronically. In this case, after you have completed the application, print a hard copy, get the required signatures (yours and your principal/supervisor) and send it to the address below.
Closing dates
Please ensure that your application is submitted no later than the due date.
Applications are due:
Chief Examiner
Friday 1 July 2011
Committee Member
Friday 23 September 2011
Assessor
Friday 28 October 2011
Submitting your application
Applications should be faxed to TD Applications on (02) 9367 8486 or emailed to tdapplications@bos.nsw.edu.au.
If you are mailing your application, please post it to:
- TD Applications
Examining and Testing Branch - Board of Studies
- GPO Box 5300
- SYDNEY NSW 2001
Successful applicants for the position of Chief Examiner will be notified by the end of August 2011. Successful applicants for committee membership will be notified early in Term 4 2011. Successful applicants for assessor will be notified in Term 4 2011 or in Term 1 2012.
Any queries should be directed to:
- Tracey McIntosh
- Phone: (02) 9367 8233
- Email: tracey.mcintosh@bos.nsw.edu.au
- Howard Jacobs (Languages)
- Phone: (02) 9367 8039
- Email: howard.jacobs@bos.nsw.edu.au