For those of you who don't know here is some information on our quickly approaching exam
Examination specificationsOverall conditionsThe end of year examination will be sat at a time and date to be set annually by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority. There will be 15 minutes reading time and 1 hour 30 minutes writing time. VCAA examination rules will apply. Details of these rules are published annually in the VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook. The examination will be marked by a panel appointed by the VCAA.
The examination will contribute 33 per cent to the Study Score.
ContentAll outcomes of Unit 4 will be assessed in the examination. All key knowledge, including research methodologies and ethical principles, and key skills are examinable. Each examination will assess a representative sample of the key knowledge, including research methodologies and ethical principles, which underpins the outcomes of each unit.
The research methodologies and ethical principles examinable in Unit 4 include the research methodologies and ethical principles in Unit 3.
The assessment of the key skills which underpin all units of the VCE Psychology Study Design 2011–2014 will be integrated within questions assessing the key knowledge.
The weightings of questions in the examination will reflect the weightings in the outcomes in the study design.
Area of Study 1 Learning will be worth approximately 50% of the available marks.
Area of Study 2 Mental Health will also be worth approximately 50% of the available marks.
FormatEach examination will be presented in a question and answer book and will consist of three sections.
Section A will consist of 45 multiple-choice questions worth 1 mark each. A separate answer sheet is provided for students to mark their answers in pencil.
Section B will consist of a set of short answer questions. Students will be required to provide answers to Section B within the spaces allocated in the examination paper. The number of lines provided after each question, together with the number of marks allocated, will indicate the approximate length of the response. However, if students require more space they may continue their answers in the space provided at the end of the book. Section B will be worth 30–35 marks.
Section C will consist of one extended answer question. This question may require students to comment on experimental design, or write up the results of a case study/experiment, or to write an extended response to a question or case study or experiment. This question will be worth 10–15 marks.
Questions in the examination will not be organised according to areas of study.
In Sections A, B and C, questions may be asked which cover individual areas of study and/or which cover more
than one area of study, as well as key skills and research methodologies and ethical principles.
Approved materials and equipmentStudents are permitted to bring into the examination room: pens, pencils, highlighters, erasers, rulers.
Students are NOT permitted to bring into the examination room: blank sheets of paper and/or whiteout liquid/tape.
CriteriaThe extended answer question in Section C will be marked according to the following criteria.
In response to the specific question requirements, students will demonstrate an ability to
1. identify and describe the key terms/theories/issues
2. explain the relevant terms/theories/issues and make connections between psychological concepts/theories and data and research
3. use appropriate examples/evidence/data to support the response
4. interpret and analyse the issues/data/information
5. evaluate issues/data/information and draw appropriate conclusions.
AdviceIn the VCE Psychology Study Design 2011–2014, research methodologies and ethical principles are integrated throughout all areas of study in Unit 4. Consequently, questions on research methodologies and ethical principles may be asked as part of questions covering one or both areas of study and will be integrated throughout the examination paper for Unit 4. These questions may be based on one or more case studies and/or research scenarios. Multiple-choice, short answer questions and the extended answer question may be asked in relation to research methodologies and ethical principles. Students will be required to use the knowledge and skills gained throughout Unit 4 when answering questions about psychological investigations and associated research methodologies and ethical principles.
The dot point in Outcome 2 of Unit 4: The application of a biopsychosocial framework to understanding one mental disorder and its management (major depression, gambling or schizophrenia) will be assessed in Section B only. There may be a choice of questions based on each of the three disorders or there may be a question which can be answered with reference to the mental disorder studied by the student. Both alternatives are provided as examples in the sample material. Students should answer the question(s) related to the disorder they have studied in Unit 4.
The extended answer question (Section C) may require students to comment on experimental design, or to
write up the results of a case study/experiment, or to write an extended answer in response to a question/case study/experiment.
It may require students to respond to a question about content from either or both of the areas of study for the unit being examined. The extended answer question may draw on students’ knowledge of research and research skills. The question may ask students to draw on examples from their study of psychology and from experiments and case studies they have studied. The question may relate to case studies and/or research and/or experiments.
When case studies/research experiments are used, they may be either familiar or unfamiliar to the students.
Where unfamiliar material is used, students will be expected to apply key knowledge and skills and research methodologies and ethical principles to answer the question.
Student responses to Section C may include any one, or a combination of: diagrams, charts, tables, bullet points, paragraphs or other appropriate communication formats. Although acceptable, a formal essay is not expected.
In the sample material, there are two possible questions in Section C – one which requires students to comment on and write up a case study/experiment, and one which requires students to write an extended answer to a question. In the examination there will be one question only.
The examinable key skills are listed on page 13 of the Study Design, whilst examinable research methodologies and ethical principles are listed specifically on pages 22–23, and on page 28 of the Study Design.
In the examination, students will be expected to have an understanding of tests of statistical significance. They will be expected to understand the significance of p-values and mean, median and mode and to draw conclusions and make generalised findings when these statistics are given. Students will not be expected to calculate these specific statistical measures in the examination.
The sample questions put up are in this link
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vcaa/vce/studies/psychology/psych2-samp-w.pdf
Home
Help
Search
Login
