Higher School Certificate Performance band descriptions

• Demonstrates a highly developed ability to comprehend global meaning and detail, evaluate and respond selectively by processing and synthesising information from texts
• Compares and contrasts texts critically and perceptively, justifying observations and opinions
• Argues convincingly and substantiates a point of view with close textual reference and wellsequenced ideas
• Demonstrates an outstanding ability to use language coherently, with sustained clarity, creativity and sophistication, employing register and discourse forms appropriate to audience, purpose and context
• Demonstrates a detailed and insightful appreciation and analysis of texts, including thematic, linguistic and stylistic features
• Demonstrates an excellent understanding of contemporary issues with extensive and detailed evidence of wide reading/viewing/listening

• Demonstrates a well-developed ability to comprehend global meaning and detail, evaluate and respond selectively by processing and synthesising information from texts
• Compares and contrasts texts competently, justifying observations and opinions
• Argues effectively and substantiates a point of view with appropriate textual reference and well-sequenced ideas
• Demonstrates the ability to use language coherently, to convey ideas effectively, with some degree of originality and creativity, employing register and discourse forms appropriate to audience, purpose and context
• Demonstrates a detailed appreciation and analysis of texts, including thematic, linguistic and stylistic features
• Demonstrates a high level of understanding of contemporary issues, supported by evidence of wide reading/viewing/listening

• Demonstrates a sound global understanding of texts and identifies some relevant detail
• Demonstrates the ability to organise and express most ideas clearly with a number of weaknesses in sequencing and/or linking
• Uses a broad range of vocabulary, structures, and syntax with sound control of the conventions of discourse forms
• Interprets some of the key features of texts, with little observation
• Demonstrates some detail in the understanding and knowledge of texts with some weaknesses in interpretation and evaluation
• Displays a general knowledge of contemporary issues and provides reasonable evidence of wide reading/viewing/listening

Band 3

• Demonstrates elementary global understanding and identifies some appropriate detail
• Demonstrates an understanding and knowledge of texts and attempts to engage with texts and offer personal observations, often with minimal justification and elaboration
• Makes some attempt to organise and sequence ideas
• Uses a predictable range of vocabulary, structures and syntax with some adherence to conventions of discourse forms
• Displays basic knowledge of contemporary issues and demonstrates some evidence of wider reading/viewing/listening

• Identifies isolated minor detail which is not necessarily relevant
• Identifies some relevant factual information with little exposition, elaboration, analysis or justification
• Demonstrates a limited ability to organise content in responding to texts
• Uses only simple vocabulary, structures and syntax, with a limited knowledge of discourse forms
• Demonstrates only a superficial understanding of texts
• Displays minimal knowledge of contemporary issues